Gents,

Two hook related questions:

1. In almost any circle hook product line, there will be a small diameter wire and a large diameter wire option. I'm curious which yall prefer, and why.

I have my own bias, but thought I'd ask the rest of catfish nation about it.

Second question: are kahles hooks effective while drift fishing?

shane

I think a lot of guys use kahle hooks with success.

Big bait= big hook/diameter and vice versa. Kahle hooks work great especially for smaller fish and if you can't break yourself from jerking.

With using circle hook you could walk away from your rod and come back and the fish will be waiting on you. I typically use circle hooks ranging from #4-#7 .

I take lots of bass fishermen catfishing, and when I tell them "dont set the hook on that fish", its like telling them "just open that beer, set it in the sun, and dont drink it".

just doesnt seem logical to them, so when they occasionally miss a fish (while not setting the hook) they blame the hook.

also... kahles are a heckuvalot cheaper than any decent circle hook. I had 3 Eagle Claw circles BREAK off on stumps this weekend, so I'm rethinking my hook selection entirely.

how bout the large dia wire vs small dia wire question?

Go with gamakatsu octopus circles, or mustads and you won't have them break anymore. Team catfish has a double action circle, you can set the hook with a upward swiping hook set or let em load up the rod and hook themselves. I just got 100 6/0 octopus circles on eBay for 11 bucks.( insert banana dance here)

Prefer Matzuao Sickle Hook's. You can set the hook or let it load....I just can't go Catti'n without setti'n the hook.
They are Lazer sharp and the wire is FAT. Cost a bit more than thin wire but you don't bend none. 10/0 during Summer and 7/0 during winter. Ya'll have a Good'Un.

Good Fishing

Thats interesting, most guys downsize in summer and upsize in winter...

I might be wrong but I believe the Cat's don't expend as much energy to attack bait's in Winter as they do in Summer. They are more dormant. Just preference I guess. But the law's of Cattin are so diverse that it is impossible to master, which I think is one of the implications that attract me to this sport and the Love of it.