I have been experimenting with this hook lately. So far I am pleased with the results. I tied it as variation of a rabbit lead eye (brass eye) leech . I tied the barbell eyes in clouser syle and tied in a clump of matching color of deer hair right at the front of the fly to help make sure the fly swam hook point up. This is a long shank circle hook one of Mustad’s new signature series. I used a size 2 hook. So far I have hooked and landed 14 out 15 fish :shock: that I felt bite using a strip strike. This is 10 to 13% better than I typically average for LM bass. Two of the fish that were hooked and landed as we were taking off moving to a different spot in the pond. I have had fish hit before we in that situation but I really can’t remember the last one I actually landed.
While most of the fish were large mouth bass I also caught a couple big crappie and a Catfish
I’ve been using those hooks for white bass, wipers, and crappie streamers for about a year now and doing very well with them. The trick is learning to wait a little longer than you would with a standard hook so the fish has a chance to turn with the fly, then just bring the line tight, raise the rod, and boom, fish on! I started using them with sinking lines in moving water where strike detection can be tricky at best. Often the drag of the line on the hook is enough to set it in those cases. Bait fisherman have been using them for years for catfish, so have the saltwater guys. A saltwater guide I know got me to try them.
I have used circles for my bunny strips for bass for about 3 years, after using them in the salt for years. No gut hooking, & as far as hook setting, just tighten the line…no need for an aggressive hook set.
Mike
OKflyfisher
Thank you bunches for the info. I had no idea what a circle hook looked like. The link is fabolous as well. Actual tying instructions as well as specifying the hook. A boat load of valuable information.