Circle hooks fo ''tigers''
- Thread starter FishingPT
- Start date
I've heard the following (but haven't tested it yet..) :
The most important thing when baiting up is that the circle's point have to be proud and the "gap" between the hook-point and hook-shaft as unobstructed as possible, for the hook to work.
An effective way to achieve this, is to cut a piece of fillet (tiger, bream, bulldog ect.) into a strip of about 2cm wide, and about 6-10cm long, tapering toward the other end to form an elonginated triange. The circle-hook is inserted about 1cm into the fillet through the middle of the wider (2cm) end.. The baitstrip thus hangs in the bend of the circle-hook thru the one (wider 2cm) end, and the loose end dangle below, hanging free.
This gives a nice life-like "swimming-action" to the bait while drift-baiting, and ensures that the hook itself is not obstructed by the bait. The only down-side to this method is that the tiger might only bite on the free end and thus "short-biting" the hook.
Hope this makes sense.
The most important thing when baiting up is that the circle's point have to be proud and the "gap" between the hook-point and hook-shaft as unobstructed as possible, for the hook to work.
An effective way to achieve this, is to cut a piece of fillet (tiger, bream, bulldog ect.) into a strip of about 2cm wide, and about 6-10cm long, tapering toward the other end to form an elonginated triange. The circle-hook is inserted about 1cm into the fillet through the middle of the wider (2cm) end.. The baitstrip thus hangs in the bend of the circle-hook thru the one (wider 2cm) end, and the loose end dangle below, hanging free.
This gives a nice life-like "swimming-action" to the bait while drift-baiting, and ensures that the hook itself is not obstructed by the bait. The only down-side to this method is that the tiger might only bite on the free end and thus "short-biting" the hook.
Hope this makes sense.
This is a rig used on Kariba with some success. You could replace the back hook with a 4/0 VMC sure set circle hook (7387). It is important that the trace is snelled it to the hook shank after bringing it through the front of the hook eye, to continue the shape of the circle with the leader.
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I normally just hook the bream through the body at the end of the dorsal fin, a thing to remember when using circle hooks is let the tigger run as she's running just quickly wind in the line that will set the hook, no need to strike at all, which is something you have to get used to.
Instead of live bait a big sardine fillet with the circle hook exposed at the thick end of the fillet also works, again let her run and then wind quickly
Instead of live bait a big sardine fillet with the circle hook exposed at the thick end of the fillet also works, again let her run and then wind quickly
Hi Fishing PT
Ideally you should hook the livebait through the top lip, or nose with the circle hook. You only need to use one hook. A small bridle rig like we use for marlin offshore with bonnies will also work for tiger. It is best to have the circle hook in the head area of the livebait, as it gets pulled back out of the tiger's throat that way just before the hook is set. Circles work very well for tigers, give them plenty of time to eat, and don't strike!!!
I am pleased to see you trying circles, they do a lot less damage, and once you have mastered them, you will land more fish too. Good luck with the Bonanza, and well done for the efforts to make it a C&A event. I am sure that you will receive a lot of support!
Ideally you should hook the livebait through the top lip, or nose with the circle hook. You only need to use one hook. A small bridle rig like we use for marlin offshore with bonnies will also work for tiger. It is best to have the circle hook in the head area of the livebait, as it gets pulled back out of the tiger's throat that way just before the hook is set. Circles work very well for tigers, give them plenty of time to eat, and don't strike!!!
I am pleased to see you trying circles, they do a lot less damage, and once you have mastered them, you will land more fish too. Good luck with the Bonanza, and well done for the efforts to make it a C&A event. I am sure that you will receive a lot of support!
Just another tip when using circles for tiger: it is a good thing to use a flexible steel trace that can be snelled around the shank of the hook, with the line entering the hook eye from the hook point side. This completes the circle, and ensures a good hook up. Good luck with it, I find that the 4/0 VMC tournament circle hooks are ideal.
Howzit Ryan, how are things? I find that with circles, the trace is outside the tiger's mouth and therefore doesn't get bitten through. Have you had bite throughs on circle hooks up there? I know those fish are savages in that part of the world.... Give regards to Gerry and Graham, and catch one of those busses for me!!!
100% African
Senior Member
What about a type of hair rig on the circle hook...
Thread the 'hair through the lip of the live bait and secure it back on the hook...? any comments?
Thread the 'hair through the lip of the live bait and secure it back on the hook...? any comments?
I tend to rig my live bait like dodger for one simple reason. I have lost fish with the live bait being bitten in half just behind the dorsal fin. As far as I know the tigers take the live bait from behind so with the hook behind the dorsal in my books ups your chances. Ok with saying that the fish that bite the live bait in half are not big fish but hey I like catching them anyway.
Tight Lines FishingPT and respect for all your work on the Tiger Bonanza. Keep us posted on what you find to be the best hook setup.
Tight Lines FishingPT and respect for all your work on the Tiger Bonanza. Keep us posted on what you find to be the best hook setup.
Small boat big fish
New member
Just back from a 3 day fishing trip on the Okavango east of Rundu. The floodplains is emptying into the main river. Lots of tigers and nembwe.
I use small live tigers for live bait with circle hooks behind the dorsal with the hook sitting proud. At one stage I landed 4 tigers of between 4 and 6kg in one spot with a 100% hook-up on the circle hooks
I use small live tigers for live bait with circle hooks behind the dorsal with the hook sitting proud. At one stage I landed 4 tigers of between 4 and 6kg in one spot with a 100% hook-up on the circle hooks
