Circle hooks perch

[Duncan Holmes]

Gents looking for a little advice please.

I'm doing a little livebait fishing for perch and am contemplating circle hooks.

I want to get away from wire, to do that I need to dump the double hooks, singles dont fill me with confidence.

The advice I am looking for is

Hook Size? Target fish size 2-4lb
Direct hook or use of a bridle?
Hook attached to hooklink via loop or standard knot?

TIA

[Bob Watson]

I've been looking at the sakuma 440 circles in sizes 8,6 and 4, I'll be on them within a couple of weeks.

Minnows on size 8 J hooks (super specialists in my case) just seem to get taken deep too often for my liking.

[Mike J]

I use only use live minnows for Perch.
My hook of choice is a size 14 as below, it has a gape of 3-4mm.
I use them on 5lb Rio fluorocarbon on a paternoster rig.

Apart from Perch the hook has also caught Chub, Trout and a 12+ pike that was hooked cleanly in the flesh outside the jaw hinge. I pic posted a previously but will post again if required.
Added; I have never experienced a deep hooked fish.

IMG_2177.JPG

https://uk-hooks.com/details.php?selected=363 £4.41/25hooks

.

[Jason Skilton]

Gents looking for a little advice please.

I'm doing a little livebait fishing for perch and am contemplating circle hooks.

I want to get away from wire, to do that I need to dump the double hooks, singles dont fill me with confidence.

The advice I am looking for is

Hook Size? Target fish size 2-4lb
Direct hook or use of a bridle?
Hook attached to hooklink via loop or standard knot?

TIA

If you think about how a perch take a fish i.e takes it down in one gulp head first, you see that hooking the livebait either in the dorsal or the tail negates deep hooking.

I use standard single wide gap hooks for by perch fishing, and I do use wire (Knot2kink). I tie the hook in with a knotless knot and have a loop on the other end to connect to the mainline via a clip.

I also find a CD rig or a running float patenoster works best.

[Cod]

2034FE64-6401-4CED-960C-9208BDFAB1C2.jpeg

This is what I use Duncan, never had any issues with wire on single hooks while Perch fishing.

Good luck face

[Dave Horton]

Gents looking for a little advice please.

I'm doing a little livebait fishing for perch and am contemplating circle hooks.

I want to get away from wire, to do that I need to dump the double hooks, singles dont fill me with confidence.

The advice I am looking for is

Hook Size? Target fish size 2-4lb
Direct hook or use of a bridle?
Hook attached to hooklink via loop or standard knot?

TIA

If you think about how a perch take a fish i.e takes it down in one gulp head first, you see that hooking the livebait either in the dorsal or the tail negates deep hooking.

I use standard single wide gap hooks for by perch fishing, and I do use wire (Knot2kink). I tie the hook in with a knotless knot and have a loop on the other end to connect to the mainline via a clip.

I also find a CD rig or a running float patenoster works best.

Perch are devils for swallowing baits and it really doesn't do them any good! Sure they seemingly swim off ok but I've never seen a BIG Perch I'd deep hooked again and I have had many repeats as some seem VERY territorial. I've tried Jasons hooking in the tail to good effect BUT the Perch seemed to wise up quickly and before they did I still had occasional deeply hooked fish. I've NOT done it yet but I'm keen to give Circles a go for Perch too.

(Dunno when I'll get round to it mind face)

[Duncan Holmes]

Thanks for the replies gents.

How are you attaching the hooks, snelled/loop/tight to eye?

[Cod]

I crimp mine, just the same as a Pike hook.

Just to touch on Dave’s observation, regarding deep hooked Perch, I was told by two of my peers, if that happens, always unhook via the the gills.

Not the mouth face.

[Mattjb]

Thanks for the replies gents.

How are you attaching the hooks, snelled/loop/tight to eye?

