There are no trifles in fishing. Even the most seemingly insignificant detail can become decisive, affect the amount of catch. A fishing hook is a key tackle on which the success of the entire enterprise depends. There are a huge number of their sizes, types. The right choice depends on each method of fishing, the conditions of the reservoir. Being in a specialized store, from the abundance of shapes, sizes, bends of these gears you can get lost. To make the choice easier, you must use the advice of experts. They will be able to suggest how to choose the right hook.
general characteristics
You should start with the fact that the fishing hook can be double, single or triple. The main signs of classification are size, material and shape. Each department of this product has its own name. In a single hook there is an eye (made in the form of a ringlet or spatula). A fishing line is attached to it. The longest, straightest part is called the forearm. The bend zone is called the sub-bend. The sting has a sharp end and a beard.
It is important to pay attention to the length of the boot, the length of the forend and the width of the hook. It is the last item that is extremely important when choosing. The width is numbered from the largest products (No. 10) to the smallest (No. 2). Hook number 5 is considered average. These sizes of fishing hooks are recorded in millimeters. However, this value is relative. The width of the product of the same number may vary significantly from different manufacturers.
Some hooks, which are considered the most common, have original names. The most common form is called “kirbi”. There are also hooks "crystal", "ukleechny".
The form
There are many forms of gear that fishing requires. Fishing rods, hooks are selected based on process conditions. Initially, you need to pay attention to the shape of the product.
If the forearm is short, this hook is suitable for nozzles of plant origin (dough, porridge). They are practically not visible in the bait. But to hook such a product is quite difficult.
If the forearm is long, you can attach a worm, a caterpillar and other large bait to the hook. This species is designed for predatory fish, which swallows the bait completely. The slope of the sting indicates that this is a less effective type of gear.
If the hook has a ring at the top, such a product is used exclusively for binding to metal leashes. The spatula head is more easily masked in the bait. But it should be tied according to clearly defined rules.
The size
The numbers of fishing hooks are selected according to the type of bait. For peas, wheat, barley forend can be used short. The larger the bait, the greater the tackle. Also, a lot depends on the taste preferences of the fisherman himself, how he used to perform these actions.
You also need to know what size of fish you plan to fish out of the water. If it will be small copies, hooks No. 14-18 are suitable. They are intended for rudd, roach, bleak, etc. If the fish you plan to catch will be medium in size, the tackle should be more powerful - No. 16-22. Also, such hooks are used for careful fish. The tackle becomes invisible to her, the bite increases.
For especially large individuals of the underwater kingdom, as well as during fishing for live bait, products No. 4-10 are used. These sizes are suitable for fishing carp, silver carp, grass carp, etc.
Sting and beard
Having considered the main dimensions of fishing hooks, you should study such an area as a sting. Most often it bends inward. Experienced fishermen say that with gear of this form, the fish almost never breaks. If the hook is straight, you can bend it with a knife inward. But it is worth considering that with this form of sting (if it all fell over in the direction of the fore-end), even with careful behavior, there are also many empty bites. Therefore, bending is best done only in the area of the tip.
Tackle can have a goatee or do without it. This sting element holds the bait and also prevents the fish from slipping off during hooking. If there is no beard, this tooling element is designed for high-speed fishing of small fish. But in this case, the sting necessarily bends inward. Otherwise, the bait will drop quickly. Such hooks are suitable for sport fishing for maggots.
Some special varieties
There are several special types of gear. They should be considered in more detail. These include hooks for winter fishing, forged, Japanese varieties.
In winter, use tackle, in which the ear and scapula are absent. There are small notches on it that allow you to fix the fishing line (diameter not thicker than 0.1 mm). Too large fish cannot be pulled like that. But the medium-sized individual will be able to fish out of the water. The bait passes the entire hook and enters the fishing line. This gives it a natural look, improves nibble.
Forged hooks are flattened on the sides. They are used for fishing on corn or maggot. A horseshoe is a stopper so that the bait does not slip off the hook. The unique shape and quality are characterized by Japanese hooks. They provide a really good catch.
Color and material
High-quality equipment requires any fishing. Fishing hooks should be made of high strength steel or stainless steel. Their alloyed varieties are most often made from vanadium.
They are processed in various ways. Coating is most often applied nickel plating. This will give the product a light or dark shade. The most resistant, but rather expensive coating is technical gold. It is the processing material that determines the color of the hook.
If you want to create a disguise as bloodworms, apply a lacquered red coating. But it is used only once. Then the coating must be repainted. It is noted that such products are rather fragile, as they are made from soft wire.
Expert Reviews
Experts note that around the world there are relatively few reliable manufacturers who manufacture the presented snap-in element. They are most often produced at the same factory and sent to dealers. They sort the hooks into the original packaging of various shapes and colors.
When choosing a single, double hook for fishing, you should inspect it. Today, the fishing market is rich in low-quality fakes. Therefore, even if the manufacturer's country of Japan is indicated on the package, you should check the hook for shape, rigidity, and processing quality, at least purely visually.
One of the highest quality gear today is the Japanese and South Korean specimens. The quality of the hook is most often best judged already while fishing. After examining it, you can only sweep away the specimen with defects, rust, etc. For low-quality specimens, the sting becomes dull much faster than for solid products. Moreover, if such a situation has occurred, sharpen the tip is not worth it. It’s easier to snap a new hook.
Fishing tips
Undoubtedly, every fishing enthusiast has a lot of his special fishing secrets. However, the choice of gear depends on a person’s preferences. The fishing hook can be bent not only inward, but also to the side. And this is possible both in the area of the sting and the forehead or neck. Experienced fishermen advise you not to pay attention to marketing tricks. In their experience, such curvatures do not give any advantages. But the quality, the strength of the hook due to this shape is lower.
Also, experienced fishermen are advised to pick up hooks, analyzing their consumption for 1-2 fishing. If the tackle became dull quickly, and the packaging took several fishing trips, you should not trust this supplier. Having tried several varieties on sale, you can choose the appropriate option. If you managed to find hooks of high-quality production, it is better to make a stock (up to 50 pieces per season). Tackle should be stored in magnetic boxes. So the hooks are not lost.
Having familiarized yourself with the main types of equipment such as a fishing hook, you can choose high-quality, optimally suitable products.