When I’m out fishing or browsing my local tackle shop often times I’m asked, “How do you know what’s the right hook to use?”  To answer that question isn’t as simple as it might first sound, but it needn’t turn into a science project either. And to help explain that a bit we’ll break it down into three categories of fishing… pan fishing, bait fishing and fishing with plastics baits (tubes, creature baits, worms… etc.) 

Pan Fishing Hooks for Bluegill, Crappie, and Perch

Panfish include bluegill, bullhead, crappie, perch, rock bass and white bass, generally any fish that’s small enough to fit into a standard frying pan, hence the name… “panfish”. Anglers pan fishing most often use a bobber and hook to present a multitude of offerings that include crickets, earthworms, red wigglers, meal worms or small minnows. The aforementioned baits can also be fished directly on the bottom.  The hooks (Aberdeen or a standard bait keeper) used for this style of fishing usually range from a size 8 for the smaller fish, say 6-10 inches long up to a size 6 hook for the larger pan fish such as bullhead and white bass.

Bait Fishing Hooks for Catfish and Carp

Bait fishing for catfish, carp, bass, pike, walleye or trout usually calls for slightly bigger hooks because of the size fish and the bait they prefer. For these fish the smaller hooks start in the size 4 and work their way up to a big as a size 3/0 or 4/0 depending on the size bait used. These hooks vary in style but again a great starting point is the bait keeper hook for worms and cut bait and the Circle hook and Kahle for live or cut bait presentations, while a treble hook works well for dough bait presentations.

Plastic Baits Hooks for Worms, Tubes, and Creature Baits

Plastic baits require yet another style of hook and these can range from a size 8 all the way up to a size 7/0 depending on what fish you’re after and the presentation you’re using. For 4- to 7-inch worms and stick baits an offset worm hook in size 1/0 - 4/0 works well. When fishing tubes and creature baits size 2/0 – 4/0 hooks excel and for finesse style presentations with 3- to 4-inch stick worms, hooks size 6 or 4 are good choices.    The exact size of hook you use ought to match to the bait or artificial lure you’re fishing and a good rule of thumb is to ensure at least 50% of the hook’s bite is exposed or will be exposed when the fish takes the presentation.  Imagine fishing rubber baits that are a ½” in diameter, if you were to present that bait with a size 8 hook you wouldn’t land very many fish because there’d be too much plastic preventing the hook point from penetrating the plastic to stick into the fish’s mouth. It’s a balancing act that requires a little trial and error, but most reputable tackle store and bait shops have staff that are more than eager to talk you through the process to make the best selection based on your target species and the presentation desired.    

Matching Hooks to Rod, Reel, and Line

The same thing holds true when fishing live bait or cut bait for game fish. You need to select a hook that’s big enough to hold the bait, yet provides for a good hook up when bitten. It’s also very important to match the hook to the rod, reel and line you’re using. Smaller hooks are generally thinner in diameter and therefore require the use of lighter lines and rods so you won’t accidently straighten or open the hook on the hook set or during the fight. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way on a couple of occasions as I’ve tried to horse a bigger fish in on a light wire hook. And remember your fishing reel has a drag so don’t be afraid to use it.

For the bass, pike and musky aficionado several companies offer a super line hook designed specifically for use with no stretch braided lines. These hooks are large diameter hooks resistant to the impact of hook sets with braided lines and they’ve become common place in many anglers’ arsenal.

Another important yet often overlooked consideration is a small file or hook sharpener. Keeping your hooks sticky sharp aids considerably in the strike to hook set ratio and especially so when bait fishing on the bottom. It’s important to periodically check your hook point throughout the fishing day and if you notice any kind of a bur or bend on the hook point simply touch it up with a good sharpener.

To assist in your hook selection the following chart is provided.

Hooks, Rods and Reels for Fish Species

Where to Find the Gear

Terminal Tackle Kit  Fishing Line Options  Fishing Rods  Fishing Reels

About the Author

Captain Burnie Haney is owner/operator of New York Fishing Adventures, Army veteran and retired Sergeant Major with a 38-year military career. A tournament bass angler since 1992, he has won five Angler of the Year titles, set the NYTBF five-fish weight record, and qualified for two National Championships. Burnie holds two International Game Fish Association (IGFA) New York State line class records (walleye and smallmouth bass) and the IGFA All Tackle Length World Record for Chain Pickerel. He is a lifetime member of B.A.S.S. and member of the New York State Outdoor Writers’ Association. Haney was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2017. Today, Burnie focuses on multi-species seasonal fishing adventures.