Circle Hooks for Kenai Sockeyes

There are many techniques and rigging setups for catching Kenai Sockeye with a rod and reel. I use Circle Hooks exclusively and this is how I do it.

[@daveriley6310]

Thank you, Toad. I'll be tying some of those this week after checking the regs. Then if they're legal, it's the Kasilof where the run is already strong and then a week of so later the Kenai.

[@tundratoad7046]

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Have been and still am fishing. Let me know how the circles work out for you.

[@samgibson684]

Quality video! Very nicely done! Subbed and looking forward to learning more!

[@tundratoad7046]

Welcome aboard!

[@tearoftaste4183]

Been fishing the Kenai for reds for 30 years myself. definitely going to try the circle hooks. I think it will help my 14 year old son hook more reds. He's still learning. The only problem i'm going to have is remembering not to set the hook. Its a bad temptation when you feel that tug. Great video. I'm mostly in Swiftwater when fishing.

[@tundratoad7046]

Tear of Taste - Thanks for watching! I know what you mean by being tempted to set the hook, I'm still trying to reprogram my brain. There is no age restriction on Circle Hooks, that young lady (10 year old) on the cover of the 2020 Southcentral Fishing Regs is a Circle Hook user.

[@blaahster]

Great video! Very clear and concise. This should be the technique everyone should try.

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to watch. It takes a little time to get the hang of using this technique. I'm still working on it, have the devil of a time resisting the urge to "set the hook".

[@AlaskaPirates]

Thanks Toad, I just found your channel. This is such a smart idea, I will be spending part of the summer on the Kenai this year, you can bet you will be trying this out!

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks for for watching! Let me know how you do.

[@AlaskaPirates]

@@tundratoad7046 I will! I will be testing out the rigs for myself this summer on the peninsula. I’m planning on shooting a lot more fishing videos this year too.

[@canelo84071]

I really like your video it’s very convenient you guys did very well I’m going next summer to kenai hopefully i can fish 🎣 with you will be my pleasure 😀

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks for watching! Much appreciated!

[@user-bo3ng7qk4t]

Tried the 2/0 gamagatsu circle hook this year first 3 fish came off so I switched back to my old setup and landed the next 4 fish. I will try some 3/0 next year and see if they get a better bite on the fish then the 2/0 did. Always good to get something new to try though. Thanks for your videos I like all the detail you put into them.

[@tundratoad7046]

What Knot were you using to attach the hook?

[@stevenkahn3151]

I tied it with the egg loop knot just like you showed in the video and used what looked like the same size bead as your pic showed. the only difference I could see was I did'nt debarb the hook so maybe that was the issue?

[@tundratoad7046]

@@stevenkahn3151 Let me think a little, I’m going into the bush for a couple weeks so I might come up with an answer to why the Circles weren’t working for you 🤔

[@tundratoad7046]

Howdy, I’ve mulled over why those 2/0 Gamakatsu circles didn’t work for you, and for the sake of me I couldn’t come up with a concrete explanation. There are, however, a few possibilities to investigate. The first thing that comes to mind is the urge to “set the hook” upon contact, don’t do that. Just apply a little more pressure, the current and the fish will do the rest. Next, I would look at the position of your leader as it relates to the point of the hook. The leader, as it exits the eye, should be parallel to the point to be effective. To accomplish this, I use a standard egg loop knot, with only two or three wraps behind the eye. I then place a 6mm bead on my leader and run the leader down through the eye. The idea is to load up the loop so that the leader is forced to exit the eye parallel to the hook point. Sometimes I use just a bit of yarn or a bead/yarn combination to get the desired results. Hope this helps! The 3/0 Gamakatsu Nautilus is a good choice and I’ve had great success with them, although I’m now slightly modifying mine so that the point is inline with the shank. Good Luck!

[@ricklovall6430]

Excellent tutorial video!!

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks for watching!

[@briankohan4083]

I’ve been using circles for the last 4 years for reds. For folks switching over from a J, stick with it and don’t be discouraged by the ripper turning and fouling fish about every other cast next to you. It’s impossible to foul the fish with a circle and once you’re dialed in with this tackle you’ll land just about every fish you hook. Honestly, I think circles should be regulation for reds!

[@tundratoad7046]

Right on Brian! Thanks for your comment. I agree, Circles should be mandatory for reds just from the safety aspect, if not for the resource. Again this season I landed a number of Reds that had picked up J hook jewelry somewhere along the way to my Circle Hook, and I saw more than a few floating by with mortal wounds.

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

Mandating circle hooks would definitely help protect many Salmon from those who cannot/do not fish properly....the ripper as you've dubbed them. A proper flossing drift should rarely snag fish even if using a standard J hook.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Interesting, I have not seen a circle hook used for sockeye. I may have to give this a try. Thanks.

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks for watching! Let us know how you do. I had no problem laying in a winters supply of Reds.

[@terrysharp5025]

I bought some of the 2/0 circle hooks. They look bigger than the 3/8 hook but carefully measured is the same, I tied several with 20 lb flouro so July can’t come soon enough

[@tundratoad7046]

Terry, thanks for watching! I agree, July can't come soon enough. If you're talking about the Gamakatsu Nautilus 2/0, I would not recommend using it on the Upper Kenai or in fly fishing only waters. I have measured and remeasured that hook by every means I could think of, and no matter what method I used the gap winds up being 1/32" over 3/8". Don't think I would like trying to convince a Trooper that it met the 3/8" gap requirement. The Gamakatsu Nautilus in 1/0 however, would be legal. It measures 1/64" less than 3/8". For fishing the Lower Kenai Mainstream you're good to go with the 2/0.

