Circle Hooks

by Joe Panfalone

There has been a lot of recent interest in the circle hook. Circle hooks are not new. They have been around for centuries as evidenced by ancient artifacts of bones and other primitive materials shaped into a circle hook. Commercial fishermen have used them for decades due to their ability to efficiently catch fish.

The principle behind the hook is simple. The fish swallows the baited hook and starts to swim away. The line tightens slowly and pulls the hook out of the stomach. Since the fish is swimming away, the angle of the line is against the jaw. Due to the recurve of the hook point, as the hook comes forward, it does not catch on anything until it nears the mouth where it rotates and pierces the jaw hinge or cheek. 

Once the fish is hooked, it cannot escape. The circle hook is particularly effective for trotlines where there is no fisherman to set the hook. It is not particularly suited for lures and fly-fishing where there is a "strike". 

There are mixed reviews among sport fishermen. Those that favor the circle hook have learned to change their technique of fishing. Success depends on NOT setting the hook like we do with the traditional "J" hook. You must fish with a slack line allowing the fish to swim away with the bait.

Conservationists are urging the use of circle hooks for bait fishing because the design usually results in a hook through the jaws or lips. This increases the fish's chance of survival after release. T

he American Fisheries Society has published a scientific study comparing hook-ups and mortality. The study concluded circle hook were as effective in hook-ups as the "J" hooks. In addition, the use of circle hooks resulted in lower rates of deep hooking, foul hooking, and bleeding providing better survival for catch and release. You can read the entire summary at this website: http://www.billfishnetwork.com/article/A059_CircleHookSummary.asp

In summary, circle hooks may have little use for us fly fishermen but it certainly would benefit to the trout if the bait fishermen would use circle hooks with their corn and cheese balls.

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The Buckeye United Fly Fishers, Inc is a non-profit corporation organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, incorporated in the State of Ohio for the preservation, conservation and wise use of our fishing waters and game fish; and to assist in the protection and improvement of our natural resources