The Dongle

I want someone to convince me why the dongle is better?

Im currently against using the dongle as I find a pennel hook a better setup, reduces missed bites etc. Maybe I'm wrong, I was introduced to the dongle about 10 years ago and I understood the use for it then for Big baits, the way the South Africans designed it. But it seems to have been manipulated now to just be used with anything. I understand the concept of it having only one circle hook as its better for fish care as it reduces deep hooks and allows the hook to find the side of the mouth easier. But other than that I can only see negatives with it.

All my pennel rigs are J hook on bottom Circle on top and id say 90-95% of the time the fish is hooked with the circle in the corner of the mouth. Only very rarely is the J Hook the one thats done the business, and this is my point. If I missed it on the circle I have the chance on the J hook, but with the dongle there's the possibility of missing the fish if it doesnt take the bait just right.

So am I too closed minded or is all the hype just that, hype and nothing else?

A fad that'll soon pass

A fad that'll soon pass

Basically what im thinking. I can see its use for certain techniques but for the majority of what people are targeting here i think it is a fad but i would love to hear peoples opinions.

use both dongle and j hooks, find dongles work best with rays

Hey James
I'm a fan of the dongle set-up on a circle hook. I have used it many times now for rays and never had an issue with it.
Prior to that I was using two J hooks on a pennel set-up but was having serious problems of rays (and sharks) swallowing the bait and gut hooking. Gut hooking is the single worst possible outcome in my opinion and I haven't had a single gut hook since using the dongle and single circle hook set-up.
Tbh, I'd rather loose a fish that gut hook it. But I haven't lost a fish with the dongle.
Saying that, I have never used the pennel set-up with the J hook on the bottom and circle on the top. Good to hear that the circle hook is finding the corner of the mouth for you in this case but I still see the possibility of a gut hook on the J hook if the fish were to swallow the bait (we all well know the nightmare of how sharks and rays swallow baits/hooks very quickly) so I'd rather not take the chance..
What are the negatives you are seeing with the dongle and single circle hook set-up? Were you missing fish with it?

Hey Charlie,

The only negative I'm seeing for the dongle is missing fish, if the fish doesn't take the bait correctly then you aren't going to be as successful hooking fish . I have seen fish gut hooked with circle hooks but generally it's due to too small a circle being used and the fish takes everything

I have not used the dongle yet as I can't bring myself to trust it especially when I've been next to guys who have used it and missed bites.

Hey Charlie,

The only negative I'm seeing for the dongle is missing fish, if the fish doesn't take the bait correctly then you aren't going to be as successful hooking fish . I have seen fish gut hooked with circle hooks but generally it's due to too small a circle being used and the fish takes everything

I have not used the dongle yet as I can't bring myself to trust it especially when I've been next to guys who have used it and missed bites.

ok. well I hope these guys aren't striking into the fish. I'm guessing they aren't..
As you say, the only concern is if the fish doesn't take the bait in far enough such that the hook will not go into the mouth. It's a little gamble I guess but one that I'd take rather than risk gut-hooking. And I have never had this problem, as yet. I know for sure that rays especially will engulf the lot most of the time
I just really like the way the dongle leaves the circle hook gape completely exposed. And that the bait is presented such that the hook will be close to the mouth and away from the gut as much as possible
Good to tye a loop knot onto the hook eye so that the hook swings freely - to better aid hooking