I also use Circle Hooks (for senkos) and they work great.ganman wrote:I second Todd's suggestion. Circle hooks are terrific. You eliminate jerking the hook on a panfish or weed, they are more snag free. If the bass doesn't grab it and go which hooks hooks itself all you do is tighten your line on the bass. Hooks it in the corner of the mouth.
Read the article. It's well written and instructions are clear and precise.
As for your question on how and when to kill the fish ....
I practice catch and release. (For all species I catch).
However, at one time (40 some odd years ago), I did keep some fish for consumption.
I would bring the catch home, put it on the cutting board and cut off it's head. (Crude, but effective).