Fishing hooks are just hooks, each one of them is the same, aren’t they? No! They are not, and they shouldn’t be. You might walk into a store and get flabbergasted by the numerous sizes, styles and shapes available. Don’t get overwhelmed, we’ve got your back, here is complete information about hooks. After reading this, you will never worry about getting the wrong hook on your rig.
Fishing Hook Anatomy
- Eye: it is the small opening through which you pass your fishing line and tie the hook. There are different types of eyes including looped eye, needle eye, ball eye, spade eye etc.
- Shank: It is the portion between the eye and the bend of the hook. Longshanks are best for live bait, medium/regular ones are the most common and small shanks are used for finesse fishing.
- Bite or Thorat: the area between the apex of the bend to its intersection with the gap.
- Bend: it is a curved portion which joins the hook shaft to the point. It runs perpendicular to the shaft and point.
- Point: this is the section which penetrates the mouth of the fish. This is where you attach your bait. It is necessary to keep the point sharp for efficient fishing. Several types of points include Rolled-In, hollow, needle, knife edge, spear point etc.
- Barb: it is shaped such that the hook, once in, won’t come out easily. The barb can be below the point or along the shank of the hook. The barb below the point will keep the bait pegged and improve the success rate. The brab along the shank is usually there to hold threaded bait. Hooks without barbs are used for catch-and-release.
- Gap/Gape: the distance from the shank to the point of the hook is called the gap. The average gap size is ideal for many situations, but sometimes a wider gap is required. Large bait is easy to use with a wide gap.
Types of Fishing Hook
Hooks come in several styles and types, and all of them exist for a reason. Sometimes even the most awkward style comes in handy. However, one cannot have all the types in the world, hence, we have short-listed the must-have hooks in your tackle box.
Bait Holder Hooks
Baitholder hooks do exactly that! they hold your bait and ensure it doesn’t slip. They feature a barb on the shank which ensures the bait’s safety. Some have longer shanks while others have small shanks. These are not a good choice if you plan on releasing your fish. Regardless, the hook is one of the most popular ones out there.
Jig Hooks
These are designed to fit specific jig molds. The Jig hook has its eye set at right angles to the shank to increase lure movement. Pouring your jig increases the adrenaline by adding fun to your fishing trip, moreover, it saves you money.
Circle Hooks
Circle hooks are the most “fish-friendly” hooks. They have a rounded structure and the point is bent towards the shank. This feature prevents from deep hooking the fish’s gut or throat. The barb will not penetrate till the hook comes to the corner of the mouth. The only downside of this hook is that you will have to wait for the hook to reach the corner of the mouth and get stuck.
Siwash Hooks
Siwash fishing hook has a longer shank and point to sit properly on lures. They are an excellent alternative to treble hooks as they’re easier to remove and are less harmful. They have an open eye for making the attachment of lines easy.
Aberdeen Hooks
Aberdeen fishing hooks are manufactured with light wire and have long shanks along with narrow gaps. The metal is thin and therefore it keeps the fish alive for a longer time. These are best for chasing smaller fish like panfish etc.
Worm Hooks
These are designed to be used with soft plastic baits or lures. They have a bend just below the eye to hold the head of the bait in place. The gap is wide to ensure adequate clearance for the point to penetrate the fish. These are generally strong and have remarkable penetrating power.
Octopus Hooks
Octopus fishing hooks have small shanks and curved points, though not as dramatic as circle hooks but still effective. Octopus is the ideal option for presenting small baits naturally. They feature large gaps for hooking larger fish.
Single, Double and Treble Hooks
Single hooks have a single eye, shank and point. Though a dozen different types can be made by molding the shank, bend and point differently. Single hook catches the sport fish efficiently.
Double hooks have a single eye, but two shanks which ultimately leads to two points. Both the shanks may or may not be brazed. They are common for Atlantic salmon flies, and are not seen as much for any other fishing.
Treble hooks bear a single eye merged with three shanks and three points which are spaced at equal distances. These are manufactured by merging a single-eyeless hook with a double hook. All three shanks are brazed together in this hook. Treble hooks work best for most of the artificial lures.
Fishing Hook Sizes
There is no standard sizing of fishing hooks, hence the exact size varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, the range of the sizes remains the same. The smallest hook size available is 32 which is barely large enough to be held between two fingers. The number decreases down to 1 as the hook size increases. At this point, it holds the designation of “aught”. The largest hook size is A 19/0.
The length, thickness (gauge) and gap are measured as 2X or 3X long, 2X or 3X heavy and 2X or 3X wide, respectively.
Conclusion
There are numerous types of hooks in the market and it would take days if not weeks to list each one of them. However, the most important few are mentioned above and nearly all kinds of situations can be dealt with if you have these in your tackle box. Different species require different kinds of hooks in different waters in varying conditions. It’s time to fill up your tackle box and start fishing.