I started using circles for eels,have only caught one since switching but hooked in the corner of the mouth.I did some research before I started using them and it seems snelled /knotless knot is the way forward as the line coming out of the eye on the front of the hook rather than loop or knotted to the eye turns the hook better as it reaches the corner of the mouth.I've not much experience in using them in practice but there are some YouTube vids that explain it well

[Mike J]

Thanks for the replies gents.

How are you attaching the hooks, snelled/loop/tight to eye?

Tuna Knot to keep everything straight and the hook inline with the leader and perfect for minnows in a flow.

For a larger free swimming bait I use a 5-6turn Grinner on an open 1/2" loop, the loop closing with the weight of the fish.
Its a 100% tried and trusted method and one which has caught me hundreds of sea fish.
.

[Jason Skilton]

Gents looking for a little advice please.

I'm doing a little livebait fishing for perch and am contemplating circle hooks.

I want to get away from wire, to do that I need to dump the double hooks, singles dont fill me with confidence.

The advice I am looking for is

Hook Size? Target fish size 2-4lb
Direct hook or use of a bridle?
Hook attached to hooklink via loop or standard knot?

TIA

If you think about how a perch take a fish i.e takes it down in one gulp head first, you see that hooking the livebait either in the dorsal or the tail negates deep hooking.

I use standard single wide gap hooks for by perch fishing, and I do use wire (Knot2kink). I tie the hook in with a knotless knot and have a loop on the other end to connect to the mainline via a clip.

I also find a CD rig or a running float patenoster works best.

Perch are devils for swallowing baits and it really doesn't do them any good! Sure they seemingly swim off ok but I've never seen a BIG Perch I'd deep hooked again and I have had many repeats as some seem VERY territorial. I've tried Jasons hooking in the tail to good effect BUT the Perch seemed to wise up quickly and before they did I still had occasional deeply hooked fish. I've NOT done it yet but I'm keen to give Circles a go for Perch too.

(Dunno when I'll get round to it mind face)

Yup, deep hooking is what always concerns me.....I too haven't used circle hooks, but I seem to been doing ok on the wide gap hooks in 6's

[Steve Dennington]

I crimp mine, just the same as a Pike hook.

Just to touch on Dave’s observation, regarding deep hooked Perch, I was told by two of my peers, if that happens, always unhook via the the gills.

Not the mouth face.

I do exactly that with small bass caught on long shank Aberdeens. Going in through the gill opening, you can easily turn the hook for removal

I haven't tried circles for perch yet, but can't see any reason why they wouldn't work well.

[Bob Watson]

I use only use live minnows for Perch.
My hook of choice is a size 14 as below, it has a gape of 3-4mm.
I use them on 5lb Rio fluorocarbon on a paternoster rig.

Apart from Perch the hook has also caught Chub, Trout and a 12+ pike that was hooked cleanly in the flesh outside the jaw hinge. I pic posted a previously but will post again if required.
Added; I have never experienced a deep hooked fish.


IMG_2177.JPG

https://uk-hooks.com/details.php?selected=363 £4.41/25hooks

.

They take the p**s Mike, it's £10.69 with VAT and postage

[Mike J]

I use only use live minnows for Perch.
My hook of choice is a size 14 as below, it has a gape of 3-4mm.
I use them on 5lb Rio fluorocarbon on a paternoster rig.

Apart from Perch the hook has also caught Chub, Trout and a 12+ pike that was hooked cleanly in the flesh outside the jaw hinge. I pic posted a previously but will post again if required.
Added; I have never experienced a deep hooked fish.


IMG_2177.JPG

https://uk-hooks.com/details.php?selected=363 £4.41/25hooks

.

They take the p**s Mike, it's £10.69 with VAT and postage

I dont understand Bob
Ah yes their listed prices are excluding VAT.

What hooks were you thinking of buying?

Although it states UK their shop is in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight from where the hooks are displayed and dispatched.

.

[ChrisWales]

Novice circle hook question, do circles reduce the likelihood of hooking up with Perch? I know it's been posted that people don't seem to notice a difference with Pike.

