Friday, April 20, 2012

Getting The Most Out Of Mustad Fish Hooks

By Melody Lyons


Serious fishermen know the tackle and bait they choose has a lot to do with success. Most fishermen don't put enough thought into fishhook choice however. The multitude of style available can be overwhelming. Mustad fish hooks have a complete line, so knowing the components and terms can help make the choice easier.

It's good to be familiar with the parts of a fishhook as differences in dimension are important for choosing the right style. The point and barb are at the business end of the hook. The rounded up-turn is called the bend, which then leads on to the shank. The whole thing is topped off by the eye which the line or leader attaches.

Many pick up what simply looks like the right size, but it's good to know the system. Fishhooks go from 19/0 (largest) to 32 (smallest). Aught-sizes increase in size as the number increases (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, etc.). Whole number-sizes decrease in size with number increase. A common mistake is to size based on the fish, but expert anglers know it's based on bait choice - smaller bait, smaller fishhook.

Type is an important consideration and based on both bait-type and species. The eye is often offset to increase force on the strike. The shank may also have an offset which helps present bait or the lure more realistically. Be sure to properly match the two as it really makes a difference in getting a strike.

Barb-type is another under-considered aspect. The barb keeps them on after the initial strike, but the right type can also help set the hook. The knife edge style is effective on bony, hard-mouthed species, while the kirbed barb, which is offset, is purportedly more effective in setting the hook in trout.

Fishing success means using the right combination of tackle, bait and technique. It pays to put some time and thought into choosing the right mustad fish hooks for the situation. The right choice will lead to more strikes, hook-ups and a better chance of landing one's fish.




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