How to Decide Which Fishing Hook to Use

Coming up empty-handed at the lake these days? You may not be using the correct hook for the kind of fish you've been trying to land.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baits
• Fishing Hooks
• Fishing Lines
• Fishing Reels
• Fishing Rods
• Fishing Tackle
• Weedless Fishing Hooks

1. Pick your quarry. The type of fish is an important factor in choosing a hook.

2. Choose bait. Use hooks with barbs on the hook shank with live bait; use an offset worm hook with artificial bait. The size of the hook should equal the size of the bait.

3. Decide on multiple-use or single-use hooks. Mechanically sharpened hooks are easy to resharpen, which will save money. Chemically sharpened single-use hooks are higher grade and sharper, but also more expensive.

4. Decide on the hook gap. Bigger bait requires a bigger gap in the hook.

5. Use treble hooks for dough bait.

6. Determine cover. Use a weedless hook in weedy or mossy areas.

7. Choose between a "snelled" hook and a loose hook. Snelled hooks are pre-rigged for tying directly to the angler's line; loose hooks hold dough or softer bait.

Tips & Warnings

• Always have a wide selection of both snelled and single hooks, and keep extra hooks on hand.

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on 8/8/2006 Use circle hooks when you practice catch and release. They usually hook fish in the corner of the mouth so they don't harm the fish. But don't set the hook too hard, or else you will yank the hook out of the fish's mouth. Just let the line come tight and let the fish hook itself.