Best halibut hooks??? Circle, Big River, Octopus, or treble ???

Is that when you stick it through the eye twice then twist it

http://www.animatedknots.com/improvedclinch/index.php?Categ=fishing

I think a lot of folks just call it the clinch knot.  But I think in the standard clinch knot, YOU don't pass it back through the loop created by the knot.  Not the eye..

http://www.animatedknots.com/improvedclinch/index.php?Categ=fishing

SDJK that doesn't go back through the top.

Isn't that just a clinch knot?

-Allen

SDJK that doesn't go back through the top.

Isn't that just a clinch knot?

-Allen

Sort of ... i think of a clinch knot as wrapping up ... i wrap this knot down. Don't know if it makes a difference ....

The clinch knot doesn't pass back up through the second loop....that's what makes the "improved" clinch

Sdjk
http://www.animatedknots.com/sandiegojam/index.php?Categ=fishing&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

I've been using the sandiego for 20 years I use it on everything

SDJK that doesn't go back through the top.

Isn't that just a clinch knot?

-Allen

Sort of ... i think of a clinch knot as wrapping up ... i wrap this knot down. Don't know if it makes a difference ....

Look at the finished product.  When tightening a clinch knot the wrap gets pulled down.  It's easier on big, stiff line to wrap it down in the first place.

-Allen

SDJK that doesn't go back through the top.

Isn't that just a clinch knot?

-Allen

Sort of ... i think of a clinch knot as wrapping up ... i wrap this knot down. Don't know if it makes a difference ....

Look at the finished product.  When tightening a clinch knot the wrap gets pulled down.  It's easier on big, stiff line to wrap it down in the first place.

-Allen

That being said, why aren't you just completing the SD Jam?

-Allen

SDJK that doesn't go back through the top.

Isn't that just a clinch knot?

-Allen

Sort of ... i think of a clinch knot as wrapping up ... i wrap this knot down. Don't know if it makes a difference ....

Look at the finished product.  When tightening a clinch knot the wrap gets pulled down.  It's easier on big, stiff line to wrap it down in the first place.

-Allen

That being said, why aren't you just completing the SD Jam?

-Allen

Because I only recently was told that it is basically a SDJK. I'm used to tying the BBK so I was just modifying that for a single layer of heavy mono.

BTW, in this application, I think you could probably tie almost any knot in the <200# leader to the swivel.  We don't need to maintain 100% breaking strength at the swivel.  Just need some amount of abrasion resistance and line strength when you got the fish on the leader (if you leader the fish at all).

-Allen

BTW, in this application, I think you could probably tie almost any knot in the <200# leader to the swivel.  We don't need to maintain 100% breaking strength at the swivel.  Just need some amount of abrasion resistance and line strength when you got the fish on the leader (if you leader the fish at all).

-Allen

+1.  I don't recommend it but I have had no issues when I am in a hurry to tie a simple surgeon loop to clip on to a swivel.  Still LOTS stronger than a perfect knot on my 50lbs mainline.   

http://www.animatedknots.com/surgeonsloop/index.php?Categ=fishing&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Anyways, I snell the hook side and just tie a perfection loop on the swivel side.  Pretty much all the boats in Cabo do it this way on big game tackle, so you know it works.

And always thread the leader through the hook eye from the side the the point is on when snelling.  I've seen some go through the other side, and really, it doesn't work all that well.  If you're going through the other side when snelling circle hooks, well, I know why circle hooks aren't working for you.   

-Allen

I'll try and dig up a study. As Allen says it's important how the circle hooks are smelled.

http://www.iphc.int/research/biology/hook.html

50% more fish when properly threaded.

http://www.iphc.int/research/biology/hook.html

50% more fish when properly threaded.

That's a great article.  Also shows the importance of the gap in circle hooks.  While some of the charts may show that a 14/0 hook may be better than a 16/0 hook, keep in mind the size range where the peak in the curves is corresponds to a 20-24 inch fish (small!). 

Also note that not all circle hooks are equal.  The "standard" circle hooks (like the Mustad I mentioned) have a smaller gap that some of the other hooks available.  Rudy had some others that we compared to the Mustads, that were rated as smaller hooks but actually had similar or even larger gaps.  That being said, the "throat" may have been smaller.  The "standard" 16/0 seems to dominate the commercial uses, and I got to believe it is because it is proven.

-Allen