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Beginners often opt for the simplest-looking fish hook for the task, and while this may ‘get the job done’, there are certainly more details that go into choosing the right hook for the right fish. In fact, an improper hook can allow your catch to steal bait or simply steal the hook from your rig altogether! While the simple solution for many is to buy a variety pack of hooks, it still begs the user to fully understand which hook is best for which situation, as a variety of hooks is only as good as choosing the right one for the task.
Fishing hooks have a long history with some of the earliest designs being crafted from bone or sharp shell. As metals were discovered, designs were refined and the modern hook we know today was eventually formed from this evolution. Nowadays, you can find a wide variety of hooks to choose from for your angling needs.
This guide aims to simplify the choice process based on a variety of factors including environmental, preferential, and target specifications. With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our extensive inventory of hooks at Outdoor Shopping.
Design
While there are many types of fishing hooks, the general design setup is the same. DIfferences in the details of the design is what gives us the selection we see today! All hooks have the same general components such as the eye (to tie the hook to your line), a sharp tip, and a barbed end to keep fish on the hook after they bite.
Variations in each part of the design can make certain hooks more ideal for certain catches or situations.
Point Variations
The point of your hook may seem like a straightforward design feature. It’s primary purpose is to pierce the mouth of your catch, allowing the barb to slip through the notch and hold onto the fish. But there are variations in the point to keep in mind when selecting your hook:
Point Type | Guidelines |
Needle | WIth evenly rounded and tapered sides, this point type gets its namesake from its shape. |
Rolled-In | The rolled tip to this point is designed to reduce pressure needed to set the hook. Ultimately, due to the tip of the point being rolled in towards the eye, the pressure is achieved due to the exertion of the fishing line. Because this hook type sets deeply, it’s best suited for fighting fish. |
Hollow | Forming a curve from the tip of the base to the barb, this point is rounded and best suited for fish that need a delicate catch like Crappie or other panfish. |
Spear | The angles on this point are shaped like a spear (hence the name) with a straight alignment from tip to barb. |
Knife | With two flat edges forming the point, a knife point penetrates well and is easy to sharpen. |
Similarly, many of these hook types come in a variety of finishes. Finishes are designed to attract fish or improve potential bites. You can also invest in a hook sharpener (especially for knife points) to keep your hooks sharp for every use.
Shank
As the longest part of the hook spanning the distance between the eye and the first bend, the shank can come in a variety of sizes.
Short: Best for fly fishing and panfish.
Regular: An all-purpose hook for a variety of game fishing.
Long: Preferred for large, toothy predator fish like catfish or carp.
Eye
As the connection point for your hook to your line, the eye is what you’ll loop your line through to keep your hook firmly attached to the fishing gear. There are specific designs that are made for different styles and presentations, and eyes that are offset are intended to increase penetration by pulling the barb upward on the hookset.
Eye | Guidelines |
Ringed | As the most common eye type, this configuration is round, uniform in shape, and are used on the majority of bait and lure hooks. |
Looped | With a nearly oval shape, the looped eye extends along the shank of the hook aligned with the direction of the bend. |
Needle | With the appearance of a sewing needle, this eye type is best for saltwater fishing. With the thinner eye shape, the needle eye allows for a hook to be fully buried within a lure or bait. |
Tapered | Similar to a ringed eye, the tapered eye is thinner than the shank of the hook. Tapered eye hooks are most ideal for dry flies. |
Hooks
Smallest hook sizes have the largest numbers and the largest hooks are designated with a 0, or progressive sizes of 0 such as 18/0, 19/0 and 20/0. Larger hook sizes are referred to as 20/naught and so on with size 20/0 hooks currently being the largest and 32 as the smallest.
Additionally, there are many styles of hooks available today. Here are some of the most common:
Hook Type | Guidelines |
Baitholder | Long shafts with barbs help keep wriggly, slimy, and slippery baits firmly secured to the hook. These hooks are also available as snells, pre-tied to line that is looped at the end and ready to be attached with a knot, swivel, or snap.
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Worm Hooks | Used for plastic worms, these hooks are ideal for bass fishermen in particular. They’re built for durability and deep penetration - qualities ideal for heavy fighting fish like bass. Common sizes for worm hooks are 2/0 to 5/0 and should be matched to the size of the plastic bait to be used and the size of bass you expect to catch. |
Double Hooks | As the name implies, double hooks are hooks with two curves, points, and barbs. These are great for use in a trailer-hook setup or for thick-bodied soft plastic baits like floating frogs. |
Treble Hooks | The legs of three hooks are forged together at the eye, making for superior hooking and holding power. These are most often used on lures such as crankbaits or bucktail jigs used for muskie or pike. Crankbaits for bass or walleye usually employ treble hooks sized 1 to 2/0, but sizes vary with the size of the lure. |
Siwash Hooks | These resemble a basic hook but are harder, making them better for harder-biting fish. Designed for saltwater baitfishing and commercial use, you’ll benefit most using these for steelhead and salmon. |
Aberdeen Hooks | Made of light wire with a slightly squared round bend, these are ideal for baiting with minnows as they create little damage. |
Kahie Hooks | These hooks feature a wider gap, placing the hook farther back in a fish’s mouth to greatly reduce hooksets that tear out through the lip. The bend is offset with an up-eye, and the point is aligned with the line so the point pulls straight in on the set. |
Saltwater Hooks | Crafted with long, sharp points and hard wire, these are ideal for saltwater fishing situations. |
Weedless Hooks | Like weedless lures, these hooks have a design feature that aims at keeping your hook from snagging on brush and weeds. They’re best for areas of heavy coverage. |
Circle Hooks | Best for catfish, pike, or muskie, these hooks require a fishermen to carefully tip the rod up during the first parts of a bite to get the hook looped appropriately into the lip. |
Jig Hooks | These hooks have been molded with metal or lead for special applications. |
With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our extensive inventory of hooks at Outdoor Shopping.
