Experimenting with Circles

In 2004, I decided to optimize my catch-and-release practices so that every fish I released, regardless of species, had the best possible chance of survival. A big part of this program was to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of circle hook flies. 

Circle hooks have a point that is perpendicular to the shank, an alignment that enables them to slide harmlessly over the throat and gills but catch on the jaw. This almost eliminates deep hooking and thereby improves fish survival. I purchased a bunch of circle hooks and began to test them in a variety of fishing situations.

The experiment has covered a dozen species of fish, in fresh and salt water, and is now entering its third decade. I figured it was time to file a report.

CATCH RATE

The first question most folks ask is whether circle hooks catch less fish than conventional J hooks. The answer is yes. For streamer fishing, circles reduce my catch rate by about twenty-five percent. With large topwater and bottom bouncing flies, the impact is more like fifty percent. These are estimates based on fishing alongside other fly fishers using J hooks, and from switching hook types during solo fishing sessions. These observations won’t pass scientific muster but do offer a general sense of what you can expect.

The catch rate question is moot for most nymph and dry fly fishing. It has been many years since I have seen circle hooks smaller than size 6 for sale, so you have no choice but to fish with J hooks. However, I did fish small circle hook nymphs and dries on a couple of Sierra backpacking trips in the early noughties. An upstream (dry fly style) presentation worked better than a downstream one. The catch rate (relative to J hooks) was about ten percent.

STRIKING

To release a fish, you first have to catch it. Your regular striking technique is a definite no-no with circles. All that does is yank the fly out of the fish’s mouth. The correct approach is to let the fish hook itself by keeping a taut line. Of course, it can take a while to overcome the striking reflex, and some folks simply don’t have the patience. 

STAYING STUCK

A notable upside to circles is that hooked fish are less likely to shed a barbless circle hook than a barbless J hook. This is especially noticeable with fish that engage in underwater headbanging or spectacular aerial gymnastics. If you are throwing flies at violent fish, and the regs require barbless hooks, circles could improve your catch rate. 

SIZE AND GAPE

Circles seem to work best when the entire hook fits inside the fish’s mouth and the hook gape is slightly wider than the thickness of its jaw. Generally, hooks in the 2-6 range seem well-suited to trout and panfish. For large trout, stripers and largemouth bass, sizes from 1 to 3/0 work well. 

TUBES

Thick body materials reduce the effective gape of the hook, which can reduce the hooking efficiency of circles. You can work around this using soft, compressible materials, but a bare hook with a fully exposed gape is a better solution. This makes tube flies, with their unadorned hook, a great way to fish circles, especially for stripers and largemouth bass. 

ROUGH TERRITORY

The perpendicular hook point makes circles slightly less prone to snagging than regular J hooks. If you have ever fished flies along the bottom or through woody debris, you’ll be familiar with this particular headache. 

Circles can be great in the surf. Most surf patterns are fished on the bottom and are in almost continuous contact with the sand. This can rapidly blunt the point on a J hook, leaving you with grabs but no hookups. The upward point alignment on a circle hook almost eliminates this problem. For surfperch, circles have much the same catch rate as J hooks, and for halibut, they often outscore them.

Given the declining state of many of our fisheries, the need to develop and practice reliable catch-and-release techniques has never been greater. If you are comfortable catching fewer fish and don’t mind adapting your fishing to meet new demands, circles can be a viable fly fishing option. 

Stay tuned for the next circle hook report. It will be out in 2044…

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