When, where, and why to use circle hooks! Pros and cons!

[@jamiemarchant2687]

I've met two people now out fishing around the Trondheim Fjord who both asked if I watched Billy Fishing. An Indonesian (today) and a Ukrainian (a month ago). Both asking about Circles, dingle dangles and south african rigs. You are really helping people out Billy. Really appreciate the videos.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Fantastic brother. It's so nice to hear that I'm making a difference. See you on the beach 😁✊

[@docwilliams01]

hi Billy! just to say your BF knot is freakin awesome. 🎉 started an FG, said the appropriate words, and used yours. I'm sold. thanks man! (sorry can't comment in the right place 😂)

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Damn! They can still get to me🤣 I'm glad to oblige, Doc! Tight lines Brother 😁✊

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Damn! They can still get to me🤣 I'm glad to oblige, Doc! Tight lines Brother 😁✊

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Billy, I was coming home from fishing one day by train just south of San Francisco California. This guy starts talking to me about fishing while we were waiting for the train. His name is Arnstein Mustad, one of the direct descendants of the Mustad Tackle Company. We talked about fishing, different hooks and tackle for about 20 minutes. The whole time I felt like I was talking to fishing royalty. Long time ago back on Long Island New York we always used Mustad hooks for all kinds of different fish. Before I played your video I was wondering whether you'd mention Mustad hooks and of course you did not disappoint. You are absolutely right about circle hooks, once it pops through the jaw there is no getting away. We would commercially longline gold tilefish offshore, we only used circle hooks with either squid or cut mackerel. Would catch thousands of pounds of them, only time they could get away would be the bigger fish would fight against the the line so much it would create a hole big enough for the hook to fall out. Great video Brother! 🤘💯💪🎣

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Misfit! What a great story, I would have loved to have met him. I don't think it's possible to talk about hooks without mentioning, Mustad! I don't know whether it is true or not. But I have heard on some Pacific Islands. The local name for a hook, is Mustad! Your fascinates me that's something so small, has had such a great influence on our entire species, Fantastic! Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

@@Billyfishing_watch whenever I think of fishing history on a global level I'm reminded of the old school Portuguese wooden sailing ships that went out for Atlantic cod. How they would launch the dory boats from the mother ship to handline cod all day. Can't even fathom how incredibly hard they worked to make a living. That is so awesome that they named the hooks Mustad in those remote places. Thanks for sharing Brother!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

@MisfitsFiendClub138 the world is a much smaller place now, than ever before! Impossibilities are seemingly endless. 👌

[@XanderPrifti]

Billy all i want to say its that you are awesome dude !

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thank you so much brother! See you on the beach 😁👊

[@prycey100]

I have just been tying some 2 hook flapper type rigs with your flattie hair design and size 1 circles. I have a comp for biggest flounder this weekend and can't wait to try it out! P.S. your flattie hair vid was what brought me to your channel, I had been trying to make a rig to avoid deep hooking flounder and decided a version of a dongle may do it, low and behold, a quick search brought up only a single video about a dongle for flatties..... and here I am!!! loving the vids, keep em coming!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thank you so much brother! I really appreciate it. See you on the beach 😁✊

[@wolfie498]

I'm doing the same this year when the plaice are in again. Last year was a nightmare for small ones, and they've got even smaller mouths, absolute nightmare unhooking them! Good luck and tight lines. 👍

[@jasonleedham5678]

Hi Billy, i just want to say WE have changed to circle hooks and (mini) dingle dangles for our huss fishing in Wales, they really make a difference, no more deep hooked fish- cheers mate

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Is it a beautiful thing, isn't it! Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@damianowens5066]

Brilliant video mate, I've been sold on circle hooks for quite a while now but a word of warning don't put one in your mouth to test out the circles hooking properties like I did! Shearer panic set when I nearly hooked myself! As you said mate they are designed to hook by themselves and do it really well! 😉🎣👍

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Yes! The feeling of panic, washes over you. When that hook goes to work! It's elegance, hides intent. Thanks Brother 😁✊

[@2pdixon]

Hi billy another great video 👍. I have always used j hooks until watching your videos and as of this year I started using circle hooks. I'm having my best season on the cod.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Excellent, great to hear you've crossed over. May the hooks be with you! Thanks Brother 😁✊

[@shaunjones6049]

Thanks for the explanation Billy I’ve been thinking about using circle hooks but been unsure if they were just a bit of a fad , I will definitely give them a try.👍

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Hi Shaun. Circle hooks are wonderful, I use them for everything. From small flatfish, all the way up to big beasts. You have the knowledge now, the rest is up to you. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@DavidHarleysonRoute66]

I started using Circle hooks a few years back and have had enormous success. The confidence of that fish going nowhere is so non - stressful

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Yes! It is so nice to know that you stand a better chance than you did before. And the fish as well, thanks Brother 😁✊

[@brimstone260]

Well explained brother. Deffo tope fishing next year with them.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

