Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 27

by Ross Robertson
photos by the author
A
long time ago, a savvy angler
told me you better use a
good hook and the right
one, because it is the only thing
that comes into direct contact with
the fish. This statement is still as
true today as when I heard it 20
plus years ago. What many anglers
don't realize is that different hook
styles can significantly improve
your hook up and landing
percentage in different situations.
Here are six hook styles that you
should know.
Octopus
The octopus style is an
extremely versatile hook that
is most commonly used with
live bait. If you have ever used a
crawler harness, you most likely
have used an octopus hook. One
of the biggest mistakes anglers
make is in tying the hook. Instead
of tying with a traditional knot,
the hook must be snelled to make
the point work into the fish and
not pull away during the hookset.
Aberdeen
The aberdeen hook is a classic,
because it is so versatile. A long,
straight shaft with a round bend
near the hook point, this style
excels for live bait or even rigging
some soft plastics. If you need
to thread a grasshopper or a gob
of worms, the aberdeen is worth
keeping on hand. When using an
aberdeen hook for live bait, use a
thinner wire shaft and a thicker
wire when using soft plastics or
other artificial lures.
Wide gap
When rigging soft plastics for
bass, the wide gap is your go to
hook for Texas, Carolina, and a
host of other rigging methods.
The nature of the style allows the
plastic to be rigged weedless and
still allow for plenty of gap to get
a good hookup no matter the
fish or soft plastic size. To hook
it up, simply go through the
top of the worm and come out
roughly 3/8-inches lower. Then,
see where the hook point will
penetrate the plastic and stick it
all the way through, leaving the
hook point barely exposed.
Treble
Widely used on almost all
crankbaits, spoons, and inline
spinners, treble hooks play a
role for live bait as well. Models
that have a spring on the shaft
are great for holding dough style
baits for trout, carp, and catfish.
Due to popularity, many different
types of angle bends, thickness,
and points are available to fit
your specific needs.
Siwash
As good as treble hooks can
be, there are times when a single
hook will have a better landing
percentage. Also, some water
bodies don't allow multiple
hook points, so a siwash can
be the answer to make it legal.
Use a siwash when you need a
shout hook or when you plan
on releasing fish. The siwash
is extremely strong and will do
less damage to the fish in most
circumstances than a treble.
Circle
A unique shape, the circle
hook is primarily designed for
live bait fishing. The circle hook
is designed to rotate and catch
fish in the corner not deep in
the mouth, allowing the fish
to be released healthy and not
gut hooked. You don't set the
hook with a circle hook. Instead,
slowly reel into the pressure in
order to secure the fish.
While it's likely you will have
or need to use more than six
styles of hooks for fishing, if you
have a good selection, you'll be
covered in most circumstances
you encounter.
Pictured are (from top to
bottom): octopus hook,
aberdeen hook, wide gap hook,
treble hook, siwash hook, and
circle hook.
March/April 2023
27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023

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