Circle hooks for creek / stream trout. Pro’s & Cons??? Brothers & Sisters, Anyone care to comment on using circle hooks to fish trout in a stream? I use them for most other fishing...

StevenT Loc: Georgia

Brothers & Sisters,
Anyone care to comment on using circle hooks to fish trout in a stream? I use them for most other fishing, but have never tried floating salmon eggs, mice tails, etc with a circle hook.

Thanks,
Steve

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I use them all the time, have been for years. I bought a package of 100 size 8 barbless circle hooks from Cabela's probably 5 or 6 years ago. I still have some and use them. Even with a barb they work well because they help to prevent the fish from swallowing the bait, which trout have a tendency to do. So hooked in the lip or jaw and barbless to boot, c&r is a cinch.
BTW - Cabela's no longer carries them. I haven't been able to replace them, so I take good care of them.

StevenT Loc: Georgia

I bought eagle claw size 8’s, but they are barbed.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

StevenT wrote:

Brothers & Sisters,
Anyone care to comment on using circle hooks to fish trout in a stream? I use them for most other fishing, but have never tried floating salmon eggs, mice tails, etc with a circle hook.

Thanks,
Steve

So, try them and tell us how they work

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

StevenT wrote:

I bought eagle claw size 8’s, but they are barbed.

Pinch or file the barbs down. If you ever find a source of 10's or 12's, please let me know. Don't know of anyone making the smaller circle hooks.

StevenT Loc: Georgia

Spiritof27 wrote:

Pinch or file the barbs down. If you ever find a source of 10's or 12's, please let me know. Don't know of anyone making the smaller circle hooks.

Have crimped them for sure. No luck finding 10’s or 12’s, wish i could.

StevenT Loc: Georgia

So far hooks work great except on the occasion of operator error. 50 years of hook setting in streams will take some time to unlearn.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Yes, little bit of a learning curve and then try to erase the muscle memory reflex. I try not to hold my rod when trout fishing - gives me time to think about what I'm doing by the time I pick it up.

StevenT Loc: Georgia

Perfect day though, landed and released 5, including this beauty.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Where'd you pull that hog from? The last trout I caught was about that size, but FAT - I couldn't get my hands around it. I didn't weigh it but I'm guessing it was around 8 pounds. That was Dec 2019 and I haven't caught one since. And not for lack of trying. Some how I've lost the knack.

JimCT Loc: Connecticut

Circle hooks only in my tackle box. Makes C&R much easier

StevenT Loc: Georgia

Spiritof27 wrote:

Where'd you pull that hog from? The last trout I caught was about that size, but FAT - I couldn't get my hands around it. I didn't weigh it but I'm guessing it was around 8 pounds. That was Dec 2019 and I haven't caught one since. And not for lack of trying. Some how I've lost the knack.

Fishing this weekend in the NC mountains @ the Cherokee Reservation Memorial Day trout tourney. Lots of stocked fish, some tagged, $10K out there swimming around. A young guy in my vicinity caught on of the tagged fish, made mine look like a baby. Beautiful fish.

StevenT Loc: Georgia

Spiritof27 wrote:

Pinch or file the barbs down. If you ever find a source of 10's or 12's, please let me know. Don't know of anyone making the smaller circle hooks.

Don’t know anything about this brand, but i need to replenish my box and I saw these supposed size 10 circles.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Owner hooks are good hooks. Looks like the real deal. I'm gonna order some and see what I get I'll let you know?

StevenT Loc: Georgia

Sounds good