Circle Hook w/ Herring ???

[MrHunters]

hi guys,
Last night I tryed circle hooks for the first time while floating some herring.
They were 0/7 or 7/0 (i like to be lysdexic so I put both)

I had a ton of "bumps" pretty much every cast and a ton of times they took some line...However I seemed to have an especially difficult time setting the hook. I mean alot for even me.... If I use the front portion of the herring I hook threw the bottom lip and up almost between the eyes..... This seems to keep the herring on pretty well...The back portion of the herring im still trying to figure out a good way to bait the hook....

Is it harder to set the hook with circle hooks?? Is there a different technique that I should try?? Or is it supposed to be easier ???

Thanks for the help.... If this is an inapropriate question (s) please disreagard

ps
the bobber tip from a few days posts ago worked like a charm (though i did feel a little silly)

[The Dad Fisherman]

Don't set the hook, let the hook set itself.

[MrHunters]

Well, I tryed that too
Not on purpose but my setup is that of one rod in a holder while I tend to walk down the beach some to try another spot....then I hear the weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and I run back all in a tizzy only to find my bait gone and no fish.

I'll try and resist the urge to yank the rod tonight

[The Dad Fisherman]

If your using a bait-runner just pick up the rod, flip the switch and hold it firmly until you feel you have him.

if you're not using a bait-runner and have the bail flipped open, do the same but flip the bail.

also make sure your not using the Mustad Circles, they are crap. use the Gami's

[MrHunters]

whats the difference?? just did a google image search on both and they look the same, im sure im missing something.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Gami's are much Sharper than the Mustad's or you can sharpen the Mustads, if thats what you're using.

[Notaro]

Use 5/0, not 7/0. It's too big. Use octopus from5/0-7/0 for chunking.

[hooked]

Make sure that the hook point is not buried in the bait. It needs to be exposed so that it can catch in the corner as it travels out of the fish's mouth. 7/0 is not too big if you are looking to catch a striper.

[beachwalker]

Use a treble.

they fit perfectly in the herrings mouth.

Rarely have a miss when I do that.

you loose to many herring with a single. They don't cast very well.

good luck !

[Notaro]

i used these hook size when chunking herrigns at rockport. as for treble to liveline herrings, i gotta love those. BW, u re right abt the treble, u cant just miss a fish if u are using a double hook rig.

[MrHunters]

it didnt "seem" too big when i was looking at different sizes....

If you are using the back end of the herring do you know of a good way to keep it securly hooked?? I bunch of fish and crab got free meals last night while I was trying to figure out a sucessful way.

The problem with herring is they are too damn fragil to get a really good cast in. And if you do you only get about 2 or 3 before the lips and or rear end are torn off.

But the bass seem to like em so Ill continue to use em!

[blue oyster]

you might have been into smaller fish , sometimes they have more guts than brains , all they do is toture the herring and the fisherman . the times i have used the circle hooks i have had great luck with hook sets , like the dad fisherman said you dont set the hook with these , let the fish run a little then lock the reel the fish hooks themself . the only time i found circle hooks dont work well is cod fishing .

[MrHunters]

I would like the day to be over now so I can try the right way! I was probably just ripping the hook out of their mouth without it even touching their lips!

The times I did bring the line back in to check the bait, it was just basically a skeleton of what was once my bait. Clever little fishy.....

[beachwalker]

you can tell if you've missed a LARGE fish with herring when the thing comes back in crushed at the neck.

I should have also stated that the treble is usually used from a boat and the single is used when hooking them through the back when I fish from shore. but usually I always use the treble in the mouth because I get more consistent hook-ups. and yes on letting them run with it. at LEAST count to ten, then just close the bail and slowly retrieve and they hook themselves. Just like liveling a snake.

good luck

tonight i'll be doing this technique fo sho

[MrHunters]

ok my question has morphed now from BW last statement. I was single hooking through the mouth but you say you go through the back??? How do you do this without loosing the herring.... If i dont hook through the mouth it just tears through the meat of the fish.

I've tryed a somewhat sowing hack technique around the spine but that only kind of works.

[beachwalker]

here's one method. obviously with a treble. yes, you can single hook the spine, too