circle hooks on tipups

[Guest]

Anyone run these instead of trebles? I'm thinking of trying them this year, mostly on pike, but also for walleyes. What size hooks do you use? Any other tips?

[Guest]

The general rule is use twice the size hook you would of a conventional style in the same situation.

For pike I wouldn't hesitate using 5/0 to 6/0 circle hooks, maybe even a 7/0. Use an Octopus style circle hook, not a True Circle hook. A straight eye style would be best for vertical presentations. I would personally recommend Gamakatsu or the Eagle Claw Featherlite series of circle style hooks.

Gamakatsu Nautilus Circle Hook
(A very good choice for pike very strong and keeps it's point sharp very well)

Eagle Claw Featherlite
(A bit of a brittle hook, yet works very well for walleye with large live baits)


A tip for tip-ups and circles is adjust the running drag up slightly,increasing the resistance. This way the hook finds it's mark in the corner of the mouth quicker.

Set the bait a bit higher off the bottom. This forces the fish to take and turn downward setting the hook upon themselves in the process.

The #1 Mistake anglers make with circle hooks if filling up the gap of the hook, that is a No-No. Keep as much of the throat of the circle hook open as possible. If you fill the gap up the hook will just slide out of the fish's mouth and miss it's mark.

The #2 Mistake is setting the hook, Don't do-dat! You just pull steadily on the line and maintain constant pressure. Let the hook do it's job.

The #3 Mistake is do not let the fish run! As long as the fish is on the move you know he has the bait. Just start dragging him in as quickly as you see the take.

By fallowing these tips you will get very few gut hooked fish and up your catch rate significantly.

------------------
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding
"ED on the RED"
[email protected]
><,sUMo,>

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 11-26-2003).]

[fishlakeman]

Thank you soo much Backwater, I have always wanted to try circle hooks but was afraid of loosing fish because I might use them wrong. I'm definetly going to go and buy me some packes now

[Nels]

Last winter I tried a circle hook on one of my tip-ups.
It was bitterly cold that day, and the flag was stuck when I went to check on it. I cleared the ice from the hole, and I had a 4 lb northern hooked in the corner of the mouth, just under the ice.

I will be using them again this winter. I like not having to really try to "set" the hook.

Nels

[bigmouth]

The nice part about using treble hooks is that you can set the hook right away instead of letting the fish swallow it. A high % of gut hooked fish will die. Even if they swim away just fine!

[bigmouth]

sorry backwater I missed #3 Mistake.

[rod bender]

My brother and I have used them on tip-ups for walleyes with much more success than the regular hook. I have also used a much small circle hook on a crappie rig. I still caught fish but my hook-up rate didn't increase drastically like I was hoping.

[Guest]

Thanks for the tips!
I picked up some 2/0 hooks for the pike, but it looks like I should go bigger. Thanks for the info, Eddy.

[Cheech]

What I use is very simular to the cir.hook but it is GOLD in color. I will go up agianst anybody with something different. I dont remember the size since i have had these in my tackle box right after the wheel.

[Guest]

A follow-up question-Where's the best place to hook the minsk with a circle hook? In the back, tail, or through the head?

[supserdave]

What about using smaller circle hooks and fatheads for crappies? Any luck or suggestions would be great. Im not to sure how well they would work since crappies usually feed upward? Thanks guys.
Dave

[Guest]

There are a couple schools of thought there.

I like just under the skin at the dorsal fin, with the point facing the head of the bait. Same for suckers if you wish a lot of circular swimming motion.

The other is just through the tail so they struggle up and away. Good for perch and crappie near or right on the bottom.

A third I like for large live baits is through the anal opening and up to the bottom set of anal fins, then out. The hook will be facing the tail on this position. This is a good set for high riding baits as the sucker will struggle to get back to the bottom for cover. This also will not hurt a bait much at all and offers very realistic action and lots of "Thump". They struggle a lot in this position. They swim up and away and fall back slowly, pike and walleye really go for that.

------------------
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding
"ED on the RED"
[email protected]
><,sUMo,>

[EBass]

I used to make fun of my buddy who used $2 hooks (Aka Circle hooks) Now that's all I'll use on any live bait and hook rig. Another good thing about circle hooks is when the fish is running. Just stop the line and it'll hook it's self. And yet another good thing about a circle hook is how easy they are to unhook. You know how the barb gets all buried in and you struggle to get it out. That's never an issue with circle hooks. Keep pressue on the fish and ye shall be rewarded.

And I got some small circle hooks for crappies to, but most of the time I have a jig on. When the season is over then I chase the crappies.

[Guest]

I should mention, I pinch back the barbs on almost all my circle hooks. You really do not need them. I also feel it helps the hook find it's mark on the strike. Less resistance and they more often then not hook themselves.

That is a very good point Ebass, about letting them hook themselves.

I often just apply slow steady pressure and squeeze the line, putting on the brake. When it gets tight, it's all over but the dragging in. Faster action and slightly longer ice rods made of glass work very well for dead-sticking circle hooks for just that reason. They build up resistance slowly.

If more folks would use circles we would have a much lower morality rate on C&R fish. Except for deep water angling, that takes it's toll no matter what. On average with the use of circle hooks, C&R mortality with would sharply decrease. From my own experience I am certain of that!

------------------
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding
"ED on the RED"
[email protected]
><,sUMo,>