A fishing hook, historically known as a hook. It is used for fishing by piercing their mouths to catch fish. The design and function of fishing hooks have evolved over the millennia. Fishermen have been using fish hooks for thousands of years to see fresh and saltwater fish. Hooks are designed to hold various types of artificial, processed, dead, or live bait (bait fishing). It serves as the basis for the artificial presentation of invertebrate prey that mimics prey (fishing lures). Depending on the spook-specific technique and species, hooks have different sizes.
It is usually connected to a line. The hook is generally rigged with some bait or lure that entices the fish to swallow the hook out of its instinct. Read the blog in detail to learn about the most popular hook types, when to use them, and the different types and sizes of fishing hooks.
How do you Choose Fishing Hooks?
Fishing hooks are an important tool for any angler. Choosing the correct type of hook is crucial to your fishing success. Choosing the right fishing hook is critical to successful angling. The right hook can significantly affect the kind of fish you can target and even the consistency of your fishing practice. Fishing hooks are one of the most minor parts of an angler’s setup. But fishing hooks are the most crucial step in fishing. But there are as many types of fishing hooks as there are fish to catch with them. Read more about the top 10 fishing knot guides for every angler.
Parts of a Fishing Hooks
Each part of a fishing hook has a different name. Here’s a brief breakdown of each:
- Eyes: The back loop is attached to the line.
- Shank: The straight part connects the eye with the bend but is blunt at the end.
- Bend: The curved part where the hook turns back on itself.
- Barb: A small backward-facing spike that prevents the hook from coming loose from the fish’s mouth.
- Point: A sharp, pointed edge designed to pierce a fish’s mouth.
Types of Fishing Hooks
Single hook
The most common type but versatile for several reasons. They are used with live bait or lures. It is available in sizes from small trout hooks to large saltwater hooks.
Circle hook
This fishing hook is designed to hook the fish in the corner of the mouth, reducing gut hooking and the survival rate of released fish. Circle hooks are popular among catch-and-release anglers. This fishing hook is usually used for live bait fishing.
Treble hooks
This increases the chances of a hookup but can be difficult to remove. Often these hooks are used for species like bass and pike.
Jig Hooks
The eye is set at right angles to increase the lure’s speed in the water. The jig hook is perfect for a variety of fishing styles. These hooks are adapted for catch-and-release by breaking or filing the barb. Selecting the right jig size is important, and the size of the bait and jig weight also play a role.
Weedless Hook
This is popular with anglers. They are used for fishing in heavy-cover in the vegetation. Weedless hooks have a thin guard that clips onto the point. This hook is set lightly enough to snap off when a fish takes your bait.
Siwash Hooks
These are easy to remove and less harmful to fish. It has long lips and open eyelids for easy attachment. Siwash hooks are famous for their sharpness and strength. This hook is perfect for targeting larger fish like salmon and steelhead. It has lips and points so that they close the lure naturally and don’t come out once set.
Aberdeen Hooks
Light wire and long shank, used for catching small fish using live bait. Aberdeen hooks were first used on remote salmon streams in north-east Scotland. Their lightweight cable and long shank allow you to fix small live baits safely without injury. These hooks keep them alive as long as possible. These fishing hooks are ideal for panfish and are often used with worms or minnows.
Kahle Hooks
These hooks are at the opposite end of the scale to Aberdeen. With a super-wide gap and heavy build, Kahle hooks are used for larger baits and more challenging battles. It looks like a circle hook, but the point doesn’t bend towards the shank. That’s why it faces directly to the eye, making it easy to set. Kahle hooks feature a super-wide gap and heavy build designed primarily for big baits and brutal tackle. These hooks are similar to circle hooks but with a straight-up point.
Fishing Hooks Size
Finding the right size hook is essential before fishing. Fishing hooks are imperative tools for anglers and are crucial to successful fishing. Hooks are identified by numbers and “out” (pronounced “accent”). The sizing system can be confusing for beginners. Numbered hooks range from 32 (most minor) to 1 (most significant). Higher numbers on this scale indicate smaller hooks. After Aught Hooks size 1, on the other hand, the sizing switches to aughts. It starts at 1/0 and increases to 20/0. A more significant number on this scale indicates a larger hook size.
Fishing Hook Size Chart
Fishing hook sizes can vary depending on the type of fish you’re targeting and the fishing method you’re using. Here’s a general guide to hook sizes, from smallest to largest
| Size | Length (mm) | Length (inches) | Common Use |
| #32 | 5 mm | 0.20″ | Small flies |
| #30 | 6 mm | 0.24″ | Small flies |
| #28 | 7mm | 0.28″ | Small bait |
| #26 | 8mm | 0.31″ | Small bait |
| #24 | 9mm | 0.35″ | Small bait |
| #22 | 10mm | 0.39″ | Small bait |
| #20 | 11mm | 0.43″ | Small bait |
| #18 | 12mm | 0.47″ | Panfish |
| #16 | 13mm | 0.51″ | Trout |
| #14 | 14mm | 0.55″ | Trout |
| #12 | 15mm | 0.59″ | Bass |
| #10 | 16mm | 0.63″ | Bass |
| #8 | 17mm | 0.67″ | Walleye |
| #6 | 18mm | 0.71″ | Large bass |
| #4 | 19mm | 0.75″ | Catfish |
| #2 | 22mm | 0.86″ | Catfish |
| #1 | 25mm | 0.98″ | Large catfish |
| 1/0 | 34 mm | 1.33″ | Large bass or small pike |
| 2/0 | 39 mm | 1.53″ | Large bass or pike |
| 3/0 | 42 mm | 1.65″ | Large pike or catfish |
| 4/0 | 47 mm | 1.85″ | Trophy catfish or large pike |
| 5/0 | 52 mm | 2.04″ | Large saltwater species |
| 6/0 | 59 mm | 2.32″ | Large saltwater species |
| 7/0 | 65 mm | 2.56″ | Large saltwater species |
| 8/0 | 72 mm | 2.83″ | Large saltwater species |
| 9/0 | 78 mm | 3.07″ | Large saltwater species |
| 10/0 | 90 mm | 3.54″ | Large game fish |
