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I have gone over to circles when eeling with mixed results. Good hookup ratio, still a few deep hooked. I use 4/0-5/0 gamukatzu (sp?) which are slightly offset. I think a true circle is straight leaving even less chance of deep hooking. Not sure who makes a true circle.
But I am 95% artificials and I probably wouldn't hook many fish using circles with the jerkbaits.
They don't hold onto 'em very long. I have seen a rig that uses a circle and a screw lock at the turn of the hook. The hook is actually in front of the bait... have you seen any success using circles with artificials?
I thought I'd seen a post where you had mentioned tying flies with circles... if so, any reports on its success? I'd be interested to hear that.
... But honestly, I'm pushin' 400 fish so far this year and I've only had 2 or 3 which were badly hooked, all in the gills. I'm not sure you can avoid it totally.
I also fish most of the time with a pinched-down barb, which I really like and don't think costs you very many fish... with that I often don't even pull the fish from the water. I lose a few, mainly right at the boat, but on a good day, you start to appreciate not having to grab every fish.
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