As far as I can tell, MN DNR’s Tom Jones has published the only scientific study specifically testing circle hooks on walleye…ever? It was a small sample size, but here’s what he found when comparing them to traditional “J-hooks” on Mille Lacs….
Overall:
> “…circle hooks killed 12% of fish landed whereas J-hooks killed 27%.”
But NOT how/why you might think…. 🤔
> …not because circle hooks don’t gut-hook walleyes – as many of their promoters claim. In fact, circle hooks gut-hook walleyes at almost the same rate as traditional hooks….
> After letting the fish take the bait for 20 seconds – a length of time intended to maximize the likelihood fish began to swallow the hook, Jones instructed anglers to start reeling in – the proper technique for circle hooks. Anglers did the same for J-hooks, except after 20 seconds they set the hook with a yank of the rod as they normally would.
What they found:
> Anglers were about 15% LESS successful in hooking a fish with circle hooks than J-hooks.
> Once hooked, both hooks were equally successful at keeping fish on the line so they could be landed.
> Circle hooks deep-hooked 44% of the fish, slightly fewer than the traditional hooks, which gut-hooked 53% – but that difference wasn’t statistically significant.
> The internal injury rate for circle hooks was lower than J-hooks, and the damage was often less severe – less likely to be fatal to the fish.
> Bottom line: Circle hooks would have likely killed 12% of the fish that took the bait, compared to 27% for traditional hooks.
Layman’s terms:
People miss way more fish with circle hooks. So circle hooks “kill” less walleyes simply because folks catch less fish when using ‘em.
When walleyes have swallowed the hook: Circle hooks apparently do less damage because you’re supposed to do a steady, reeling hookset…instead of swinging for the fences and potentially ripping their insides out.
My thoughts:
It’s pretty interesting to debunk the whole gut-hooking myth…. Buuuut regardless of what style of hook you use, if 12% or 27% of the fish you catch are dying, then you’re taking WAY too long to set the hook…. 🤷♂️ Just saying.
