Circle hooks ?

[topbanana]

Do many of you's use these ? Have they help/increased your catch rate ? And what's the best way to use them, as a pennel ? Cheers fellas.

[Pighunter]

They are brilliant but there designed for when the is a bit tide pull or the just lie flat, best used as a Pennel I.e top hook, fish are always nicely hooked on them to.bad point are there a nightmare if your fast with them in the rough ground.

[codcatcher3000]

pennel top hook... also when the whiting is in big numbers i use them on a flapper ..u get the odd Deep hook but most of it comes off easy

[hound hunter]

I prefer the chinu pattern for the top hooks,but have used semi n circle hooks,varivas do great hooks in the abovewell worth a try

[The seas away]

Great hooks but get in chinu pattern the design usually means most fish are lip hooked.
I bought a box of 30 sakuma 5/0s a month or so ago for £13 then
last Saturday bought 30 mustad for £4.50 exact same top quality
but a third cheaper.
Mustad may have priced wrong as they really are the mutts nuts.

[g.ordon]

yer, good read this. got some sakuma 450 chinu 2/0's a while ago, never used them as I thought they were mantas, never had me specs like lol think i'll give them a shot now.

[cod magnet]

still using the eagle claw design, on the bottom hook of a pennel rig, works well , fiddly to bait up but worth it , the hole idea with the eagle claw is as well as the bend in the hook , it all so has a limerick bend design to the hook, when the fish bite they dont feel a sharp point,and seem to get better hook ups

[hound hunter]

Good hooks gordon,give e'm a whirl,very very strong,great for ray's/hounds with sml crab/fish bait'sA great top hook of the pennle,but not when fishing the really ruff stuff,tend to get snagged up easy

[g.ordon]

yes, just looking at them now hound hunter and they look well forged and as strong as f..k, can't see any bend in them

[hound hunter]

That's why there no good for the ruff stuff,get snagged wi them n u loose the lot lol,they don't open up/snap like the manta'sI like the varivas chinu's,no issues for me,but I use e'm on the sand...

[broon shoe]

use them on me pulley rigs very strong hook like mostly small stuff caught on them but once a fish is lipped the hook aint gonna come out

[coppola]

Nicky I have used them (mustard variety) they work well when there is a constant flow of current past them. I use them in the river or middens sand bar they work a treat they consistantly get the fish in the scisors of the jaw. If you want detailed knowledge of their use have a word Andy Rutherford. He uses them alot in rivers. I have used them as a pennel hooks on the open shore, and they work, but carnt say theres any real advantage to a standard pattern. Its difficult to get enough turns of the trace line around them so when used as a pennel hook that doubles as a bait stop slipping can be a issue. Thats my experience of them hope it helps,,,,in flowing current their great well hooked fish easy to get off without ripping the gills out. I should add I have used them mainly in the river for the generic codling and coaly/whiting we get on the tyne.

The chinu hooks look better for the shore Iwould like to give them a go but as yet not seen them in the local shops....Any info on theese welcome.

[Ray.J.]

I have used the Chinu hooks on and off for a few years now. Don't use them as much as I used to as even a 1/0 will not straighten if fishing in snaggy areas.
If your fishing a clean beach they are spot on though. Good crab hooks!

[topbanana]

Nicky I have used them (mustard variety) they work well when there is a constant flow of current past them. I use them in the river or middens sand bar they work a treat they consistantly get the fish in the scisors of the jaw. If you want detailed knowledge of their use have a word Andy Rutherford. He uses them alot in rivers. I have used them as a pennel hooks on the open shore, and they work, but carnt say theres any real advantage to a standard pattern. Its difficult to get enough turns of the trace line around them so when used as a pennel hook that doubles as a bait stop slipping can be a issue. Thats my experience of them hope it helps,,,,in flowing current their great well hooked fish easy to get off without ripping the gills out. I should add I have used them mainly in the river for the generic codling and coaly/whiting we get on the tyne.

The chinu hooks look better for the shore Iwould like to give them a go but as yet not seen them in the local shops....Any info on theese welcome.

Hello Morris, I've read that when you use them as a pennel hook it's best to leave it to its own devises, ie don't wrap the snood around it or put it in the top of the bait. This is meant to allow it to turn over and hook up more efficiently.

Anyway thanks for all the replies people

[magpies]

Switched to 2/0 circles on top of pennels this year and won't be switching back. I rate them really highly. I was using Sakuma but got some from Andy Rutherford which seem great and a lot cheaper.