Yeah, I WOULDNT recommend setting up on fish too hard when using a circle. You'll pull it right out of their mouth. Circles are meant to be "turned into", meaning the fish will turn with your bait, thus hookin' 'em in either corner of the mouth depending on which way he turns. It's very hard for some of us to get used to. I have been bass fishing for a long long time lol, and I was always used to reeling down on 'em, then settin' it hard. However I do use circles a majority of the time because overall, they are better for the fish, and I catch and release all fish except one between about 28" and 34" for my brother and his family to eat. I always have the urge to set the hook, cuz for me that is part of the challenge......feeling the fish pick it up, and finding that exact moment to set the hook on em. I guess the best advice is to let the fish turn into it once you feel the rod tip get heavy

 

We use circle hooks for almost every bait application, for almost every species in the lakes and ocean out here on the west coast, but I have found that stripers have a MUCH harder mouth than most fish out here, so I give them a little something extra. To add to Jonny's great reply, once the striper takes the bait I usually let the fish run for a full five-count before closing the baill or clicking into gear, then I continue to let the fish pull the slack out and the rod tip down until it is below a 45degree angle to the water. I start smoothly but quickly winding out the stretch in the line right about the time your brain starts trying to override the urge to swing(from so many swings with J-hooks) Wind until the fish begins to take drag and then smoothly sweep your rod upwards(notice it reeds sweep, not swing), and "voila" fish on. It is usually about now that I proceed to give the fish about three real stout pumps, just to make sure the barb gets full penetration through the striper's jaw structure. If you ever have to "push on through" a 6/0 circle hook that has gotten stuck past the barb in the web of skin between your thumb and index finger you will find a whole new appreciation for the kind of force it takes to fully penetrate a Cow striper's rugged jaw structure.(May you never have to make this discovery firsthand-or any hand for that matter!) I always like to make sure that I get those insurance pumps in before the fish has a chance to swap ends and run straight at me, as these west coast stripers surely love to do. Of course this is not necessarily the only way to do it or even the right way, just the way that seems to bring more fish to MY hand. Give it a shot, maybe it'll work for you too. I had the fish of a lifetime smoking drag and flat peeling line off of my 40# rig, then turn around and spit the hook back at me in the most contemptuous manner possible. Here I was worrying that my drag was too tight and the hook wasn't even buried past the barb. I sure wish I woulda pumped it through that one. Some guys might say that if you are just skin hooked, the three pumps might jerk the hook out, but I think that if the insurance pumps pull the hook free then chances are you were never going to count the lines on that big gal anyway! Good luck man, let us know how things work out for you. :wink:

 

After these two great responses...I have nothing to say!!!
...My one piece of advice is...give the fish time to hook itself...

Good luck...and its good to see that you are into some fish...

 

First, thanks to all who replied. I have a much better understanding. As we all agree, it's heard to "not set the hook". I will practice everything I have read here. IM sure this will help me catch more fish. Thank you.

 

I tried my first circle hooks in florida, perfect, right in the corner of the mouth. I just set em like I always do, and I never set the hook that hard anyway. But they came out great, even in the bonnethead shark, when it actually went out the bottom of his mouth.

 

Circle Hooks

As far as the hookup goes, i think SoleSearcher said it best. The only difference I would suggest trying is to start with the reel engaged. If you fish with heavy action rods, and notice the fish spits it out quick, you may have to switch back to clicker only. The lighter the action rod, the better the "engaged" method works. I generally have about 6lbs of drag off the reel and about 10lb through the guides (20lb test line). If you fish heavier line, tighten it down more. Remember the drag is your best friend in getting the circle to penetrate. The gap on a 5/0 circle will hook a 40lb plus fish with ease. A 6/0 hook is really only needed when your are fishing baits longer than 13", or with a wide back (1.5"+).
Also on a side note, I recently watched a show comparing survival rates from circles vs. j-hooks on white marlin (tagged and released). It noted that even fish that are lip hooked with the j's had a high mortality rate. Reason being the hook was initially grabbing hold in the throat of the fish and then ripping to the roof of the mouth during the fight. The fish bled internally and no damage could be seen before the release. Sorry for the long post, but thought it was a pro for using circle hooks that isnt talked about much.

 

Thanks to all for the help. IM going to try the "engaged" way. I always fish with two rods. I do use a med action rod. IM going to let the drag do the work. I am starting to realize that the darg is key here. I'll follow up to let all know how I do.

 

All of the replies above were top notch,but I'll add my little .02

I use circles with any dead or chunk bait and most live bait applications,but not with eels,the method I use for eels the "J" hook is far superior and very few fish are hooked deep,if the area is overrun with students(schoolies) I use the circles.

I use them off shore for cod and haddock,they are the perfect solution for the soft mouth of a haddock, once i feel their nibble,I gently lift until I feel the fish and when it pulls back I give the rod a little jab,same goes for bass with a live herring or mack.,once the fish takes the bait I drop the rod and let it tighten up,again when the fish pulls back I give the rod a slight jab,this works %99 of the time, as with "J" hooks,you'll never hook every one.... and some days you just have the dropsies!

Tight lines
Rock