[Mike J]

Novice circle hook question, do circles reduce the likelihood of hooking up with Perch? I know it's been posted that people don't seem to notice a difference with Pike.

I use circle hooks for both species (plus many others) and the hook-up is usually in the same area of the corner of the mouth.
Using a circle hook significantly reduces the possibilities of deep hooking a fish.

[Bob Watson]

I use only use live minnows for Perch.
My hook of choice is a size 14 as below, it has a gape of 3-4mm.
I use them on 5lb Rio fluorocarbon on a paternoster rig.

Apart from Perch the hook has also caught Chub, Trout and a 12+ pike that was hooked cleanly in the flesh outside the jaw hinge. I pic posted a previously but will post again if required.
Added; I have never experienced a deep hooked fish.


IMG_2177.JPG

https://uk-hooks.com/details.php?selected=363 £4.41/25hooks

.

They take the p**s Mike, it's £10.69 with VAT and postage

I dont understand Bob
Ah yes their listed prices are excluding VAT.

What hooks were you thinking of buying?

Although it states UK their shop is in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight from where the hooks are displayed and dispatched.

.

£4.50 postage for 25 hooks Mike, that is profiteering IMO!! Unless that's postage costs from IOW but I doubt it!

hook2.jpg

[Mike J]

I use only use live minnows for Perch.
My hook of choice is a size 14 as below, it has a gape of 3-4mm.
I use them on 5lb Rio fluorocarbon on a paternoster rig.

Apart from Perch the hook has also caught Chub, Trout and a 12+ pike that was hooked cleanly in the flesh outside the jaw hinge. I pic posted a previously but will post again if required.
Added; I have never experienced a deep hooked fish.


IMG_2177.JPG

https://uk-hooks.com/details.php?selected=363 £4.41/25hooks

.

They take the p**s Mike, it's £10.69 with VAT and postage

I dont understand Bob
Ah yes their listed prices are excluding VAT.

What hooks were you thinking of buying?

Although it states UK their shop is in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight from where the hooks are displayed and dispatched.

.

£4.50 postage for 25 hooks Mike, that is profiteering IMO!! Unless that's postage costs from IOW but I doubt it!

hook2.jpg

I have no interest in defending or attacking UK hooks, they simply sell the hooks I prefer to use.
Like most anglers I cannot remember the postage charge of any hook when I catch my first fish on it.

If your seriously interested in trying a circle hook they can be produced from most J hooks with a little ingenuity.
Before small circle hooks were available I made all my first circles from Mustad Aberdeens even catching a few Bass to double figures on them.
Despite being a fine wire pattern the wire of the Aberdeen retains sufficient strength when reformed into a circle design, eg a 1/0 will easily hold a hard fighting 5lb sea bream when shortened and reformed into a circle pattern.

[Daniel]

I fished circle hooks for perch last year with excellent results.
I just threaded a size 6 circle on to a 30" length of drennan green wire, the lightest they do, and formed an overhand knot trapping the hook but allowing it movement.
The long leader allowed me to retie the hook several times as the wire pig tailed.
Bait was 3" roach and rudd simply lip hooked on.
I had fish to 4.9 with lots of twos and threes and I didn't deep hook a single fish

[Mike J]

I fished circle hooks for perch last year with excellent results.
I just threaded a size 6 circle on to a 30" length of drennan green wire, the lightest they do, and formed an overhand knot trapping the hook but allowing it movement.
The long leader allowed me to retie the hook several times as the wire pig tailed.
Bait was 3" roach and rudd simply lip hooked on.
I had fish to 4.9 with lots of twos and threes and I didn't deep hook a single fish

Top man, well done indeed

Two of mine wouldnt make a 4.9 blimey that is absolutely huge!
You really shouldn't be allowed to post such numbers here

[Daniel]

I fished circle hooks for perch last year with excellent results.
I just threaded a size 6 circle on to a 30" length of drennan green wire, the lightest they do, and formed an overhand knot trapping the hook but allowing it movement.
The long leader allowed me to retie the hook several times as the wire pig tailed.
Bait was 3" roach and rudd simply lip hooked on.
I had fish to 4.9 with lots of twos and threes and I didn't deep hook a single fish

Top man, well done indeed

Two of mine wouldnt make a 4.9 blimey that is absolutely huge!
You really shouldn't be allowed to post such numbers here

I had a perch follow an 8" shad several times last Sunday while out testing a homemade softie.
It was quite simply the biggest perch I've ever seen and dwarfed my pb, it was like a carp with stripes.
It's the first fish I've seen in a very long time that made me hold my breath and made my knees go a bit wobbly!

