Kahle hook observation

Joined: Sep 2019

Posts: 146

CDS OP

Outdoorsman

Outdoorsman

Joined: Sep 2019

Posts: 146

This past Saturday I had 7 customers on my boat fishing with live shad for Stripers. I had 3 of the guys rigged up with 1/0 offset Kahle hooks, and 4 of the guys were using 1/0 offset bait holder hooks. All three of the guys using Kahle hooks kept getting good strikes, but when they set the hook they were missing fish. The guys using the bait holder hooks were getting strikes and hooking fish every time. After rebaiting hooks the second time it dawned on me that the guys missing fish were using Kahle hooks. When the kahle guys missed hooking fish again I cut off the Kahle hooks and tied on offset 1/0 bait holder hooks. After that they started hooking and landing fish. Needless to say, the Kahle hooks I had in my tackle box just found a new home in the trash can.

I come from the water.

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 1,155

Sniper John

gumshoe

gumshoe

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 1,155

I’m not as fan of Kahle hooks. I had a slightly different, but similar experience. The Captain of a boat I was fishing with for Reds provided the typical tandem bottom rigs using Kahle hooks and live shrimp. I had become a circle hook fan long ago and had my own circle hooks in my personal bag with me. First thing I did on the way out is cut his hooks off and tie mine on. After getting a short speech about how my circle hooks don’t work well there, I let him know as politely as I could that I was sorry, but too late and would take my chances. I was either just setting my rod in one of the rear rod holders and waiting for a red to hook itself or holding the rod without hard setting the hook fishing the circle hook in the way it is designed. The other two guys in the boat was missing several fish trying to set those Kahle hooks. I was hooking maybe three redfish to each of their one. Enough to be obvious. By the middle of the next day, cappy asked me if I had any more of those circle hooks and was himself replacing his hooks with mine.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 4,183

Osbornfishing

TFF Team Angler

TFF Team Angler

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 4,183

I have several friends that are diehard Kahle hook anglers. They are very successful on redfish, seatrout, and striper. I have caught many stripers and redfish on Kahle hooks, but I prefer J-hooks. I just like that hard hook set when compared to circle hooks.

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 19,327

Jimbo

TFF Guru

TFF Guru

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 19,327

I’ve been down that hook path before and tried several types over the years and the Kahle hooks are my least favorite. I’m now settled on the Octopus “J” hooks and so far, so good.
The Octopus J hook has the eye bent backwards which makes snelling the hook easier keeping the line straight in line with the hook shank.

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 19,228

COFF

TFF Guru

TFF Guru

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 19,228

I have several friends that are diehard Kahle hook anglers. They are very successful on redfish, seatrout, and striper. I have caught many stripers and redfish on Kahle hooks, but I prefer J-hooks. I just like that hard hook set when compared to circle hooks.

For me, it depends on how I am fishing. If I am holding the rod in my hand then I prefer the J hooks – possibly because I find it difficult to NOT set the hook when I feel a pull. Circle hooks for sure if I am setting the rod in a holder. Never been a fan of the kahle hook at all.

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 4,183

Osbornfishing

TFF Team Angler

TFF Team Angler

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 4,183

For the Kahle to work, I have found you need almost all of the hook exposed. They work pretty well when hooking shad in the lips.

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 43,235

butch sanders

TFF Guru

TFF Guru

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 43,235

Do J-hooks keep them from swallowing the entire hook ?
i like circles for that reason

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 4,183

Osbornfishing

TFF Team Angler

TFF Team Angler

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 4,183

Do J-hooks keep them from swallowing the entire hook ?
i like circles for that reason

If you have the right size hook for the fish you are targeting a J-hook will hook the fish in the mouth. Circle hooks must also be the correct size for a fish to get a hookup.

Joined: Mar 2023

Posts: 124

JakeMcD

Outdoorsman

Outdoorsman

Joined: Mar 2023

Posts: 124

I bought some Kahle hooks a while back, but only ever tie them on if I happen to run out of circle hooks. I never did see the point (pun intended) to Kahle hooks.

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 43,235

butch sanders

TFF Guru

TFF Guru

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 43,235

Do J-hooks keep them from swallowing the entire hook ?
i like circles for that reason

If you have the right size hook for the fish you are targeting a J-hook will hook the fish in the mouth. Circle hooks must also be the correct size for a fish to get a hookup.

Yes Sir
My daughter & I were kayaking for blue gill, using night crawlers.
We were catching all species though. A bass swallowed a hook & it went past his gullet. We cut the line & let him go, but it made us sick.
Trying to avoid that again, or I will keep those fish from now on.

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 1,695

rickt300

Extreme Angler

Extreme Angler

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 1,695

I have had great luck with Kahle style hooks. I find them less likely to gut hook fish, easier to get a good hook set and excellent for running live perch on trotlines and jug lines. That is if the hook point is directly in line with the hooks eye and it is a big enough size. Soooo many people use hooks that are too small. A minimum for me is a 5/0. One thing to avoid is using slip sinkers. I far prefer the sinker to help keep the point of the hook in place.