Like Rodney Dangerfield, fishing hooks get no respect. With all the flash, glitz and glamor of lures, rods and reels, an angler rarely thinks about how to choose his fishing hooks. In truth, nothing is more important for ultimate success in the fishing game than the steel at the end of the line. These pros put years of trial and error into choosing the sharpest sword for their arsenal. Here are their top picks for the best hook-up.
Red Snapper
Brandon Barton // Florida Gulf Coast
Bait/Lure: Cigar Minnow or Egg Sinker Rig
Hook: Owner Mutu Circle
Size: 5/0 to 7/0
Right Hook: Super sharp and extra strong
Knot: Improved clinch knot
Best Practices: Let the fish pull your rod tip down, then lift steadily but not too quickly.
Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder
Danny Wray // Grand Isle, Louisiana
Bait/Lure: Live shrimp and popping cork
Hook: Kahle
Size: 2/0 to 4/0
Right Hook: Lots of bite. Responds to strong hookset needed with popping cork.
Knot: Improved clinch knot
Best Practices: Hook the shrimp through the horn just above the eyes.
Striped Bass
Jeff Little // Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
Bait/Lure: 1.5-ounce blade bait
Hook: Owner Treble
Size: 1/0
Right Hook: Thin wire and small size do not affect lure action.
Knot: Palomar knot
Best Practices: Kayak anglers can get away with a thin-wire hook because we don’t put as much drag pressure on the fish.
Bluegill
Brad Wiegmann // Beaver Lake, Arkansas
Bait/Lure: Live minnow under cork
Hook: Tru Turn Aberdeen 856ZS
Size: #2 to #6
Right Hook: Small to fit in bluegill’s mouth and tacky-sharp to penetrate bony jaws.
Knot: Palomar knot
Best Practices: Wait until the cork goes completely under and the fish is swimming off before setting hook.
Smallmouth Bass
Juan Veruete // Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania
Bait/Lure: Winco Flutter Head
Hook: 28-degree Mustad Hook with a coil keeper
Size: 1/4 ounce, 3/0
Right Hook: Small and compact hook for jigging heavy cover. Strong and sharp.
Knot: Improved clinch knot
Best Practices: When I feel a tap, I point the rod tip at the fish, reel up slack and lift the rod tip to 12 o’clock.
Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel, Amberjack
Kwanza Henderson // Southeast Florida
Bait/Lure: Live goggle-eye
Hook: Gamakatsu Live Bait Circle
Size: 5/0 to 7/0
Right Hook: Prevents gut-hooking fish with live bait.
Knot: Loop knot
Best Practices: Use biggest hook that doesn’t hinder the action of the bait.
This article was first published in the Early Summer 2015 issue of Kayak Angler Magazine. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
With all the flash, glitz and glamor of lures, rods and reels, an angler rarely thinks about how to choose his fishing hooks. | Feature photo: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels
