interesting ballyhoo circle hook rig

[Squidnation]

check it out

http://www.barefootfishing.net/media...s.php?video=v7

[Barefootin]

I had checked these out a while back when I was doing some research for my circle hook jig. My first impression was that they worked in the same way as a Hank Brown's gamefish rig only utilizing a circle hook.
My premise was that a circle hook needs to be at least semi free swinging to work correctly and that in these light weights they do function very well. I beleive that these chin weights would not be as effective in weights above 1 oz; at least that is what I have learned with fixed set circles.
I would give these a try; a unique, simple rig for sure.

[FAT CAT MX]

Well, the baits swim nicely, but I'm doubtful that the circle hook would work properly with the weight in the location it is. Seems like it would prevent hook-up, or help with premature release. I didn't notice anything about hook-ups on the site.

[BluePrints]

I got little faith in that working well. I just can't see why you would want to have a bulky chuck of lead in the way of a circle hook.

Maybe it works great. I'm sure somebody here will test it and report back.

[Squidnation]

I completely agree that a circle hook is much more effective when it is free to "do its thing" but I often wonder why we are so careful to make sure the circle has total manuverabilty while billfishing but have the utmost confidence in burying a circle hook in the flesh of a butterfish and have it completly hidden and embedded the flesh to the point of a being a stiff rig and still hook up tunas time after time

[Barefootin]

I have been building and fishing circle hook jigs in the 1/4 to to 11/16 oz sizes targetting Pompano, Reds, Flounder and Trout for the last couple of years. They work great in these sizes whether tipped with bait or naked. In these weights there is no drop in the hook up rate vs J hook jigs.
I would guess that these chin weight jigs are less than 1/2 oz and I would be very confident in using them in the bally / trolling application.
I have learned that stiff set circles do not function well in heavier weights. I go to a mojo style head utilizing a split ring to the head / hook connection for anything heavier than 3/4 oz.
Bill, I agree with your statement about the stiff rigged baits. I learned that the circle hook needs a certain amount of tension to function well. A correctly tied snell or loop knot snell will always out perform other connections and I beleive that is due to the tension created in the line. Adding a bait increases the tension even more.
When I first started building the heavier jigs with the split ring connection, my assumption was that totally free swinging was optimal. I was wrong. The hook needed tension to work properly, especially when fished naked which I had never tested. The jig performed perfectly with a bait attached and failed miserably naked. I solved this by adding a small section of shrink wrap over the split ring connection.
Tension is key; too much or too little reduces the hook up %. Just adding a properly rigged bait creates tension in the rig.
Semi stiff rigged performs the best for me but still dialing it in.

[sanchoco]

bill, I think the difference in burring the hook in a butterfish and ballyhoo is the target species. tuna feed quite differently than billfish and that may be why a free swinging hook works better for billfish.

after fishing circles for over 5 years for billfish and trying many different rigs I started using a rig with a barrel swivel. by freeing up the hook completely our hookup ratio went up 15%. that is fishing the same anglers(private Boat) for 9 years now. only change is the rig.

I think the weight may keep the hook from turning to find the corner. why not put the weight under the chin like normal. most people want to make things easier but don't think about why, just how.

there is a reason why 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. they don't take the easy way out.

[d-a]

bill, I think the difference in burring the hook in a butterfish and ballyhoo is the target species. tuna feed quite differently than billfish and that may be why a free swinging hook works better for billfish.

after fishing circles for over 5 years for billfish and trying many different rigs I started using a rig with a barrel swivel. by freeing up the hook completely our hookup ratio went up 15%. that is fishing the same anglers(private Boat) for 9 years now. only change is the rig.

I think the weight may keep the hook from turning to find the corner. why not put the weight under the chin like normal. most people want to make things easier but don't think about why, just how.

there is a reason why 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. they don't take the easy way out.

Can you post a picture of how your rigging with the swivel?

Thanks

d-a