John wrote:
We have tried circle hooks on popping bugs and they absolutely DO
NOT CATCH
SQUAT!

It does appear that circle hooks are a bait fishing only technology.
They rely on the fish closing its mouth and holding the bait
momentarily,
which doesn't happen on lightning fast streamer and popper strikes.

Ironically, it also seems (according to a Florida Fish and Game study)
that bait fishing with circle hooks does do less damage to salt water
game fish that lure fishing with conventional hooks:

Large treble and even single hooks often hook deep in the gullet,
while circle hooks always snag the corner of the mouth.