It will work really well for tope. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@SOMERSETBEACHFISHINGtony]

nicely done bro , circle hooks are the way to go.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Yes they are Tony. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@IrishAllroundAngling]

Been using circles for years tope fishing . 100% confidence in them

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Once you get the hang of them! They work like a dream. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@MarkPMRX]

I use circle hooks with dingle dangles but use a perfection loop instead of snelling it on. It allows the hook to rotate. I also use them as the top hook on a Pennel rig, so bait still below. Seems to work

[@Billyfishing_watch]

This is not something I have come up with myself! This is how the designers of circle hooks intended it to work in the beginning. I'm not saying what you do does not work, but I am saying this way will work better. The snell stabilisers and guides the hook to wear it is supposed to go. The perfection loop was intended to give free movement to lures. Not to assist in the hooking of fish with circle hooks! Tie 2 hooks, one with the perfection loop, and Snell the other. Throw them both into a bucket, draw the line down the outside. And see which one hooks more often. Thanks Brother

[@MarkPMRX]

@ Interesting thanks. I’ll try the bucket test

[@roddorman8292]

Good vid Billy, I must give it a go. Ive always used Mustad hooks, vikings and aberdeens mostly must get a few circles next time I am in the shop!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

You won't regret it brother! Thanks 😁👌

[@fatfish6839]

You gave me some advice last year about circle hooks 🪝 to do with my sea bream fishing I have to say a BIG thank you again BILLY 🙏 It transformed my bream fishing 🎣 Thank you Bro 😊

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Isn't that what it's all about! Glad it worked out of you, Brother! 😁✊

[@motorsnutts6594]

Nice billy, liked this one , great to learn the background history , cheers buddy appreciated 🤘🏼🎣

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thanks Paul, glad you liked it Brother 😁👌

[@KamArte-x4d]

That was a very nice and true history ! Thank you very much!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Anytime brother 😁✊

[@mime4331]

Glad to hear the truth about circular hooks! I fish snapper here in New Zealand with mostly circular hooks. And I see that a lot of others get gut hooked fish a lot of time. So sad. C-hooks are the best!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Yes they are! Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@tonydixon7958]

Your right there mate. I’m from the UK and switched over to circle hooks over 10 years ago after fishing for snapper in NZ. If you pick up undersized fish, as you inevitably will, you can release them back with no damage done.

[@coffeeismygod]

Good video. Circle hooks are essential kit. I shark fish, almost entirely catch and release. We only use circle hooks. J hooks kill fish unnecessarily. I still have a few j hooks, but only for bait fishing and the occasional speciality species. BTW, thanks for all the videos. One of these days I’ll fly to the Nordic countries and try cod fishing from shore!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thanks brother, glad you liked it. And the best of luck to you on your travels, see you on the beach 😁👌

[@davidyoung9635]

Cheers mucker good info. I'm sitting here tying assist books snell obviously keep up the good work! Much love on ya bro!!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thanks David, much appreciated 😁👌

[@PiscatorUK-Fishing]

Well explained Billy👌

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@stucook8622]

Thanks very much Billy!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Anytime brother 😁👌

[@andilimer1314]

top content...many thanks !

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Anytime brother 😁✊

[@castersfishingwales2038]

Nice one Brother

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thanks Matt😁✊

[@dazlee3257]

Nice one Billy 👍 I use circles for the shark species, i find the offset type a waste of time conservation wise, they dig in the same as J's and then even harder to get out than a J. Sack ooo ma I'm looking at you 😅

[@Billyfishing_watch]

I agree 100%, Daz! Horrible things, nothing like an inline circle. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@DavidScobie]

Hey Billy prob a daft question, when your using your bait rigs have you ever thought about using some of the oils? I'm a Pike guy and it's a great way to put a bit of extra zing into a bait to inject it with some fish oils especially if a baits been out in the water for a while a few mls of oil just adds something. I know the freshwater carp guys go daft for flavourings in their baits and the lads i do the surf fishing for bass with they love peeler crab flavourings.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Hi David! Despite other people's experiences, I believe them unnecessary. I have tried them, I see no great improvement in my catch rate. So I'm just spending money for no reason. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@richp3055]

Great video Billy 👍 I’ve been making and using dongle rigs with circles for the last couple of years but I use the perfection loop and it works great for me, do you see a disadvantage to the perfection loop? And that’s why you don’t use it?

