For some time I have been searching for a circle hook that could catch big bluegill. My choice baits are giant mealworms and european nightcrawlers. Most circle hooks have just been too big for bluegill. I have had great success with circles for catfish.
I saw these advertised in a panfish magazine and immediately went to Bass Pro, Cabela's, and Catfish Connection with no luck. I did a search on Ask.com and only found 2 places that showed them and neither had any in stock. Then my wife asked the dumb question "Have you tried Ebay?"
I did an Ebay search for 'Eagle Claw circle hook' and on the third of ten pages one person had 5 packages of 10 for sale. He was the only one on Ebay with #6's. I bought all 5 packs. Tonight I went to the pond with some mealworms. I tied the hook, baited and tossed under a weighted foam float. No sooner than the float hit the water than it started running across the top of the water. I took way too much time, tightened the line and in came a smallish bluegill, hooked in the side of the mouth. I rebaited and repeated this for about 15 small fish, none big enough to keep, some too small to be caught on a #6 hook. I was hoping for a 3 lb channel cat to come along for a big fish trial, but it did not happen.
I only felt the tug of one fish that did not hook up. I did leave some out there too long and they did get my bait, but no gut hooks! This hook make live bait fishing so easy that anybody can do it.
The extreme point of the hook does take a little getting used to. It makes it a little difficult to get the bait on and the fish off.
Still I would recommend this hook for the young fisherman who skills have not developed and the older fisherman whose skills have deminished. I may fit in this catagory in a few years and my first grandson is now 9 months.
These hooks will be in my tackle box for the rest of my life. They also make them in #4. That might be really good for crappie.
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