Bruce & John - My problem(personal) with circle hooks is simply that they work too good! Actually, with a strong set and strain(either you or the fish) you can get a very DEEP set: a set that increases the possibility that if the line breaks off the fish cannot extrapolate the hook in a timely fashion. If I depended on fish for nourishment, circle hooks would be great!!!
However, I don't tie flies that ride hook up, because they can penetrate sinus cavities, eyes, and/or brains. There was a wonderful article in a magazine you would all know by a DVM a few years ago(that I recently threw away) delineating the anatomical and physiological reasons a fish feels "no pain" when hooked in the lower jaw. Doesn't say much about whatever cognitive activity goes on(if a fish can decide whether or not to strike it can THINK and experience the ramifications of that thought). If you look at the geometry and the geometric-physics of the circle hook, you will immediately see its steely efficiency. For me, personal preference, there is just too much risk in the hook being permanently lodge and the invitation for infection invited. That's all. Thanks for the query and the opportunity to express my opinion. Please feel free to respond on vfb or personally; I am always more than willing to learn and discern the misguided ways of my thinking!!!!!! Thom [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce P. Whittle, DVM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 5:51 PM Subject: Re: [VFB] ouch! and a warning > Thom, > Why did you say to abstain from circles? I have no experience with them > but thought they were supposed to be less problematic because they are much > less likely to hook deep. Just wondering, not trying to start an argument > ;>) > Bruce > > > ---------- > > From: Thom Daniel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Re: [VFB] ouch! and a warning > > Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 3:52 PM > > > > Well stated, Greg. Nor does it hurt to try and remain mindful of the fact > > that while we are standing waist deep in a river having the time of our > > life, there is another, equally sentient, living, thriving, creature at > the > > other end of our line who is fighting for his life. The fish don't know > > we're "just joking." Someone forgot to tell them. Another reason to > abstain > > from barbs, trebles, and circles. > > > > Thom > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Greg DiMedio" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 3:11 PM > > Subject: Re: [VFB] ouch! and a warning > > > > > > > I also have fished with guy who uses powerbait. It is a nasty > technique, > > > from what I can tell. > > > > > > He dead drifts the powerbait along the stream bottom in moving water > and > > > waits for the trout to take it. A majority of the time, the trout > swallow > > > it, and he has to cut off the line, leaving the toxic mess and treble > hook > > > inside. He admits that a number of fish die from the > swallowing/fight/hook > > > damage. > > > > > > There has been a lot about ethics on this list; all I know is that if > we > > > look at ethics with a broader view of angling, fly fishermen should be > > more > > > tolerant of each other's views and opinions. > > > > >
