For anyone who like to fish with live bait, the fishing hooks that are employed are of the utmost importance. This article will outline 3 things that your hooks need to have. No matter what style or configuration of fishing hook you choose to use, those hooks should have these 3 factors in common.
Fishing with live bait is very effective, especially when the proper fishing gear is employed and one of the most important pieces of gear when using live bait is your hook (or hooks). In my opinion fishing with live bait can be every bit the art form that any other style of fishing has ever been proclaimed to be. Fishing with bait that’s alive involves more than a red and white bobber and worm hanging off of a single hook. The bottom line is that when fishing with this type of bait, the hooks that are used are a key factor to success.
Make sure that your fishing hooks have these 3 things in common and you’ll be a much more successful angler.
Sharpness – You always want your hooks to be as sharp as possible when fishing with live bait. Any hook manufactured by a quality manufacturer such as Eagle Claw, Mustad, or Gamakatsu will be sharp when purchased. Always start by purchasing your hooks from a quality manufacturer. Most people have issues because they don’t check the sharpness of their hooks often enough. The bottom, caught fish, and underwater debris can all dull your hooks. This is why carrying a hook sharpener or changing your hooks often is important. You always want your hooks to be as sharp as possible when fishing live bait. Dull hooks are the cause of many missed fish. Size – The size of your hooks is extremely important. Many anglers use hooks that are entirely too large when fishing with live bait. You need to keep in mind that large fish can and are caught on very small hooks, just ask any fly fisherman. When using bait that’s alive you want the focus to be on the bait and not the hook. Your hooks should match (or be close) to the size of the bait that’s being used. The Configuration – Many anglers don’t give enough consideration to the configuration of their fishing hooks. In many instances, especially with live bait, a single hook simply isn’t the best fishing hook option. This is where gang hooks come in to play. When it comes to live bait hooks gang hooks are one of the best configurations available. When tied on light line these hooks are extremely effective in many fishing situations. Many times a single hook simply isn’t the best option, so keep the configuration is mind when it comes to fishing with bait that’s alive.
Keep these 3 things in mind and start to take your bait fishing to the next level. Never forget the most important factor, which is spending time on the water practicing your craft. The more time that you can spend fishing with live bait the more success you will begin to see.