[Mike J]

I fished circle hooks for perch last year with excellent results.
I just threaded a size 6 circle on to a 30" length of drennan green wire, the lightest they do, and formed an overhand knot trapping the hook but allowing it movement.
The long leader allowed me to retie the hook several times as the wire pig tailed.
Bait was 3" roach and rudd simply lip hooked on.
I had fish to 4.9 with lots of twos and threes and I didn't deep hook a single fish

Top man, well done indeed

Two of mine wouldnt make a 4.9 blimey that is absolutely huge!
You really shouldn't be allowed to post such numbers here

I had a perch follow an 8" shad several times last Sunday while out testing a homemade softie.
It was quite simply the biggest perch I've ever seen and dwarfed my pb, it was like a carp with stripes.
It's the first fish I've seen in a very long time that made me hold my breath and made my knees go a bit wobbly!

I can certainly believe a monster perch following your huge shad
I reckon they are probably the most annoying fish we can fish for!!
All the big perch (to me) I have caught have fallen to livebaits, one place the bait had to be 4" plus just to get a 1.5pounder yet an angler caught a +4 on bradlings while tenching. A dutch friend who caught many big perch in his canals always used 3" shads yet our record is held by a fish caught on a single maggot.

[BigMarty91]

Well I'm certainly sold on circles for Perch. This afternoon i've been using size 6 mustad demons I believe, hooking 3-5inch livebaits in the tail. 100% hook up so far. Granted 5 for 5 hooked perfect is a small testing but certainly inspiring to me. Biggest and also first was just under 3lb with the average around 1.5lb.

I just cannot get over the simplicity. No striking, just wind it in and they're on.

[piker66]

Sounds good Marty ! I have just bought some size 6 Sakuma's which I'm looking forward to trying out.

[Mike J]

Well I'm certainly sold on circles for Perch. This afternoon i've been using size 6 mustad demons I believe, hooking 3-5inch livebaits in the tail. 100% hook up so far. Granted 5 for 5 hooked perfect is a small testing but certainly inspiring to me. Biggest and also first was just under 3lb with the average around 1.5lb.

I just cannot get over the simplicity. No striking, just wind it in and they're on.

Indeed it is simplicity itself
Wait until you wind down and the rod goes right over but all you can feel is a solid unmoving weight on the end, it happens with the culprit usually a pike or barbel, sometimes even a tench.

Well done for giving circles a try, pike are just as easy, try them and see.



.

[BigMarty91]

Well I'm certainly sold on circles for Perch. This afternoon i've been using size 6 mustad demons I believe, hooking 3-5inch livebaits in the tail. 100% hook up so far. Granted 5 for 5 hooked perfect is a small testing but certainly inspiring to me. Biggest and also first was just under 3lb with the average around 1.5lb.

I just cannot get over the simplicity. No striking, just wind it in and they're on.

Indeed it is simplicity itself
Wait until you wind down and the rod goes right over but all you can feel is a solid unmoving weight on the end, it happens with the culprit usually a pike or barbel, sometimes even a tench.

Well done for giving circles a try, pike are just as easy, try them and see.



.

I can't wait to catch a good lump on them. An accidental Barbel would be nice

Never bait fished for Pike and giving it a go later in the year with both Circles and trebles. Really looking forward to it. I want to go into unbiased to either style of hook but circles may have got me hooked already

[Ally]

As I said on another thread, circles are very good. Never any problems.