Re: Circle Hooks...to Bend or NOT to Bend???
Circle hooks are great for not losing fish and fishing heavy structure with less snags. Can be frustrating hooking em sometimes, need to be patient for sure. I feed em some line and when they swim away put brakes on and start reeling em up let em hook themselves. I always open em up a bit and hit the tips with a flat file which seems to help. Even opened up I think I’ve only hooked 2 down deep, rest have been in lips and I’m talking hundreds of em. They are a pita to release however, I’m actually switching to a semi circle for that reason. I refuse to use trebles, haven’t for over a decade. Even tandem singles I cut a lot of leaders while releasing, but seems best for herring so they make the cut still lol
The only advantage to a light rifle is it's weight, all other advantages go to the heavier rifle..