[fishsnatcher]

Is there any reaon why not do do this?

The instance I am thinking of is when live-baiting for trout/salmon because often when I strike even when I have the hook well exposed [which i do as a matter of course] the bully simply pings out of the fishes mouth, I lose a fish and a decent size bully.

Is this anything to do with where i hook the bully?I normally hook the through the bottom jaw with a size 1 or a size 2 hook.

Would circle hooks be better? I have also found that when I do not strike, the fish often gets gut or gill hooked which means i have to keep them, and that’s often not desired if it is a small fish ,or I have already got enough for a feed that day, or because I’m only releasing them.

[Miliwolf]

Can not answer the circle hook question.

But, I know why you are failing to hook the fish. The first contact the trout does is just to ‘stun’ the prey then it carries it 3-4m before swallowing. While being carried the trout is only lightly holding the bulley meaning any strike would likely pull the bulley out of its mouth. If you want to bully fish, you have to wait until the trout has swallowed before striking which would result in a gut hooked.

[fishsnatcher]

Yes thats what I have found I’ll give it a go anyway with circle hooks, see what happens.

Although having said that I did catch 1 trout that was hooked in the mouth I just left the drag on medium.

[Miliwolf]

Would be keen to know the results.

[fishsnatcher]

I’m sure you would, too bad!

Lol I’ll post when I have some info

[Sevengillz]

Im not a huge fan of trout fishing but I am a fan of the trusty circle.You may have a hard time hooking trout with one.Im not sure what size you would plan on using but the smallest circle hook I have seen is about 3/0 and it is fairly sizable compared to a 3/0 beak or similar.
Some people get mixed up between circle,recurve/mutsu styles.Like Ive seen recurve/mutsu labelled as circles.A true circle is the tuna/longline circle design.
I reckon the reason you might have trouble hooking up with them is because circles are designed to “roll” out through the corner of the mouth or jaw and a decent bully rigged onto a small hook may hinder that rolling action in a small mouthed trout.It might be all good if the trout hits it hard and fast who knows but if you do use them you are prob best to avoid trying to set it when you get a strike because you well prob just pull it straight out.Circles set them selves,thats what they are designed to do.

A 10/0 circle doing what it supposed to – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjIzvPEXx0o

[fishsnatcher]

I have found many sites including tackle tactics with circle hooks below size 0/3, Though they may not be as easily available they are certainly out there.

[fishsnatcher]

I think I know the reason people tend not to use circle hooks, it is because chinook salmon have a rather hard mouth, and with a circle the method is you don’t strike; you just leave the drag on a reasonable ammount…. so it may not penertrate the salmons mouth, a strike may be nessacary for it to penertrate….

So the good old octopus, or J hook may be the best option.

[St_Paul]

1/0 black magic kl hooks might be small enough, but they are more of a recurve than a circle hook though.

[fishsnatcher]

Still will probably do the trick, I’ll have a look round and buy a packet or 2

[Author]

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