I am considering moving from a “traditional Ballyhoo pin rig” in hunting dolphin to circle hooks rigged either “pro style on the top of the nose” or rigged in front of the Hoo. Does anyone have some advice to share on which of these options gets the best results and/or how to fish these rigs? Thank you guys in advance for any help with this.
I like to rig them with the hook secured to the top of the nose and a chin weight strapped below the chin. Troll a little bit slower 3-5knts and fish a light strike drag. You want to give the fish a chance to take the bait without feeling you, eat it, and then turn from the boat. Push your drag up as the fish turns, reel tight and start fighting the fish.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
Thanks Touche. I was planning on rigging a 1/2 ounce chin weight and wax rigging floss. I am assuming that you have to make the drag super light.
388 Edgewater
Edisto Island, SC
T’anks Darlin’, Don’t Mind If I Do!
You can also use monel or copper wire. Twist a little loop on one end, run non-twisted end down through the soft-spot of the nose from top down coming out under the chin, slide your chin weight on and then wrap the ballyhoo head like you normally would for trolling. Behind both gill plates, around through eyes, around and then down the bill.
I know a guy that will troll two circles with the drags barely above freespool, clickers off and holds the main line of both rods with his index fingers while trolling. As soon as he feels a bump, drops the line immediately free-spools and feeds.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
Touche thanks again for the advice! I am going to give it a try.
388 Edgewater
Edisto Island, SC
T’anks Darlin’, Don’t Mind If I Do!
We wax thread the chin weight to the hoo and knock the eyes out with a wooden dowel ahead of time. We’ll do enough for a day…brine them and store on ice bed.
We have found it convenient to run a tiny zip-tie (the smallest u can find)through the eye hole and around the base of the circle hook. This has proven fast and efficient for us, yet yielding the same results as some of the more traditional methods.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
quote:
Originally posted by pescazorroWe wax thread the chin weight to the hoo and knock the eyes out with a wooden dowel ahead of time. We’ll do enough for a day…brine them and store on ice bed.
We have found it convenient to run a tiny zip-tie (the smallest u can find)through the eye hole and around the base of the circle hook. This has proven fast and efficient for us, yet yielding the same results as some of the more traditional methods.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
Is the ziptie the only thing connecting the circle hook to the bait or do you run the hook through the x on the forehead as well?
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
Are dolphin as sensitive to any “pull” on the hook as say Sailfish are?
388 Edgewater
Edisto Island, SC
T’anks Darlin’, Don’t Mind If I Do!
quote:
Originally posted by pescazorroWe have found it convenient to run a tiny zip-tie (the smallest u can find)through the eye hole and around the base of the circle hook. This has proven fast and efficient for us, yet yielding the same results as some of the more traditional methods.
Interesting. Assume with that route you don’t use chin weights?
To add what Touche was saying…when running circle hooks keep the drags just tight enough to keep it from pulling line off when trolling.
Or you can pinch and twist the line around the flatline or outrigger clip so it can be completely in freespool. We keep the clickers on so we can hear it if a fish eats and runs but obviously turn it off when you are dropping back.
No, the dolphin are not anywhere close to as sensitive as sailfish. I have pulled the hook on them plenty of times just for them to come back and eat the mangled bait a second time.
quote:
Originally posted by Touchequote:
Originally posted by pescazorroWe wax thread the chin weight to the hoo and knock the eyes out with a wooden dowel ahead of time. We’ll do enough for a day…brine them and store on ice bed.
We have found it convenient to run a tiny zip-tie (the smallest u can find)through the eye hole and around the base of the circle hook. This has proven fast and efficient for us, yet yielding the same results as some of the more traditional methods.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
Is the ziptie the only thing connecting the circle hook to the bait or do you run the hook through the x on the forehead as well?
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
we just zip tie the hook to the hoo. They have run well for us.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
quote:
Originally posted by shevlinquote:
Originally posted by pescazorroWe have found it convenient to run a tiny zip-tie (the smallest u can find)through the eye hole and around the base of the circle hook. This has proven fast and efficient for us, yet yielding the same results as some of the more traditional methods.
Interesting. Assume with that route you don’t use chin weights?
No we still use chin weight…we just zip tie the hook to the hoo. They seem to run well for us this way and you can re-rig and deploy baits super fast after your cleaning up from a catch and trying to get all your rods back in action.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
quote:
Originally posted by pescazorroquote:
Originally posted by shevlinquote:
Originally posted by pescazorroWe have found it convenient to run a tiny zip-tie (the smallest u can find)through the eye hole and around the base of the circle hook. This has proven fast and efficient for us, yet yielding the same results as some of the more traditional methods.
Interesting. Assume with that route you don’t use chin weights?
No we still use chin weight…we just zip tie the hook to the hoo. They seem to run well for us this way and you can re-rig and deploy baits super fast after your cleaning up from a catch and trying to get all your rods back in action.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
Gotcha. Unless I’m missing something I would think that if you are taking the time to use floss to rig the chin weights it would be just as fast to slide the hook under the X in the nose as it would be to use a zip tie.
Not trying to argue man just trying to figure out if this is something I should try.
we use 1/4 ounce lead and also tie hook in place after slipped under x to keep from slipping. 2-4 lb drag max no clicker and almost in free spool while trolling. leave a little more bill than normal helps it to dig and we never twist line in outrigger clips. but im more intersted in catching sailfish than dolphin.
Circle hooks suck for dolphin. Just remember to feed them the line until they crap it out the other end, and the drop it back some more!
quote:
Originally posted by skinneejCircle hooks suck for dolphin. Just remember to feed them the line until they crap it out the other end, and the drop it back some more!
Ner’ a truer word spoken on this site…
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
Thanks Fellas for all the advice! I am going to try some variations on your posts in an effort to see if we can remove the suck from using circles on our fine tasting friends!!
388 Edgewater
Edisto Island, SC
T’anks Darlin’, Don’t Mind If I Do!
quote:I think it's the way that their mouth is shaped, but if you can straighten some of those circles back into J-hooks, they will probably work well. Some of the best circle hook anglers in the world have trouble hooking dolphin on circles. I'm not saying it can't be done. It's done every day, but it's certainly not the most effective means.
Originally posted by MojoeThanks Fellas for all the advice! I am going to try some variations on your posts in an effort to see if we can remove the suck from using circles on our fine tasting friends!!
388 Edgewater
Edisto Island, SCT’anks Darlin’, Don’t Mind If I Do!
I guess I am trying to figure out why you are doing it? That’s like asking how to make a fire out of wet wood…
In the sailfish arena, the circles were a godsend in terms of hookup percentages. I fish with them all the time for sails. I would like to see if I can see the same type of results in basic trolling rigs. I know it is an uphill battle, but I like experimenting with things like this. I also enjoy doing my taxes, so go figure!! :-)))
388 Edgewater
Edisto Island, SC
T’anks Darlin’, Don’t Mind If I Do!
I think one of the other problems is that a dolphin will charge up, inhale a bait and then charge on to the next one. There isn’t a stop, turn away from boat and digest moment that pulls the hook to the corner of the mouth like you get with sails.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
I believe you are right Touche regarding the “turn away” action or rather the lack of one with the dolphin. If they come at the bait however from just about any angle except straight from behind there is a chance. Now all I have to do is train all the dolphin in the general vicinity of Edisto not to eat the bait from behind.
388 Edgewater
Edisto Island, SC
T’anks Darlin’, Don’t Mind If I Do!