No more running around in "Circles" *Hooks*

[inshorebasher]

Okay so as i'm preparing for our overnighter snapper trip I stumbled upon a great discussion and information regarding circle hooks. Since i'm a "J" hook type of guy I learned more about circle hooks in one day then i've been practicing in my whole time fishing w/ them. Hip to be square but cool to be circle!

Thread on FS on circle Hooks

[goindeep]

Great thread. I actually read it a few days ago while browsing over there. SkyJay was just telling me about snelling hooks last week, then I stumbled on that thread. Gonna have to start practicing tying those.

I read the FS forums quite a bit. Great info over there.

[tylerdurden]

thanks for the info, i still havent made the switch to circles yet tho....

my question is- When grouper fishing you got really bare down on those guys to get them away from a whole, but from what i hear you are gentle and basically let the fish hook itself. How do you do that if you are running backwards horsing the fish out of its hole

[ripnlips]

i have had much better luck with freelining for grouper since i went to circle hooks. i use the ones that have the eye bent back a little so it works better when you snell them. i use a snell because it has direct contact with the shank and it doesn't wobble around like other knots tied to the eye. i use circle hooks for grouper and tarpon but i still use j hooks for almost everything else.

[eaglesfanguy]

Circles for everything but sabikis.
If your running across the pier setting a hook.. your just lookin like a fool. theres stretch in the line flex of the rod..
Use a circle point the rod at the fish and just crank.. winch there asses in.
Grouper fishing isnt a catch and release sport. its about MEAT.. not the fun of the fight.. crank them beastes out.

[inshorebasher]

hey tyler from my grouper diggin' experiences yes you do have to dig like h3ll!!!! once you get that tap.... your rod should be at least pointed in the horizon and not in the air or a little below. then start turning the handle like crazy! my first time on "The VIking", i learned that lesson....."Capt. Rich and Tackle Engineer were calling me a TV fisherman" because i was high sticking it". point down and wench them fish in.

[tylerdurden]

thanx for the advice. I only started doing that cuz last year you guys were talking about the skyway shuffle, which i assumed was you guys backing up while reeling in the fish

[inshorebasher]

yeah on skyway its different from a boat. once a grouper is hooked its a good idea to hold the rod up high and walk back to keep the tension on to pull them out the rocks. but offshore on the boat its different and the technique me and stephen (eaglesfan) is talking about is winching from a boat.

[goindeep]

Man, F those snell knots. Ive never had a harder time trying to tie a friggin knot. After about 20 tries, I think I got one good one, and that took about 6 minutes to get right. I checked out 4 or 5 different ways to tie em on youtube, and while it looks easy with a limp string, stiff mono is a different story.

Man Im frustrated right now.

[tylerdurden]

I hear ya GD. Ive been doing my same knot since i was old enough to hold a pole and when i briefly switched to braid tried the uni knot. It only worked bout a 3rd of the time. Havent tried the snell yet but i can see where it could be difficult. I have lost some hook ups but thats only cuz i was using a tiny hook

[inshorebasher]

lmao, i tried it and failed first time, then i also found there's 2 ways to approach it. i was able to tie a 80lb leader fine and after about 3 times memory finally kicked in and i think i can snell a hook. over/under/wrap 7x's/pull hahahah j/k it takes practice.

[bill jacques]

All I use is uni knots and never have a problem

[zam0203]

the uni knot and the snell are practically the same just on the shank and off when doing the snell think of the shank as the other peice of line in the uni thats all it is. o and the uni to uni is the best leader knot in my opinion. just my 2 cents

to many knots learned most suck but i still know them.

[zam0203]

hey jay now explain to these guys how to do a bimini twist (big confusing knot for everyone else) because if they cant do a snell im 99.9% sure they cant figure that out lol

[tylerdurden]

its not that i cant do it, im just lazy. My knot i can tie in the dark and tie it quick. Jest dont wanna switch. If that knot is that easy i'll try it.

[eaglesfanguy]

HAHAHHAHAA Leave it to Jay to point these youngins in the right direction... The snell is tricky but i do something similar to it cant remember it ever breaking.
bring your main line through the loop down the shank of the hook. About 3 ,4 inches past. Pinch line with fingers to the shank and wrap bottom up , above your pinch point. about 4 to 7 wraps, keep it tight, then take tag end and put it through the small loop where your fingers are. Spit on it and pull tight .. Pull tighter .. Snip tag end off go fishing.

Heres an easy ass way to tie a snell.. www.animatedknots.com/snell/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

[ripnlips]

hey steve, i'll have to show you how i tie a snell. it takes very little practice and i can tie 125 mono in about 30 seconds ready to bait up.

[inshorebasher]

<---130# umm definitely not winning any timed races. yes thats right folks i'm going to be using 130# test offshore to go fish. Tug o' War w/ them bottom dwellers.