Frequently Asked Questions

The 7/0 Barefoot Circle Hook is the best jig for catching Catfish of all sizes. Use this rig to catch all types of Catfish, including Blue, Bullhead, Channel, Flathead, and White Catfish. 

1. Effectiveness of it; the hook-set is close to 100%.
2. These weighted circle hooks can easily be made weedless. See the video: "Weedless 7/0 Circle Hook Chin Weight under the sliding cork for catfish."
3. They allow easy release of the catfish while not stressing the fish without being gut hooked.

• 30, 40, or 50-lb. Fluorocarbon leader (like Hi-Seas)
• 30 or 50-lb Hi-vis braided mainline. (like Power-Pro)
• 80-lb Fluorocarbon for the weedless circle hook (like Hi-Seas)

HOW IT'S DONE: Run the 80-lb fluorocarbon thru the hook. Cut off a 2-foot length of fluorocarbon for your leader, depending on the clarity of the water you are fishing. Attach the leader to a 30 to 50-lb. braided mainline with a uni-to-uni knot. Watch the following video on how to rig this jig: "How to Snell a Snag Resistant Circle Hook Chin Weight." 

• Use a 2" cigar slip float or sliding cork that will allow you to set it at different depths.
• If used without a float, just drag it along the bottom.

1. Use shad as cut-bait and butterflied bream (see videos on how to rig with shad or bluegill) Note: When using shad as cut-bait, it is essential to remove the scales from the shad; otherwise, you COULD get a scale on the point of the circle hook, which will not "set" correctly. 
2. Gulp Shrimp or Jerk Shad. 

• Although it was originally produced for saltwater fishing (Sailfish and White Marlin - because it swims ballyhoo like nothing else) - we found the 7/0 was a perfect match for catfish.
• We used the 7/0 circle hook at a lock and dam, and the hook-up ratio was close to 100%, and the hook-set was in the corner of the fish's mouth.

The 7/0 circle hook is the "Bait and Weight" all in one. Used as a weedless hook with a sliding cork, it will not disappoint. If it's made weedless, it'll crawl over logs, rocks, and snags without getting hung up. See the video: "Catfish under the Sliding Cork on the Circle Hook Chin Weight." 

1. The 7/0 circle hook is easy to rig with minimal tackle. Snell a fluorocarbon leader to the hook with a weed guard, tie the leader to the braided mainline with a uni-to-uni knot, attach a sliding float above it, and find a nice place to cast it. 
2. A trick that works great with the hi-vis braid: Color the last 5- or 6-feet of the mainline with a red sharpie pen, and the braid will be virtually invisible to the fish.
3. When using shad as cut bait, it is essential to scale the shad; otherwise, you COULD get a scale on the point of the circle hook, which will not "set" correctly.
4. Use with or without a float. 
5. Make this rig weedless; it'll keep it from getting hung on the bottom. You can also drift out of places with it dragging on the bottom.

• Barefoot Circle Hook Chin Weights are perfectly weighted for large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, hybrid striped bass, carp, trout, and walleye, as they have custom-made jawbones for using the hooks. 
• They are the best circle hooks for all types of freshwater species. 

There are three sizes to choose from:

Size #6: Target fish include Panfish, Bream, Crappie, Trout, Carp, White Perch, etc.

1/0 circle hook: Target fish include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Larger Crappie and Trout, Carp, Walleye, etc.

3/0 circle hook: Target fish include Larger Bass, Sea Trout, Red Drum, Black Drum, Large Catfish, Hybrid and Striped Bass, etc.

These hooks virtually eliminate gut-hooking panfish. Also, there is no need to "set the hook" - the hook sets itself right to the corner of their mouth. NO jerking your rod - let the hook do its thing.

The line varies for each hook, and all use fluorocarbon leader and braided mainline - NEVER USE MONOFILAMENT.

Size #6: Use a 2-foot length of 6 or 8-lb fluorocarbon leader (like Seaguar or PLine) and 5-lb hi-vis braid mainline (like Power-Pro). 

1/0 circle hook: Use a 2-foot length of 15-lb fluorocarbon leader paired with a 10-lb hi-vis braid mainline (like Power-Pro).

3/0 circle hook: For bass, use a 2-foot length of 15-20 fluorocarbon leader (like Hi-Seas) and 20-lb hi-vis braid mainline. For catfish, use  a 2-foot length of 25 to 30-lb fluorocarbon leader (like Hi-Seas)  paired with a 20-lb hi-vis braid (like Power-Pro).

#6 circle hook:  Use a 1-inch fixed cigar float.

1/0 circle hook: Use a 1-inch cigar float fixed or sliding. A wicked deadly option is to use a 1-1/2 inch to 2-inch (it offers more drag) sliding cork set to whatever depth you want with a wacky worm. Set the cork at 5-6 feet and drop it to 1 foot from the bottom; it will be irresistible to any fish in the vicinity.

3/0 circle hook: Use a 2-inch cigar slip float or sliding cork for catfish.

#6 circle hook:  Use the Trout Slayer Crawfish watermelon red (Leland's Lures) and twister/curly tail worms (various brands like Mister Twister).

1/0 circle hook: Use a 6-inch shaky head or small twister/curly tail worms for crappie. For bass, use an 8-inch Magnum Shaky Head worms in watermelon red (Zoom Wacky Worm) or whatever color is suitable for the water you are fishing in. Use Pro-Cure on soft baits to mask human scent or the scent of plastic baits. Also, any soft plastics you use regularly, like Gulp baits.

3/0 circle hook: For the bigger bass, Wacky Worms and Gulp bait.

#6 circle hook:  Use night crawlers, crawfish, crickets, minnows – whatever works for you. Use night crawlers, crickets, minnows, live or cut-bait – whatever works for you.

1/0 circle hook: Use night crawlers, crickets, minnows, live or cut-bait – whatever works for you.

3/0 circle hook: Use cut-baits like shad and butterflied bream for catfish. For larger bass, try crawfish and dressed bream.

• These hooks eliminate fish being gut-hooked, make it easier to release, and put less stress on the fish you don't want to keep. In addition, they are the best terminal tackle for freshwater/saltwater fishing. 
• They sink to where the fish are, and the fish eat the bait as it falls. 
• No need for weights or swivels; rig a snelled circle hook to the appropriate fluorocarbon and tie it to the braided mainline with a uni-to-uni knot.

• The perfectly weighted circle hooks are "Good on the fish, and Good on the fisherman" - they cause less stress on the fish with virtually no gut hooked fish.
• On one trip, we caught over 50 panfish without any being gut-hooked. The hooks sold at big box stores or popular outlets are primarily "J" hooks which notoriously end up in the fish's stomach and eventually kill the fish. These circle hooks are great for CPR (Catch. Photo. Release.) and are easily removed with a dehooker.

1. All the chin weights are easy to rig with minimal tackle. Snell a fluorocarbon leader to the hook, tie the leader to the braided mainline with a uni-to-uni knot, attach a sliding cork above it, and find a nice place to cast it. 
2. A trick that works great with the hi-vis braid: Color the last 4-5 feet of the mainline with a red sharpie pen, and the braid will be virtually invisible to the fish.
3. For 1/0 hooks, use soft plastics like wacky or curly tail worms and Pro-Cure to mask the plastic and human scent. 
4. 3/0 hooks are an excellent option for larger bass with a larger jawbone. Always snell the hooks and use a sliding cork, as they offer enough weight to sink the bait and keep the cork standing up. Gulp baits are an excellent choice. The sliding cork allows for changing the depth of water you are fishing.