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Hi Rich. Yes I do! To get that hook to fish better, it needs to be stabilized by the snood! And not flopping around, like it does with the perfection loop. That kont was designed to give lures more action. Circle hooks were designed to be snelled on. Tie two hooks, one with a snail. The other with the perfection loop. Put them both into a bucket, draw the line down the bucket, on the outside. And see which one hooks the edge of the bucket more often. Then you will have your answer! This is not something I have come up with, this is the way the hooks were designed. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@richp3055]

@ great advice, I’ll definitely give the snell a go then, thanks for the reply 👍

[@Billyfishing_watch]

@richp3055 anytime rich 👌

[@Rogalandfishingadventure]

Deadly stuff Billy, thanks again for sharing the knowledge with us. I moved over to circles only a few months ago after watching many of your videos. I have had a lot of success with them now and the catch and release has increased dramatically! What i have learned though is to watch out for the offset hooks, i dont like them and dont really see the point of using them.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

I agree absolutely. You might as well be using j hooks. Thanks Brother 👌

[@freddielau5254]

Hi Billy, what types of hook for jigging? TQ

[@Billyfishing_watch]

For shore jigging, I use slow jig hooks always! This is because they are lighter and they don't hang up quite as often. 👌

[@Billyfishing_watch]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHfZZHyQjriDfbs

[@Billyfishing_watch]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJ23g4uBiKqYiJo

[@kenmare16]

Interesting video Billy. Notice both the hooks have barbs. Increasingly around the world barbless hooks are gaining popularity so as to minimise damage to fish, as well as other things including anglers in the event of mishap. I debarb or use barbless hooks for all my fishing except when baitfishing with J hooks as I believe the only worthwhile purpose they serve is to help keep bait on a hook. If to work properly circle hooks require the bait to be below the hook then on them barbs are useless?

[@Billyfishing_watch]

I have heard that said about the barb as well! But if you have ever tried to remove a hook from a fish, you will find the barb prevents you from doing it! Also when I fish these hooks in Norway, I use such a large bait! That smaller fish finds it almost impossible to eat them. Coupled with the fact, that it is illegal to return a legal sized fish here in Norway. It makes absolutely no difference. Thanks Brother 👌

[@Billyfishing_watch]

www.fiskeridir.no/Fritidsfiske/Minstemaal

[@londonviking3801]

Interesting history on the fishing hooks - puts the sport into perspective. Is this just for bait-fishing or would you use a circle for lure fishing too? Thanks again for your great tips.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

High Viking. For my assist hooks, I use slow jigging hooks. And they are quite similar to circle hooks. they are lighter, but don't have quite as much over curl to them! And they work fantastically. Hooks for plugs, I use inline j hooks. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@nomadhic567]

Boooooom! 🎉🎉🎉

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Thanks Brother 👌

[@jozsefronai9875]

There's a famous Japanese salt fisherman that has a circle hook necklace similar to yours Suzuki .... forgot his surname which got me thinking you bought it in Japan but obviously I won't make detective this year either!!!!! I been trying circle hooks this year for live baiting smelt back hooked for bass and have had 1 out of 3 hook ups but I'll keep persisting till I get it right!!!! Maybe I forgot to believe in the hook !!!

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Hi Jozse. In this case the hook could be the problem! When I see people using circle hooks for live baits, they always put the hook through the lip of the fish! This way it fishes, the way it was intended. If you put the hook in the back of the fish, maybe you should go with a live bait hook. Mustad one called hoodlum! They are excellent! They are very light and strong, and won't affect the way the fish swims. They also have more of a curl to them, than normal j hooks. And in a pinch I use them when I can't get circles.

[@01devilboy]

I will try them again sometime after missing a few fish where they just chewed the end it put me off

[@Billyfishing_watch]

I had a similar experience in the beginning, just keep at it. It will come right in the end 👌

[@michaelripley4528]

50kilos!! Halibut huh?? Or something exotic..? Q: But how about those small flatfish we have in Denmark? Circle hook okay… But should i try out a small dingle dangle for Them? Or just use the circle hook and bait as i have done for 40yrs😅 I see potential in the circle hook!!! Smaller ofcourse😃

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Hi bud. I have been catching small flatfish from the shores of Denmark, for over a decade! Using what I call a flatfish hair. You can see it in any of my flatfish videos. And you can find them in my playlist! I will link the build for the hair, just follow the link! Thanks brother 👌

[@Billyfishing_watch]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/epqWpoStqr-ImLc

[@michaelripley4528]

@ Thanks, yes i have seen some of the videos from our west coast 😎 I Will check the videos out💪🏻

[@johnrickards1908]

Great question my friend. I've often wondered if scaled-down dingle-dangles would work well for the smaller specimens I'm forced to fish for. 😊

[@michaelripley4528]

@ Thanks! Did you Watch the video Billy linked ? I Will try it out for spring! When flatfish become meaty again✌🏻

[@dtmccphotography]

Hake, you say, I would like "+ many others" to see you fish for the hake, or did I missssss that video

[@Billyfishing_watch]

You missed that video! But that's ok, just follow the link. Thanks Brother 😁👌

[@Billyfishing_watch]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJfVYpl6n7qdiLs

[@Fatamus]

Fish 🎣 mmm 😋 You get many black bass or rockfish there? Alaska here I always seem to find the Irish Lord or English lord damn ugly and massively bony fish.

[@Billyfishing_watch]

Nice, brother 😁✊