what makes a good hook

[thuramario]

dont know why im asking questions like this at 2.42 am, guess im hooked. my birds uncle (keen matchman fisherman) swears on a large gape, short shank. i have had my good fishies on long shank small gape (barbed, micro mostly). all the experts out their give us your opinion so i dont have to spend at least 30 mins looking at all the hooks in the fish shop lol.

[poledark]

"Angling" magazine once did a syrvey on the perfect hook and the general opinion was that the Mustad Aberdeen was about right.. Gape a bit less than half the shank length.

 

Any deviation from straight point can cause missed bites, inturned point may help sometimes, but be detrimental in other situations. Same for points turned to one side.

 

Short shank can "tip up" and the point bounce instead of pulling in, the longer shank gives a straighter pull on the point.

 

For what it is worth, I actually extend the shanks of my Super Specialists with a short bit of ally wire, and the line aligner probably has the same effect. Once in the mouth, it is difficult for the hook to turn over and bounce around.

 

I also like straight eyes, but often turn mine up with pliers. My thinking is that there is no eye to catch and tilt the hook up.

 

There are some real abominations on sale now at huge prices............thick wire..soft metal............steep taper points which blunt before you have finished tying them on.

 

I think most of you have heard me say it before, but if I ever have to give one bit of advice, it is "SHARP HOOKS"

 

Den

[Andy Macfarlane]

For me, the bait generally dictates the shape of hook I use, whether that be a deadbait, a couple of maggots or a piece of sweetcorn. Once I've found the shape I want, strength, colour, sharpness and price all come into play.

[thuramario]

so i take it it isnt a case of one size fits all?

[Andy Macfarlane]

A wide gape, short shank size 8 sweetcorn hook isn't going to be much use for casters or mounting a deadbait is it?

[ColinW]

so i take it it isnt a case of one size fits all?

 

Definitely not. You wouldn't use the same hook ledgering for barbel as floatfishing for roach. For roach the better presentation you get off fine wire isn't likely to cost you lost fish like it will with barbel.

The circle hooks now used by many U.S. anglers, and the odd U.K. angler, for bait fishing is about as far from our normal shape as possible.

[Newt]

so i take it it isnt a case of one size fits all?

 

Nope. Absolutely not.

 

For instance, I rarely use anything smaller than a #6 and don't own anything smaller than a #8.

 

Most of my fishing (aside from lures that come with treble hooks) is with 1/0 to 5/0 hooks depending on the situation and the hooks are shaped basically like one of these photos. I doubt that either one would suit your fishing style.

 

Bait

 

Lure

[bonefish]

dont know why im asking questions like this at 2.42 am, guess im hooked. my birds uncle (keen matchman fisherman) swears on a large gape, short shank. i have had my good fishies on long shank small gape (barbed, micro mostly). all the experts out their give us your opinion so i dont have to spend at least 30 mins looking at all the hooks in the fish shop lol.

You can`t beat a large gape

[thuramario]

You can`t beat a large gape

why is that?

[Alan Stubbs]

You can`t beat a large gape

 

 

You can...to quote Les Dennis 'If it's in there, I'll give you the money myself.

 

Seriously, the hook choice should be determined by the bait being used - and the hook should be as subtle and as unobtrusive as possible in order not to spook the curious fish. Which is a wordier way of reinforcing what Poledark said.