How to Outfit Your Tackle Box with the Best Fishing Hooks

by Majella Gee August 10, 2021

Why waste time learning about the nuances of fishing hooks and selecting the best ones from the many choices available? Isn't a hook just a hook?

Not at all! Fishing hooks are essential gadgets that have existed for hundreds of years. Modern variations produced by developing more robust, more challenging materials have wrought various designs, each with a particular purpose. A hook is the most crucial element of your fishing line's connection to a fish. It's critical to use the appropriate type for any fishing activity, or else that catch picture won't make it into your social profile or photo book.

Why Finding the Best Fishing Hooks Matters

A packed fishing hook package for beginners typically contains a variety of hook types and sizes, along with other fishing accessories.

The size of a fish hook is the essential feature. One that is too large will not be able to enter the mouth of a smaller fish. You'll feel it strike, but you'll most likely end up with a hook that's been stripped of its bait. A bigger fish may entirely swallow a hook that is too tiny. Deep hooking a fish is more painful and makes capture and release more complex. Therefore, understanding which fishing hooks to pick from your fishing hook selection is critical to success.

Here are a few tips for finding the most appropriate fishing hooks for your tackle box:

Understand the Hook Anatomy

While there are many different freshwater and saltwater fishing hooks, such as bait, circle, treble, and various specialized hooks, they all have the same fundamental structure.

The Point: A fish hook's tip pierces a fish's mouth.
The Barb: The barb is the rearward extension from the point that keeps the fish hooked.
The Eye: The eye is where the hook attaches to the line.
The Bend: The bend is the hook's curvature.
The Shank: The shank connects the bend with the eye.
The Gap: The gap is the space in between the hook's point and the shank.

In addition to the J-shaped bait hook, barbless hooks are becoming increasingly attractive to new anglers.

Know the Different Hook Sizes

Whatever kind of fishing hooks you want to use, one of the essential factors to consider before attaching a hook to a line is size. The sizes of fishing hooks are usually denoted by a number ranging from the lowest (size 32) to the biggest (size 19/0). The higher the number, the smaller the hook with hook sizes ranging from 32 to 1. The higher the number, the larger the hook for fish hook sizes 1/0 (called a one aught) through 19/0.

Because there is no industry standard for hooks—a size 4 Mustad and a size 4 Eagle Claw or Owner, for instance—hook size may be perplexing. Hobbyists find that the size of a specific company style and model becomes more significant as its quantity decreases.

Match Bait Size

It is not challenging to match hooks to baits, but it does need some careful calculation. Hooks for use with huge baits (shiners, eels, suckers, etc.) and heavy gear for firm fish (pike, stripers, etc.) should be massive and hefty. Hooks used with tiny, delicate baits and light lines for crappies and other small fish, on the other hand, should be constructed of more delicate wire.

Anglers using large bait for larger fish should use hooks with a broad gap, bend, and shank. Doing so may also help push hook points and barbs into fish. Additionally, these can penetrate chunky baits and then into the mouth of a taking fish. There’s no doubt about it—selecting the appropriate equipment is key to a successful excursion.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to fishing hooks, you have several choices, whether you’re a casual or professional fisherman. Knowing the equipment for particular fish species and how to set them is critical to a successful fishing experience.

Find the right fishing hook tool, size, kind, and more at Hook-Eze. We offer the best fishing accessories for your every fishing needs. Explore our products today!