- 1). Tie a circle hook onto the fishing line using a clinch knot. Pull the loose end of the line through the eye of the hook for about 3 inches. Twist the loose end around the main line five or six times. Feed the loose end back through the small loop formed above the eye of the hook; moisten, and pull tight. Trim any excess line from the end of the knot.
- 2). Place bait on the circle hook. Bait can range from shiners, minnows, and small pan fish to plastic baits such as worms or creature baits. Make sure the bait is well secured on the hook so that a fish will not simply pull or eat the bait from the hook.
- 3). Fish the circle hook as you would any other type or style of hook. Present the hook and bait as normal so that a fish will see and become enticed to take the bait.
- 4). Do not set the circle hook. Many other types of hooks such as offset or extra wide gap require an upward motion of the rod to set the hook. With circle hooks, allow the fish to take the bait and turn to swim away. The design of the hook will typically hook the fish in the lip as it turns.
- 5). Retrieve the hooked fish as would normally be done--keep the rod tip up and the line taught. Because of the design, the hook will typically catch the fish in the corner of the lip. After landing the fish, simply remove the hook from the lip of the fish, and release the fish back into the water.
SHARE
