DO CIRCLE HOOKS CATCH MORE FISH?

Circle-hooks are an ancient design, but in recent years, when they were found to increase commercial (long-line) catches of sea fish, they have been modified and improved. They are now widely available in sizes suitable for bass angling and I’ve been using these hooks for much of my predator angling (salt and freshwater) for years now. When I first mentioned this (decades ago – time flies!) in books and articles, I had a good deal of correspondence from interested anglers regarding the pros and cons of their use.

Rod and line anglers, using traditional J hooks, are able to strike bites and hook the culprits. Circle-hooks, in contrast, designed as they are for static long lines where the fish ‘hook themselves’, require no sharp strike. In fact, a gentle tightening of the line (the fish often do it for you) is by far the most effective way to secure biting fish. So, understandably, much of the