You never set the hook on a circle or octopus & IMO if you're free spooling this could be the reason you're missing hookups.

With a circle/octopus, the fish essentially hooks itself & you just reel down on em. The way the hook turns in allows the hook to not gut hook them, but hook in the corner of the mouth.

i love the circle hooks. like chrstian said,tight drag and no clicker ina rod holder. wait for the bite and just start reeling. no setting required. mostly, the hook gets the corner of the mouth or in goes thru the eye socket. either way the chances of landing the fish are good.

+1