wrote in message
...
On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:21:32 -0500, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:


Have either of you tried long-shank circle hooks? They are essentially
"self-setting" (keep tension on the line rather than "setting" the hook)
and while they aren't appropriate (or necessary) for all quarry, they
are useful for many of the "hard mouth" species. And if you intend to C
& R, they greatly reduce gut- and deep-hooking. A Google search should
turn up quite a bit of info on them - probably much of the info will be
on the standard-shank "bait" models (for tuna, snapper, etc.), but the
theory of operation is the same and Mustad, etc., makes 2X for flies.

As to "muscle memory" and trying to set with the rod rather than the
line, you might try simply spending some time "practice setting"
immediately before you actually try to fish.

TC,
R

I have no experience with circle hooks and Musky, but we used them while
fishing for Halibut up in Alaska a couple years ago. They proved to be very
effective. I had the same problem of not using the rod to set the hook, but
letting the halibut take the bait and set the hook. They are designed to set
the hook in the corner of the mouth (as you mentioned) when they turn after
taking the bait. If you set the hook, it would just pull out of their mouth.
It was difficult to hold back from setting the hook, similar to learning a
sweep or line set on Musky. The first few bites, everyone yarded back on the
rod to set the hook. Ultimately it was a great day, the boat limited and my
buddy and I both landed 90 pounders.

I had never thought about using the circle hooks on other species, but I
don't see why they wouldn't work well...

Thanks,
JT