Phil Arnott wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:16 pm
I've used Mustad 39951NP-BN Fine Demon Perfect Circle Hooks for quite some time now and can recommend them.
Always use in-line circle hooks. Do not make the mistake of using off-set circle hooks as
they will deep hook and are impossible to remove. They have been made illegal in many places in America.
The bait should be hung off the bend of the hook or hair-rigged so the gape of the hook is not impeded.
With pike there is always a problem with the fish holding the bait crosswise before turning and swallowing head first. I'm not in favour of using a Pennel system as I have found fish starving to death after breaking the line and having the Pennel stuck across their throat. Also if the fish takes the bait down instantly or without moving off, removing two hooks can be very problematic and bad for the fish. 99% of the time I lip-hooked the bait on a single no. 10 semi-barbless treble and gave the fish a little time to turn it. Over the years I've only had to leave hooks in three fish which took deeply, one of which went from 21lb to 23lb before being captured again and was very healthy. The small treble appears to do little harm unlike a large hook which can pass through the stomach wall and injure a vital organ.
Using circle hooks you should lip-hook the bait and give time for the fish to turn the bait and start to swallow it before tightening to the fish and letting it run away from you. Up to now I've only used used circle hooks for catching bass and have not deep-hooked any fish. I'm confident they would prove excellent for pike.
Glad you said that,ie about off set circles,Do not use them for your pike fishing,you only have to look at them and you can see they will not work the way they are supposed to,if a pike swallows one of them(which shouldn't happen anyway ,unless you have left it too long) you can see that it will catch in its thoat on the way up whereas a circle wont..In October when I start my piking I have found that you will have to wind down to the pike imediatly,do not wait at all, do not wait for the pike to turn the bait,if you do you risk hooking it near the thoat...............In fact I do not wait to wind down at any time of the year,yes I miss a few, buy 9 times out of ten it will come back.This is only my opinion after 50 years of piking,