The Mustad C71SSS circle streamer hook is not a traditional circle hook like the bait fishermen use. It has a regular straight shank. As stated I use it for salt water fly fishing. Sizes 1, 2, 1/0. Species; sea trout, mackerel, redfish, snook. No problems hooking or releasing.
Yes, I have heard that using the c-shaped circle hooks you have to let the fish hook himself. But our salt water species usually attack the fly like a large mouth bass, so this has not been a problem for hook ups. I am still experimenting with these. I have not tried circle hooks on fresh water trout. At 02:30 PM 2/1/02 -0800, you wrote: >--- Ginger Allen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> I also am using the C71SSS for salt water streamer >> experimentation. No problems so far. > >Ginger, >No problems with what, hookups or release of the fish? >Out of curiosity, what species of fish are you >targeting with the flies tied on these hooks? > >In my experience with this type of hook, for which >freshwater trout were the only species targeted, they >did not work well at all. In fact, in my opinion they >were counterproductive. I think for these hooks to >work, the fish need to "chew", for lack of another >term, which trout rarely do when they take a fly. >Also, when trying to set the hook, the fly, as a >result of the point configuration, would slip right >out of the mouth of the trout. It took a while to get >used to having to wait until the fish turned on the >fly before I set the hook. > >All this said, the biggest problem I have with these >circle hooks as they apply to trout is that, even with >crimping the barb, the fish was still handled for a >SIGNIFICANTLY longer time to get the hook out. It is >not as simple as just pushing backwards on the hook to >get it out; there has to be an actual rotation of the >fly. I have yet to figure out a way to do so without >touching the fish. As a result of the increased >handling, there is obviously a much higher risk of >mortality. > >There has been a growing push to promote these hooks >for C&R purposes in freshwater. Anyone preaching that >these are "THE" catch and release hooks for trout, >which I have heard in the past, needs to experiment >more. > >For larger species and/or species that feed >differently than the trout I have targeted, it may be >a whole other case entirely. For those cases I cannot >say because, unfortunately, I have no personal >experience with these hooks being used for anything >but trout. > >Has anyone used these hooks extensively in the >freshwater for trout and are your observations >different? > >DJ > >This is going to be a fun thread! > > >===== >http://www.geocities.com/salmn8r/caddisforkids.html > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! >http://auctions.yahoo.com > Ginger M. Allen Sr. Biological Scientist Florida Master Naturalist Program Coordinator Department of Wildlife & Ecology Conservation University of Florida/SWFREC 2686 SR 29 N Immokalee, FL 34142-9515 PH (941)658-3409(suncom974-3409) Fax (941)658-3469(suncomfax974-3469)
