Skip to main content

All About Fish Hooks

All About Fish Hooks

Though there are many different styles and sizes of hooks to choose from these days, let's take a look at five tried-and-true hook designs that have been catching fish long before most of us cast our first worm. The most common hook style even today, and one that most all of us start out using, and continue to do so, is the perfectly named J-style hook. Most hooks are actually variations of the J-style.

J-STYLE

The J-style is basically the shape created where the bend of the hook turns up to its point. The hook created by this bend looks like the letter J, and this style is one of the most commonly used hooks. It is also one of the most productive hook styles that fishermen can use.

Interestingly, J-style hooks are what most of us have learned to fish with, including setting the hook when you feel the tap of a feeding fish. Some anglers' say this is one of the most enjoyable parts of fishing, and it sure does feel good with you get a solid hookup!

The J-style hook is still the most popular type of hook used by anglers, as it provides the perfect hook for so many different fishing situations and species of fish.

BAIT-HOLDER

Aptly named, the bait-holder hook is designed specifically to hold bait! The main improvement of this type of hook is the additional barbs found along the shank of the hook. The bait-holder is a J-style hook design with barbs on the shank. Most bait-holder hooks have two barbs along the shank, which helps to hold a worm or other bait in place. Thus the bait doesn't come off during the cast or when a fish begins to nibble.

The simple barbs keep the bait put, and can make all the difference between catching fish or feeding the fish you intend to catch. It's a simple, but devastatingly effective design improvement! Most fishermen start out with this style of hook, as most of us begin our fishing careers by using bait.

LONG-SHANK

Long-shank hooks are necessary in cases where the quarry you're seeking have sharp teeth, or if you're a fly-fisherman who's interested in tying long streamer flies.

A long shank on a hook definitely helps keep a sharp-toothed fish from biting through your line, as the shank itself sticks out of the fish's mouth, preventing direct line-to-tooth contact. Long-shank hooks are also easier to remove from a fish's maw because you actually have something to grab onto.

Recommended


Another benefit is that most fish don't swallow the entire hook to become gut hooked, though this is not always the case with big-mouthed species.

SHORT-SHANK

To get the perfect picture of a short-shank hook, just think of the venerable salmon egg hook. Talk about a hook named for specific bait and type of fishing -- the salmon egg hook is it! Most anglers use this type of hook to catch trout, as trout are known to feed on salmon eggs.

However, the features of the short-shank salmon egg hook make it perfect for holding many types of small baits. The small size of the short-shank hook allows fishermen to hide the hook in the bait. So it is a great hook to use with many species of fish, from panfish to any species with small mouths.

Also, the short-shank hook offers good penetration on soft-mouthed species to boot.

CIRCLE HOOKS

You know the old saying, "saving the best for last." This may be the case with the recently revived circle hook, which was invented more than 100 years ago by Australian commercial fishermen.

Interestingly, circle hooks, which are named for their peculiar, tight-circular shape, first came into vogue with southern California recreational tuna and billfish anglers back in the early 1990s. Since then, circle hooks have become highly popular for all types of fishing situations and species of fish.

One reason is that circle hooks actually hook a higher percentage of fish! Also, you don't set the hook with a circle hook. Instead, you just wait for the line to become tight and then begin reeling in your catch.

On top of it all, the shape of the circle hook means that almost 100 percent of fish caught are hooked in their lips, not their stomachs or gills! This means a higher percentage of fish live if released. It doesn't get much better than that.

All you have to do is to remember not to set the hook. Doing so pulls your bait right out of the fish's mouth. The circle hook has definitely been a welcome and valuable addition to sport fishing. It's amazing to think this type of hook only became popular some 20 years ago.

There you have it, a brief description of the most important part of all fishing tackle -- the hook! Without a hook on the end of your line, you're just like a fish out of water.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Lew's Custom Pro Gen 3

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Other

Light up the Salt

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Caring for the Catch

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Snook on the Hook

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Guns

TriStar Cobra III Field Pump Super Compact .410

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Federal Premium Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Saltwater Setup

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Jacks to the Max

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Baits & Tackle

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Reels

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Rods

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

The Fight is On

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Game & Fish App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use