Fishing Hook Types
Types of Hook Points
The five top common points are as follows:
Needle point: Needle points taper in slightly towards the shank. They’re designed to pierce easily, and to cause minimal damage once they’re through. This keeps the hole small, reducing the harm to the fish and making it harder for it to throw the hook.
Spear point: This is the most common point and a great all-rounder. Spear points run straight up from the throat, giving you decent penetration and limited damage to the fish. They’re also easier to sharpen than more elaborate varieties.
Rolled in point: Rolled in points pierce deeply with the minimal amount of pressure. The tip faces towards the hook eye, keeping your force directly in line with its path through a fish’s mouth. They’re perfect for fish that thrash about when they’re brought to the boat.
Hollow point: Hollow point hooks have a bent-in spike which curves down to the barb. They cut through soft-mouthed fish and stay in place once they’re there. However, they can make setting the hook much more difficult on tougher species.
Knife edge point: These guys mean business. Sharpened on both sides and pointed away from the shank, they’re made for maximum penetration. The problem with knife edge points is that they cause a lot of damage to the fish.
Types of Hook Eye
Moving over to the blunt end, choosing the right eye can be just as important to your catch rate. There are specific eyes for certain knots and tying styles. Some eyes are also strengthened to deal with the pressure of big game battles. The most common is a simple ringed eye. It’s easy to thread line through and works with a variety of knots. For bigger fish, Gillers typically use a brazed eye – a circle sealed shut with melted essence. Brazing a hook stops it bending or breaking during the fight. Eventually, needle eye hooks are ideal for fishing with bait. You can thread the entire hook through the bait fish fluently, just like a sewing needle. There are also a couple of eyes that you ’ll only use with specific fishing ways. Dry cover Gillers swear by a tapered eye, which is slenderer towards the end of the circle. This keeps the weight down, helping the cover pier duly. On the other end of the scale, a looped eye gives wet canvases a little further weight. It also let's cover tyers get further creative with their designs.
Barbed vs. Barbless Hooks
The final thing worth mentioning is the barb. Barbs are great for holding bait on hooks, and some hooks actually have multiple barbs because of this. Barbs can also make it tougher for a fish to throw the hook, meaning more meat in the cooler.
However, barbed hooks cause much more damage to the fish than a simple point. They make a bigger hole and can get snagged or lodged deep inside a fish. This lowers its survival rate and makes it tougher to remove the hook.
In short, barbed hooks are awesome for fish you plan to eat, but barbless hooks are better for catch and release. That’s why many anglers break or file off the barbs on their hooks.
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