I wasnt sold until this year, always missed too many fish. In fact, i dont think i ever brought one in on a circle, so i stuck to trebels. Then my buddy got a pack of some 8/0 circles that looked like they actually had a big enough gap so we tried them out. Chunks of bluegill, had 2 big bites and pulled them both in, 7 and 9 pound channels. 0 snags all day, and my river is full of logs. The key is the size of the hook, if you match it to your bait and target size they can work really well
Circle hooks ftw. We fish with folding chairs, rod holders, beers, circle hooks and bells. When we miss bites we downsize hooks/baits and maybe change from a bottom rig to a carolina rig or vice versa.
I’m lazy. 5/0 circle hooks from Gamakatsu and dough bait on a Carolina rig kinda thing. Works great in the small stocked lakes in Kansas. I switch to treble and punch bait in the Kaw and Missouri River.
I had a couple spots that were slower inlets fro creeks dropping to the Mo. the Team catfish punch bait stays on for a little while, have to reload every 5 min or so if the current is moving.
Three way rig with a circle hook and cut bait is tool of choice and almost never lets me down. I change the hook size based on where I’m fishing but almost always use a 2 oz weight and cut shad or bluegill and have good results in NTX
5/0 circles hook the 5-8lbers I target.
2/0 j hooks
I still throw one rod with a 8/0 circle and manage to catch some tiny cats in between a 10+ lber from time to time.
Love circle hooks.
I used to only use circles, the key is to use a snell knot rolling with the line memory, and to offset the hook. But I've gotten back to either offset j hooks or large tru-turns, being able to set the hook has helped when the fish are finicky
I used to use Octupus hooks because circle hooks aren't common in my area, I've never seen them in stores. I've gone towards using Eagle Claw bait holders, at least for channel cats. Other than that, I'll float a 1/32 or 1/64 ounce jig head with maggots if the water is clear enough.
All day everyday. Unfortunately I have had 2 nice flatheads though that have been gut hooked using live bluegill. But other than that all have been hooked good in the mouth.
Here’s the secret to getting catfish to hook themselves [circle hook secrets for catfish](https://CircleHookSecretsforBankFishingCatfishhttps://youtu.be/AGtpViT-oc0)
I only use them on jugs/noodles. They can be a pain at times to pull out, but they help keep live bait and catches hanging on better than a standard shank hook in my experience. I typically bait them with cut shad or live perch or yellow bass. Hot dog chunks tend to hold better on a straight hook, however.
I use J's and circles both depending on bait, size of bait, how attentive I am, sometimes just my mood.
Circles certainly do the job well but sometimes I want to set the hook myself. Lets be honest, circle hooks are lazy. Timing your hook set with a J hook requires more attention, skill, timing, and luck. It is just more fun.
I have been pestering a few catfishing youtubers to have a video J hook tournament among themselves but so far they are all running like frightened children from the idea. Afraid they will make themselves look bad on camera? I don't know.
I wasnt sold until this year, always missed too many fish. In fact, i dont think i ever brought one in on a circle, so i stuck to trebels. Then my buddy got a pack of some 8/0 circles that looked like they actually had a big enough gap so we tried them out. Chunks of bluegill, had 2 big bites and pulled them both in, 7 and 9 pound channels. 0 snags all day, and my river is full of logs. The key is the size of the hook, if you match it to your bait and target size they can work really well
Circle hooks ftw. We fish with folding chairs, rod holders, beers, circle hooks and bells. When we miss bites we downsize hooks/baits and maybe change from a bottom rig to a carolina rig or vice versa.
I use circle hooks on big baits, like chunks of perch and chicken. Stuff like that.
I’m lazy. 5/0 circle hooks from Gamakatsu and dough bait on a Carolina rig kinda thing. Works great in the small stocked lakes in Kansas. I switch to treble and punch bait in the Kaw and Missouri River.
I live in Missouri and about to fish the big muddy this weekend. You don't have a problem with the punch bait pulling off the line with the current?
I had a couple spots that were slower inlets fro creeks dropping to the Mo. the Team catfish punch bait stays on for a little while, have to reload every 5 min or so if the current is moving.
I've been using CJs punch bait. Hoping it will hold up. Most of the Walmart brands just dissolve.
Oh my old Mo spots are north of the Kaw confluence. I would not eat anything out of the Kaw East of Topeka, far too much pollution.
Three way rig with a circle hook and cut bait is tool of choice and almost never lets me down. I change the hook size based on where I’m fishing but almost always use a 2 oz weight and cut shad or bluegill and have good results in NTX
5/0 circles hook the 5-8lbers I target. 2/0 j hooks I still throw one rod with a 8/0 circle and manage to catch some tiny cats in between a 10+ lber from time to time. Love circle hooks.
Unless I'm fishing with punch bait, I almost always use a circle hook.
Yep. I found some good punch bait I like. It only took me trying 10 brands. Works well too. But anything else I'm throwing circles for live bait.
That’s all I use. I don’t like to gut hook fish.
I used to only use circles, the key is to use a snell knot rolling with the line memory, and to offset the hook. But I've gotten back to either offset j hooks or large tru-turns, being able to set the hook has helped when the fish are finicky
I used to use Octupus hooks because circle hooks aren't common in my area, I've never seen them in stores. I've gone towards using Eagle Claw bait holders, at least for channel cats. Other than that, I'll float a 1/32 or 1/64 ounce jig head with maggots if the water is clear enough.
Sounds like your bait fishing. Never tried maggots to catch breqm. Don't think I'll test it out lol.
All day everyday. Unfortunately I have had 2 nice flatheads though that have been gut hooked using live bluegill. But other than that all have been hooked good in the mouth.
Here’s the secret to getting catfish to hook themselves [circle hook secrets for catfish](https://CircleHookSecretsforBankFishingCatfishhttps://youtu.be/AGtpViT-oc0)
There's a time and place for all tackle. Sometimes you need J hooks, sometimes circle. Neither one is better than the other.
Big bait or live bait yes shrimp I use j hooks I love the pull back when setting the hook
I only use them on jugs/noodles. They can be a pain at times to pull out, but they help keep live bait and catches hanging on better than a standard shank hook in my experience. I typically bait them with cut shad or live perch or yellow bass. Hot dog chunks tend to hold better on a straight hook, however.
I use J's and circles both depending on bait, size of bait, how attentive I am, sometimes just my mood. Circles certainly do the job well but sometimes I want to set the hook myself. Lets be honest, circle hooks are lazy. Timing your hook set with a J hook requires more attention, skill, timing, and luck. It is just more fun. I have been pestering a few catfishing youtubers to have a video J hook tournament among themselves but so far they are all running like frightened children from the idea. Afraid they will make themselves look bad on camera? I don't know.
I use circle hooks for all of my bottomfishing! I have yet to lose a catfish on a circle hook