From what I have been reading, circle hooks are less likely to be swallowed by bream and shell cracker. Looking for a size 4 hook. Hard to find. Does the JDM market have these. Randy Goad are you listening? You know more about the JDM market than anybody I know.
That will be interesting to know. Good luck with the trout trip, Randy!
Bob
If you use a jig like a 1/32 or 1/16 with a #4 hook they do not swallow them. Put your live bait on it. I have done this a few hundred fish and never had one gut hooked. Good luck.
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If you looking for small circle hooks try Gamakatsu Circle Octopus Hooks. I’ve picked them up in the size small 8 up to large 5’0. The size 4-8 work well down here in South Louisiana on large redear and bluegill. To avoid gut hooking panfish or easier hook removal my recommendation is going with Eagle Claw Cricket Aberdeen Hook.
Good luck
I’ve been using VMC circle hooks in #6 for shellcrackers and bluegills this year and have only had a couple of fish gut hooked. The #6 hooks I found are about as large a hook as I want to use for panfish. I think a #4 would be too large.
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