Hello,

I have reading and looking at tons of iron as a result of this forum. With the exception of the spoon and now the Shimano type butterfly jigs, I haven't seen a lot of metal thrown.

Can the treble hooks be changed to circle hooks. I have modified a few Rapalas with decent success. I like the idea of a corner mouth hook-up for safer releases. If the bite is hot I'll switch to a circle hook rigged jig with little loss.

Will putty a circle hook (or rigged circle hook) on a Tady 45 make it less effective?

If the effective is reduced slightly, I think I would prefer a circle hook rig over a treble hook rig anyday. In South Florida lots of targeted species has slots sizes, limits and both so safe release is important.

I'd just put a "J" hook on and toss the treble.

This is one for some experimentation, and then please get back to us. I suspect that your hookup ratio would decrease using a circle hook for iron. Also the way the jig would swim might be degraded somewhat. Since the jig is swiming when bit I have not encountered a swallowed hook, releasing isn't a problem. A guy could also go to the fixed single hooks we offer on some surface iron and further make release easier.
GS<
MS

Keta: I agree a J hook would be fine, but I am trying to avoid injury. Circle hook rig would be for targeting "catch and release" fish. I never fish any jig designed to work with treble, without that treble hook. To many fished caught outside the mouth for me to to that.

Chark: I agree that the circle hook would definitely affect jig movement. But it may be negligible, my limited "butterfly" experience is that the more erratic the better. Chark, please start thinking about some good iron for the South Florida and even some iron I can throw from the surf. I fish the surf and or pier weekly. Unfortunately, I only get out in a boat about 15 times a year.

circle hooks on iron ?

i would stik with the j,s .
if you want less damage to the fish, cut or grind off the barb.

you may loose more fish this way, but keep the line tight at all times.

Crimp the barb down with smooth jaw pliers

During those [unfortunately rare] occasions when fishing is wide-open and I don't need/want to keep fish, I have several of my favorite-style jigs rigged up with "barbless" single "J" hooks.
In 80-percent of the cases, the deckhand can simply flip the jig upside down and the fish slides off without even leaving the water.
I have never had an instance where the jig couldn't be harmlessly removed with just bit of effort.
The caveats here are that you must be using at least a very long mono topshot, because the lack of stretch with staright spectra will allow some fish to throw the hook.
Also of course, you will have some jigs that can get only occasional use.
The problem with circle hooks on iron is that the fish must immediately turn away from you at least 45 degrees [preferably more] for the hook to work, and of course the angler must absolutely refrain from setting the hook [even a tiny bit!].
Pretty hard to do in my experience.