Circle Hooks

[huntingmaxima]

Do you guys like or dislike the circle hooks? Also what size do you use for eyes? I have never used them yet.

[PerchJerker]

I've used circle hooks on occasion but I really don't use them much for walleyes.

If I remember correctly, there was an article in In-Fisherman a while ago that had done a hooking study, and while circle hooks were effective on walleyes, circle hook were more effective on other species of fish, and no more effective than other styles of hooks for walleyes.

If you like to put your rod in a rod holder and let it go until the fish is on, then circle hooks would probably be a good way to go. That's not how I fish livebait though which is part of the reason I don't use circle hooks.

I feel too many people give walleyes too much time with livebait, which results in deeply hooked fish. I prefer quicker hooksets and usually don't have fish that are deeply hooked, which is another reason I don't use circle hooks for walleyes. But if you're getting deeply hooked fish, by all means try circle hooks.

I think the rule of thumb for circle hooks for walleyes is the same size as the octopus hook you would normally use, or the next size larger. Good luck and let us know how they're working for you.

[Chode2235]

I use them almost exclusively on Lindy rigs. The nice thing about them as you can let the eyes chew on your minnow without worrying too much about gut hooking it.

The hook will usually just hook right in the corner of the mouth or cheek bone. You do sometimes miss fish, usually from setting the hook, but I don't think I miss any more than I had done with conventional J hooks.

No need to set the hook either, just reel in the slack and apply pressure to the fish. I really like the Owner MUTU hooks in size 6 or 2 depending on my bait.

They work really well for a lindy rig application, I recommend you give it a try. Especially on lakes with limited slot ranges or if you are big into C&R like myself.