Circle Hooks for Trout???

[-Marc V-]

I'm just curious if anyone has tried using circle hooks when fishing with bait for trout? Been a lot of proponents for bait fishing, and discussion about mortality rates of gut hooked fish. Was wondering if circle hooks may be a better option.

I personally haven't tried it for trout, but have used circle hooks with suckers, and carp when fishing crawlers. Not NEARLY as many gut hooked fish when using circle hooks...

[blackdog1101]

Unfortunately Leakywaders doesn't post here much, but several years ago he did a personal study of using cirle hooks with trout, back when bait was still allowed on Hay Creek outside of the old C&R area. I can't recall what size hooks he used, or if he tried a variety of sizes. I believe he found that he had fewer hook ups overall, but slso fewer to no gut hooked trout.

EDIT: If anyone knows Leakywaders they may be able to get him to post his findings. My recollection is rusty.

[Scudly]

Yes I will be using them next year. If you already have experience with them in other species, you got the technique down. I guess no need for the traditional hook set. Rather just slowly put in slack, feel the fish and maintain constant pressure. Have a bud that dead sticks for giant cats on the MN with chunk bait and says 100% lip hooked. They sleep on sandbars and put bells on thre poles.

Interesting side note last time we were at Beaver we needed some warmer clothes and stopped in at ALCO in Caledonia. A store that has a little of everything, more suited for a small town. Like a Ben Franklin. Anyway, ALCO also carries fishing stuff and they had all kinds of stuff for dead sticking - bell clip ons, pole holders, etc. Locals obviously bait fish including dead sticking. Some may have never heard of chub tail fishing for trout before after I promoted it this summer, especially conservation minded folks. However it is nothing new. Trout fisherman have been using them for decades. Big trout are meat eaters and chubs live in warmer water, where only big trout can survive anyway. A traditional fly angler fishing designated water will rarely encounter chubs because most fish the colder areas with higher numbers of small trout that primarily eat bugs.

[march brown]

i see chubs near forestville all the time. very cold water

[Driftless]

chubs are all over the place.

there usually are more in warmer water.

tailwater sections are typically warmer

and hold the big trout.

[-Marc V-]

Thanks for posting an on-topic response Blackdog - it'd be good to read a post from LeakyWaders again.

Does that Alco store in Caledonia carry circle hooks that you used with chubs? That why chubs were brought up? Would be kind of neat if they did since they are a small town store. Been in those places looking for some obscure item for fishing before, and know how that deal goes...

I just thought I'd bring circle hooks up as an option if a bait angler is concerned about fish mortality if they're planning on C&R. If not, no worries - just wanted to bring it up as an option. Obviously a sucker or carps mouth doesn't compare to a trout's mouth, so was just wondering if anyone had experience using circles on trout.

[Driftless]

worms are for harvesting trout with.

The last time i used a worm was with my

daughter when she was 5. She is 13 now.

I fish with many people that are good with worms and can

lip hook trout a high percentage of the time.

The absolute best way to catch a couple trout and get off the water after that are worms.

[Scudly]

Would also be curious if anyone has experience with trout and plastic worms? Some lake anglers swear they are as good at the

real thing?

[tharreld]

Ran into a guy fishing the lower Kinni in Wisconsin this spring fishing Mr. Twisters. He said that he was nailing them. Said he caught a 20"+ trout that morning.

[Scudly]

Standard hooks I use size 6-8 with crawlers, size 2 with chubs. My plan is to try same sizes for circle hooks. Or would anyone suggest going larger or smaller compared to standard hooks?

[riverrat56]

I have no experience trout fishing with circles, but I'd usually opt to go slightly larger with the circle hooks compared to stardard style hooks. I really like Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hooks.

[Surface Tension]

For what its worth.

2x long dry fly hook size 12 or 12 long shank wire hook with barb pinched. Not much difference other then one is snelled on.

If your on the ball with the set the shank will always be there to get a hold off. A slight inward motion and a careful exit out.

Show some care in the handling and you can C&R Trout all day and if you choose, bring a couple home.

[s t fanatic]

i have also had good luck on twister tails 1/16 oz. wide gap jig with a couple variations of each black and brown.

[s t fanatic]

caught a 22" male a couple years ago on a #6 octopus circle and a leach.