Circle hooks set hard or not ???

[moosh]

Ive been useing Circle hooks when trolling eels and have had some good luck,but Ive been a liitle inconsistant in seting the hook ,I asked my buddy who has been fishing for ever , but doesnt troll at all , he said try not to set the hook to hard you will pull it out . let it kinda tighten up slow and wrap around the jaw. which makes sense alot of big fish Ive caught has been when they have ran for a good distance before I got to the pole. any suggestions or should I try another hook all together???