[@jackbaiter6003]

This was great, going to try it with the circle hooks this season for sure Thanks

[@tundratoad7046]

Have fun!

[@joshuaflores1990]

99 percent of the yokels who fish the Kenai would not have a clue how to use a circle hook since they are usually freshwater hacks who think they are fishing waleye. This is advanced flossing, not Kenai 101. Nice video

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks, I appreciate your comment! It doesn't take long to recognize someone who is using the "Kenai Jerk", and depending on who is watching could result in a citation.

[@sharplikestump]

Thank you, Sir. Interesting variation that obviously produces. Excited to try. This appears to have the potential of reducing both the number of fouls as well as the number that shake off. Would you mind sharing what size hook you prefer? Thanks again.

[@tundratoad7046]

I primarily use a 3/0 Gamakatsu Nautilus as it is slightly heaver than the 2/0. However, I do use the 2/0 if it has a fly pattern I like. I should mention that the 3/0 doesn't meet the gap requirement for a fly fishing only area and the 2/0 is just a hare over regulation. If you will fishing in a fly only area the 1/0 Gamakatsu will work.

[@tundratoad7046]

Just a follow up, I fish the lower Kenai, the hook gap requirement of 3/8 inch or less applies to the upper Kenai.

[@damienbell3155]

I will try them. Buying sum tomorrow at bass pro

[@tundratoad7046]

Have fun!

[@fishbuscharters]

Well done! No BS or garbage;

[@tundratoad7046]

Much appreciated, thanks!

[@leonardmartin3545]

Thanks

[@tundratoad7046]

I appreciate your comment! Only two more months before the "Reds" start showing up on my stringer, Ha!

[@tundratoad7046]

I appreciate your comment! Only two more months before the "Reds" start showing up on my stringer, Ha!

[@robertskelton4561]

Tundra, thanks, want to try circles this year, can they be used downstream of the Russian River mouth?

[@tundratoad7046]

Robert, the answer to your question is YES! If you will be fishing in a fly fishing only area make sure the hook gap meets regulation.

[@tundratoad7046]

Just checked the regulations and the hook gap for the upper Kenai is 3/8 inch or less.

[@jordannijjar5414]

Nice vid

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks for watching!

[@fishing4life76]

What is the good fishing knot for salmon? Nice video

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks for dropping in! The short answer is, it depends. If you are talking about "flossing" Sockeye (using yarn and Circle Hooks), then a Egg Loop Knot with only two tor three wraps behind the eye is what I use. If you are talking about using a fly pattern on a Circle Hook, then a Uni Knot with the leader passed down thru the eye so it's parallel to the point works well. Last season I started using a "improved' version of the Uni Knot called the Fish N Fool Knot, again with the leader passed down thru the eye so it's parallel to the point. If you haven't already done so, take a look at my "A Better Knot?" video for info on how I tie the Fish N Fool Knot. I used it on King's this season and did not have one knot failure.

[@robertpaluska6354]

What size fly rod weight and length are you using for the Kenai sockeyes?

[@tundratoad7046]

Robert - Thanks for the question! I use either a 9 foot", 9wt or 10wt.

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

Thanks for the video....gonna tie up some Sockeye flies on circle hooks. And thanks also for showing the proper drifting technique that does not include the snagging rip at the end. Pains me to see people causing undue harm and trauma to so many fish do to foul hooking.

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks and welcome aboard! The more folks we can convince to use Circle Hooks, the less damage to the resource. Every year I see a lot of Sockeye that have been ripped open from J hooks with no chance of reaching the spawning grounds.

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

@@tundratoad7046 Agree! J hooks are not bad if fished properly....has been all I use and rarely snag a fish. But I'm gonna give circles a try this year none the less.

[@tundratoad7046]

@@Randy_Savage_ohyeah You are right on with "if fished properly". I used J hooks as well, but since I started using Circle Hooks on Sockeye I have archived my J hooks. Let us know how the Circles work for you. Remember, that to be really effective, whatever knot you use to tie on your Circle, the leader must exit the eye so that it is parallel to the point of the hook. Good Luck!

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

@@tundratoad7046 I will try it here in a few weeks and will report back. Thanks for reminder on proper tying.

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

@@tundratoad7046 was up 27 July through 5 August, unfortunately missed the bulk of the fish that came in the week prior. Did have a couple good days near Russian confluence. Tried circle for a few minutes and lost the one I hooked. Wasn't sure how to properly tie it on with pre-tied flies so quickly gave up not wanting to risk missing any more fish with the tough conditions. Will have to figure out proper tying or just use a plain hook with bead or yarn.

[@spencerwalgamott5729]

What size of circle hook do you use

[@tundratoad7046]

Thanks for watching! As to your question, I haven't settled on any one size yet. This past season I experimented with 4/0, 3/0 and 2/0's in different brands, caught Reds on them all. For the little stretch of the Kenai I was fishing in (Lower Kenai), I found that the Gamakatsu Nautilus in 2/0 or 3/0 or the Mutu Light In-Line Tournament in 3/0 worked especially well for me. Note: These hooks DO NOT meet the gap requirement o the Upper Kenai. The 1/0 Gamakatsu Nautilus Circle DOES.