How To Choose A Hook

Hey, guys. This is Gene Jensen, with BassResource.com. Today, we're going to talk about hook selection.

I hate for a client to lose a fish because of a mistake that I made when I select the wrong hook for the lure, or the setup that they're fishing. There are tons and tons of different types of hooks; we've got straight-shanked worm hooks, we've got offset worm hooks, we got EWGs, or extra wide gap worn hooks, got stroker hooks, which are the ones with the little screw in them. Jig hooks. They've got thin wire, thick wire, heavy wire, and super-line whatever. It just goes on and on.

The thing to consider, one of the things that is forgotten the most, and it's something that really needs to be remembered, is what type of hook am I using as opposed to what size line and what type of rod that I'm using? I would not fish this jig with this heavy-wired hook. I would not fish it on a medium or a medium light with 10 or 12-pound test line, because when I try to take a rod like that with a light line and set a hook that heavy into a fish, it's not going to go in. The chances of me landing that fish are slim to none.

That's why we fish big, heavy jigs on big, heavy rods. This is a heavy action Duckett rod with 20-pound test fluorocarbon on it. That way when I set the hook, I know that hook is going to penetrate into the thickest part of the fish's mouth. The opposite end of that is if I'm fishing 8-pound test line on a Mojo rig, I want that lure to float up a little bit. I don't want a lot of weight on it, so I'm going to with a very light wire hook, the very smallest one I can get away with. This is a Number 1 offset hook. I use this on trick worms, I use this on a lot of . . . all the straight-tail worms that I fish a Mojo rig on, or fish anything else that needs to be light. On a Carolina rig, same thing, I'm going to go with the lightest hook that I can get away with because I want that bait to be able to float up a little bit.

When I'm fishing grass, I'm going to go with the straight-shank worm hook. This is a little bit heavier gauge wire than the light wire that I usually fish, so I might fish that on a 10 or 12-pound line with a medium-heavy rod.

You got to consider this, if not, you're going to lose a lot of fish. A flimsy rod cannot set a heavy hook. A heavy rod will straighten out a lightwire hook. Think about it before you go, before you rig up, think about what you're doing.

One of the questions that might come up for this video before I end it, is going to be: What size hook am I going to chose? I try to fish; personally, I'll fish with the smallest hook I can get away with. Like I said, a number 1 worm hook on a big trick worm. I love short hooks, just because you get the best action out of that soft plastic with shorter hooks; it's, it's more of a confidence thing. Pick the size that you feel the most confident in and make sure that the gauge of the wire matches the rod and the line that you're using.

Like I always say, visit BassResource.com for the answer to all your questions about bass fishing. Subscribe to my YouTube channel. Hit that little Like button down at the bottom, it helps other people find the video. Have a great day.