| Ever really thought much about, what your fish is | | | | area and that's where the problem rises. Even if |
| swallowing besides your bait? | | | | you cut the leeder, there is a good chance the |
| Nowadays, there are so many different brands, | | | | fish will die anyways and it is impossible to get |
| sizes and styles of hooks on the shelves, just | | | | your hook back without damaging and killing the |
| which one will you choose? | | | | fish. Baiting a Circle Hook is easy, loop your bait |
| In order to truly understand the differences it is | | | | into the hook so it enters about half way and |
| essential to go back to basics and first break | | | | make sure the bait does not spin, just once is |
| down the hook into its various parts. | | | | good enough. Fish the same way you usually do |
| Every hook has six parts which are the eye, | | | | with or without weight, cast or just peel off |
| shank, bend, point, gap and throat. | | | | some line from the reel and set your drag. The |
| Hook Points: (part that actually grabs the fish and | | | | idea is to get your bait into your usual strike zone. |
| contains the barb) | | | | Now, comes the fun part. You have to ignore the |
| Points can also come in a knife edge, needle, | | | | temptation to "jerk" your line when you get a |
| barbless needle, barbless, micro barb, short, | | | | strike and set the hook. If you do this you defeat |
| curved in, reversed or kirbed style. | | | | the whole purpose of the exercise and the hook |
| Hook Eyes: ("loop" at the forward end of the | | | | will simply pull right out of the fishes mouth. If |
| hook) | | | | your line has tension on it from the strike, you |
| The place you tie your line or clip your swivel or | | | | already have the hook in a position to set and |
| leeder. Eyes can be ringed, tapered, looped, open, | | | | grab the lip on its way out. |
| flatted, swivel or needle. | | | | Selecting a Hook |
| Eyes can also have alignments which are either | | | | Now that you've become a hook scholar you |
| straight or ringed, turned up or turned down. | | | | want to rush right out and buy some, right! |
| Shank: (section that begins at the first point of | | | | Whoa! Not so fast. Here are a few tips you need |
| the bend to the eye) | | | | before you purchase. Quality has to be a number |
| Bend: (section of hook that bends around | | | | one concern. Just like anything else you buy, not |
| Gap: (distance (size) from the point to the shank) | | | | all hooks are created equal. |
| Throat: (distance from the bend to the point) | | | | - check the hook to see if the eye is closed all |
| It is important that you realize that gap size and | | | | the way |
| throat length will either help or hinder your hooking | | | | (if it's not your knot could slip off at the most |
| of your fish. | | | | inopportune moment) |
| Now that we have the definition of a hook done, | | | | - check that the eye is smooth and not full of |
| we can move on to bigger fish. | | | | paint. |
| Hook Styles: | | | | (otherwise your knot could nick after you're tied |
| If you took all hook shapes or styles you could | | | | on) |
| probably put them in 3 categories, live bait hooks, | | | | - the point for sharpness |
| artificial bait hooks and manufacturer use hooks. | | | | (gently, drag the tip across your fingernail, if it |
| Live bait hooks include Octopus, O'Shaughnessy, | | | | starts to dig in its sharp) |
| Straight and Aberdeen. | | | | - that it is formed properly |
| Artificial bait includes Aberdeen, Sproat and Kahle. | | | | (if it is to sharp it will bend on contact) |
| Manufacturer hooks are used for making artificial | | | | (barb is proportional to hook size and has the |
| flies, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. | | | | proper shape) |
| Circle Hooks: | | | | - temper or flexibility |
| Circle hooks are really a must if you practice | | | | (gently flex the hook and watch that it returns to |
| catch and release. Let's take a look at what | | | | its original shape if it doesn't it isn't tempered, if it |
| happens when your fish strikes. The mouth opens | | | | breaks it's over tempered) |
| wide and your fish swallows your bait and hook | | | | Finally, this is the part that really hurts on a hook. |
| into its stomach or gut and then starts to swim | | | | Open your wallet and in foresight say to yourself, |
| away. Your hook and bait is then pulled back | | | | "if I had just spent a couple of bucks more, I |
| where it penetrates the lip area. | | | | would be mounting that giant bass on the wall". |
| Other style hooks will just penetrate in the gut | | | | |