Gave circle hooks a good go this year and had pretty good success overall. Found that I missed more fish with circle hook compared to J hook but when hooked with circle didn’t lose many. Also have gotten away from tying up flies or using yarn as they prevent hook from sinking quickly. Have found just a small bead is better. Bead also allows easier tying on of circle hooks via snell knot.
I have been fishing sockeyes for nearly 30 years but switched to your technique this year. It was tremendously successful! 6 hits and 6 salmon landed, all solid hooksets in the mouth. I followed your instructions to a tee . . . Thanks!!! There were many foul hooked fish from those nearby. I’m sold!
I think all the foul hooking is from technique more than hook type although circles would prevent the rippers as I call them from snagging/ foul hooking as many.
I will be there 23rd of July - 3 Aug. Got all the circle rigs tied up for this year, so will let you know how it goes. Maybe will see you on the river and say "Hi"!! Bringing the whole family as usual, so we are excited! Also, will be checking on our cabin build on our property off Funny River Road.
Gonna give a big effort this year to use circle hooks. Your naked circle with just the bead, is that legal? I know you can use just a bead which I prefer, but thought it had to be free floating on the line or pinned at least 2” above the hook. Just curious and best of luck this year!
Thanks for your comment! In answer to your question "is that legal", let me put forth the following. "In flowing waters: Beads fished AHEAD of flies, lures, or bare hooks must be fixed within 2 inches of the hook or be free sliding on the line or leader." I attach a bead by forming an Egg Loop Knot with four or five wraps behind the eye, then slide a bead on before running the leader down thru the eye. The result is that the leader winds up parallel to the Circles point, and if the mood strikes me I'll slide on a bit of yarn behind the bead. In any case, the bead is not AHEAD of the hook. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!
So the circle snags less fish ? New concept for me, but it makes sense. Been fishing 3 n 4 octopus with bead for many years. I dont fish the russian for this reason. I dont fish your spot, there, I fish the opposite side and use the opposite arm to plunk. Right arm on the downstream side sweep. Huge difference for me
Yep! I’ve found that Circles (tied on properly) are the hands down winner when it comes to legally hooking Reds. I haven’t fished the Russian in years, but if the fit hits me I’ll use a Gamakatsu Nautilus or the Kraken in 1/0. I’ve tested them on the the lower Kenai mainstream and they worked just fine. Good luck and let me know how the Circles work for you.@@TrapperScottyAlaskant
Would have responded earlier but was on the river. Check out Bass Pro in Anchorage for Gamakatsu Nautilus Light Wire Circles in 3/0. Item #332413. In Soldotna look for Gamakatsu Octopus Circle in 3/0. ID 437342 MPN 208413. I've used both with good success. Both stores carry the Circles I favor, but they have to be ordered. Good Luck!
Хобби
Ready!!!
Gave circle hooks a good go this year and had pretty good success overall. Found that I missed more fish with circle hook compared to J hook but when hooked with circle didn’t lose many. Also have gotten away from tying up flies or using yarn as they prevent hook from sinking quickly. Have found just a small bead is better. Bead also allows easier tying on of circle hooks via snell knot.
Yep, can't wait. It'll be my first season with circle hooks. Thanks for all the advice and help.
Good luck! Let me know how the Circles work out for you.
I have been fishing sockeyes for nearly 30 years but switched to your technique this year. It was tremendously successful! 6 hits and 6 salmon landed, all solid hooksets in the mouth. I followed your instructions to a tee . . . Thanks!!!
There were many foul hooked fish from those nearby.
I’m sold!
Fantastic! Glad to hear of your experience, and wish you continued success.
I think all the foul hooking is from technique more than hook type although circles would prevent the rippers as I call them from snagging/ foul hooking as many.
I will be there 23rd of July - 3 Aug. Got all the circle rigs tied up for this year, so will let you know how it goes. Maybe will see you on the river and say "Hi"!! Bringing the whole family as usual, so we are excited! Also, will be checking on our cabin build on our property off Funny River Road.
You'll be in my neck of the woods, so it's possible we could stumble into one another. Good Luck!
Check out the Trokar Primal circle hooks, available in a non-offset, straight eye version. They are the sharpest circle hooks I've found.
👍
Gonna give a big effort this year to use circle hooks. Your naked circle with just the bead, is that legal? I know you can use just a bead which I prefer, but thought it had to be free floating on the line or pinned at least 2” above the hook. Just curious and best of luck this year!
Thanks for your comment! In answer to your question "is that legal", let me put forth the following. "In flowing waters: Beads fished AHEAD of flies, lures, or bare hooks must be fixed within 2 inches of the hook or be free sliding on the line or leader." I attach a bead by forming an Egg Loop Knot with four or five wraps behind the eye, then slide a bead on before running the leader down thru the eye. The result is that the leader winds up parallel to the Circles point, and if the mood strikes me I'll slide on a bit of yarn behind the bead. In any case, the bead is not AHEAD of the hook.
Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!
Thank you for the clarification!
So the circle snags less fish ? New concept for me, but it makes sense. Been fishing 3 n 4 octopus with bead for many years. I dont fish the russian for this reason. I dont fish your spot, there, I fish the opposite side and use the opposite arm to plunk. Right arm on the downstream side sweep. Huge difference for me
Yep! I’ve found that Circles (tied on properly) are the hands down winner when it comes to legally hooking Reds. I haven’t fished the Russian in years, but if the fit hits me I’ll use a Gamakatsu Nautilus or the Kraken in 1/0. I’ve tested them on the the lower Kenai mainstream and they worked just fine. Good luck and let me know how the Circles work for you.@@TrapperScottyAlaskant
P.S. I’ll use the 1/0’s with fly patterns I’ve tied.
Where can I buy some of the good circle hooks up in Anchorage by the Kenia ? I don’t have time to order any before I head up.
Would have responded earlier but was on the river. Check out Bass Pro in
Anchorage for Gamakatsu Nautilus Light Wire Circles in 3/0. Item #332413. In Soldotna look for Gamakatsu Octopus Circle in 3/0. ID 437342 MPN 208413. I've used both with good success. Both stores carry the Circles I favor, but they have to be ordered. Good Luck!
B&Js has a decent selection of Nautilus and regular circle. Cabelas usually has octopus circle hooks.