Check Your Hook Selection

At a recent fishing lecture we hears a short discussion about the right selection of fish hooks. I have always preached the use of circle hooks because they are a necessity for catch and release anglers. The theory of the circle hook is simple and is shown on the illustration below.

On a typical Jay hook shown at the bottom illustration, the fish swallows the hook and as force is applied by the anglers retrieve, the hook lodges in the gut of the fish. We call this being gut hooked. In the top illustration, after the fish swallows the hook, the small inward curve at the tip of the hook is such that it simply comes out of the gut when pressure is applied. As the fish starts to bend its head back and forth as they always do, the hook sets itself in the top or side of the mouth of the fish where little or no damage is done.
Part of the recent discussion concerned the size of the hook that is appropriate for Lake Norman, and what size is normal for catfish. My theory is a little different from some that have been expressed. For normal fishing on this lake I believe a number 1 or better yet a 1/0 is adequate for all fish in this water. If you are specifically fishing only for catfish, you can go up to a number 4 circle and that hook will catch any catfish in the lake.
Some anglers go as high as a number 8 or even 10 circle for catfish. This is my theory. Blue cats, that are the biggest ones in the lake, like to munch on the bait for a second or two before they decide to take off with it. I your hook is too big they will feel it and let go. So for specific fishing for catfish, you want a hook that has a GAPE that is large enough to easily fit around the hard muscle around the front of the mouth. I have found that a number 4 circle is more than adequate for the biggest cats in this lake. I have caught 40 pound cats with a number 1/0 circle with no problem so I recommend a smaller hook if you have a choice.
Remember, most break-offs come from a failed knot so be sure to wet your knot when making it, especially for mono line.