04-23-2019, 01:21 PM
Thanks for all the insights. The list of all the factors that influence the "right" setup is very thorough. I have had days on J hooks with near perfect ratios and that is why I never experimented much with the others. I figured that bad days were likely more related to the mood of the fish, or as you say, sometimes they are whites or smaller fish.
The first time I tried the circle hooks it was most unimpressive. I hooked on a large WB head and dragged around out by the island with no weight. I had a blast "toying" with the fish that carted that that head around, but they never got hooked. I must have had half a dozen on and no hookups. I guessed that they were not big enough or hungry enough. I kept moving the circle hook to other locations on the head. I finally got one about 2 feet, but I gave up on the hooks. In retrospect my hook was probably too small for that large a bait.
On Friday, I had to dig my blue and silver FLIG out of the bellies of 2 different cats. That is uncommon for me and FLIGs, so it might just have been the day.
Every day is different. I will keep experimenting. The circles did work out well for the less experienced anglers on Saturday, but man it was hard to watch those rods start to dance and not jump up and set the hook!
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The first time I tried the circle hooks it was most unimpressive. I hooked on a large WB head and dragged around out by the island with no weight. I had a blast "toying" with the fish that carted that that head around, but they never got hooked. I must have had half a dozen on and no hookups. I guessed that they were not big enough or hungry enough. I kept moving the circle hook to other locations on the head. I finally got one about 2 feet, but I gave up on the hooks. In retrospect my hook was probably too small for that large a bait.
On Friday, I had to dig my blue and silver FLIG out of the bellies of 2 different cats. That is uncommon for me and FLIGs, so it might just have been the day.
Every day is different. I will keep experimenting. The circles did work out well for the less experienced anglers on Saturday, but man it was hard to watch those rods start to dance and not jump up and set the hook!
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