There are many fishing hooks designed to meet every angler’s needs. Different types of fishing hooks range in size from the tiniest to the enormous. They also have other distinct features that make them unique to their specific purpose.
Whether you’re fishing in freshwater lakes or out in the deep blue sea, we’ve got you covered so you know what types of fishing hooks you need. Our guide on the different types of fishing hooks will help you navigate the world of hooks with ease.
Let’s dive in.
10 Most Common Types of Fishing Hooks
The following 10 types of fishing hooks are the most common and widely used. Most anglers would definitely have a few of these types in their tackle box.
1. Aberdeen Hooks
Aberdeen hooks are best known as live bait hooks. They’re made from light wire, which keeps bait intact for longer than other types of hooks.
Their light wire also makes them ideal for mostly catching freshwater fish, like minnows and crappies. Plus, if they ever get snagged, you can easily free them with just a slight bit of pressure.
2. Bait Holder Hooks – the best types of fishing hooks for beginners
Bait hooks are unique in that they have a couple of extra barbs on the length of the shank, as well as the bend area. They help keep different types of squirming baits secure on the hook.
These hooks are recommended for beginners because they’re basic and easy to use. As a matter of fact, bait holder hooks are the most commonly used by almost all anglers. While they work great for many types of fish, they’re especially good for catching walleye and catfish.
3. Circle Hooks
A circle hook has a circular hook to it with an extra sharp tip. This type of fishing hook is designed to hook only on exposed surfaces, such as the corners of a fish’s mouth.
The Circle hook is commonly used by saltwater anglers. However, they’re slowly making their way over into the world of freshwater fish.
One benefit is they’re easy to use, especially with kingfish and bream. Another advantage of circle hooks is that fish can’t swallow them. They help minimize damage to the fish and boost mortality rates if you are fishing catch-and-release.
4. Jig Hooks
The jig hook is the basis for many different types of options available in tackle shops. In fact, it’s among the most used hooks used today.
One of its best advantages is that the shank is at an acute angle to align with the hook’s eye. This helps ensure a consistent hook-up each time.
5. Kahle Hooks
Kahle hooks are the complete opposite of Aberdeens. They have an extra-wide gap, which is ideal for rigging big baits. Another unique feature is that their points face straight up to the eye. This makes it easier to set the bait, no matter what size it is.
In addition, they’re heavier and more weighted, making them perfect for large-mouth, bigger types of fish found in both fresh and saltwater. Kahle hooks are best used for catching black drum, flounder, trout, and more.
6. Octopus Hooks
Octopus hooks are suited for fish species with small mouths, such as salmon, and steelhead trout. The Octopus hook is characterized by it’s short shank and slightly wide gap.
The eye points inward and away from the hook point. This makes it perfect for tying egg loop knots to hold bait or yarn.
7. Siwash Hooks
The best thing about siwash hooks is they have elongated shanks. They’re a good substitute for treble hooks when fishing regulations dictate the use of only one hook.
One of its biggest benefits is it reduces snags and dragging. It comes in handy when you’re fishing in water with heavy foliage. It also helps reduce the risk of damaging the fish.
8. Treble Hooks – One of the most common types of fishing hooks for lures
The word treble means ‘three.’ As the name suggests this hook is made up of three bends and three points. Treble hooks are associated with different types of lures, such as spinners, spoons, and crankbaits.
Having three hooks provides the ultimate coverage when you’re fishing topwater or spinner fish. Treble hooks are an effective way to maintain a steady hold on your fish, especially when you’re catching trout or bass.
One drawback is that treble hooks aren’t always allowed in certain bodies of water. This is why you should always check fishing regulations beforehand.
Another downside is that treble hooks tend to be more of a safety hazard, especially for beginners. With three hooks to deal with, you can easily get hurt or snagged.
9. Weedless Hooks
Weedless hooks are some of the most efficient types of fishing hooks available. Most of these types of fishing hooks are made of light gauge wire guards. Others consist of either plastic or monofilament guards.
Whatever type of guard you choose, you’ll find they work best in freshwater bodies of water where there’s heavy vegetation. These hooks work equally well when rigged with either live baiting or soft plastic baits.
10. Worm Hooks – A good type of fishing hook for bass
Worm hooks are highly popular among bass fishermen. One reason for their popularity is that they come in an assortment of weights, gap widths, and eye styles.
Still, they all have one thing in common: a wide gap between the eye and hook point. This makes it easy to place large bait, like senkos or other plastic worms. You should use worm hooks when you are fishing for large-mouthed fish species, such as bass and redfish.
Parts of a Fishing Hook
The oldest fishing hook ever discovered was found in East Timor. It’s recorded to be between 16,000 and 23,000 years old. Historically, fishing hooks were made from various materials, including stone, shells, bone and bronze.
Even though we’ve come a long way since then, the hook design has stayed the same. The main difference is that now, almost all hooks are made of one form of steel or other types of metal.
Due to the ability for salt water to corrode metal, the types of fishing hooks that are designed for saltwater must be made of rust-resistant materials. Freshwater hooks, on the other hand, don’t’ have to be rust-proof. They just need to be durable and heavy-duty.
Here are the basic parts of a fishing hook.
The Eye: A ring where you attach the hook to a fishing line
The Shank: The length of the hook on the blunt end that runs from the eye to the bend.
The Bend: The curved area on the hook that connects the shank to the throat.
The Throat: The length of the hook that runs down from the point to the bend.
The Barb: A spike that faces opposite the point to prevent it from coming loose.
The Gap: The distance between the shank and the throat.
The Point: The sharp tip that hooks into the fish’s mouth. There are five types of points:
- Hollow: ideal for soft-mouthed fish, thanks to their bent-in spikes
- Knife Edge: made for extreme penetration, they also cause maximum damage
- Needle: designed to pierce easily and cause minimal damage
- Rolled In: these points pierce deeply, making them ideal for fish that wriggle and flail
- Spear: the most common, this point allows for decent penetration and moderate damage
Fishing Hook Size
The size of a hook is based on the length of the hook as well as the width of the hook’s gap. Higher numbers refer to smaller hooks. In general, hooks start with the smallest at a size 30 hook. However, you can find mass-produced hooks starting from a size 18, which is still pretty small.
Hook sizes go all the way up to size 1. After that, the measurements change into aughts; the bigger the aught, the larger the hook. So, you go from one aught (1/0), all the way to 27 aughts (27/0). A 10/0 hook is ideal for catching sharks.
It’s worth mentioning that there’s no standard measurement for fishing hook sizes. They differ slightly from one manufacturer to another.
Final Thoughts
Fishing hooks may seem to be the simplest part of your setup. After all, they’re just a piece of bent metal. Yet, they’re so much more than that. Hooks come in different parts, sizes, and points. These factors decide which type of fishing hook works with what fish. You should always keep a few different sizes in your tackle pack.
So, where do you think your next fishing adventure will be? On the invigorating salty waters of the ocean? Or in the calm and serene waters of a freshwater lake? Wherever you go, you can be confident in the fact that you have the proper know-how when it comes to choosing the best fishing hook.