Built in swivel for improved presentationsĭrop-shot fishing has exploded in the bass fishing industry, especially in northern fisheries.

Best for Bass Fishing: VMC Spinshot Drop-Shot HooksĪn innovative hook from VMC designed specifically to make drop-shot fishing easy for any angler. For that I recommend the light wire version of the live bait hook. My only complaint is the heavy wire can be a bit much for lighter baits causing them to swim unnaturally. Since switching to these from circle hooks during the mullet run, I have dramatically increased my hookups. When a fish grabs a bait quickly, you can set the hook before it spits the bait. I prefer this style hook for fishing larger baits like live mullet, especially when tarpon fishing. You get a heavy wire hook with a short shank, great for keeping fish pinned. The Saltwater Live Bait Hooks from Gamakatsu are a great choice for saltwater anglers chasing big fish with big baits. Pairing a good live bait with the right hook is key to your success. Saltwater anglers use live baits as an effective technique for catching wary and over-pressured fish.

Finishes: What finishes do the hooks come in?īest Fishing Hooks: Reviews and Recommendations Best for Saltwater Fishing: Gamakatsu Saltwater Live Bait HooksĪ versatile live bait hook with a stout construction and a razor-sharp point to ensure fish stay hooked.

Size Range: What sizes are offered in the lineup?.

Corrosion Resistance: Do the hooks prevent rust from accumulating?.

Consistency: Are the hooks consistently the same?.

Sharpness: What technology goes into sharpening the hooks?.

Durability: How strong is the hook wire and will it snap?.

Here are the criteria I evaluated my choices on: Hopefully my recommendations help you avoid the heartbreak I’ve been through losing the true giants. All my go to hooks come razor sharp, have consistent quality, and, above all, keep fish hooked. Along the way I ran through plenty of hooks, and even more lost fish, until I narrowed down my hook preferences. I’ve fished with conventional gear and fly gear, using a wide variety of techniques. Growing up on the East Coast I had the luxury of chasing a wide range of saltwater and freshwater species.

Best Baitholder: Mustad Classic Beak Baitholder.

Best Barbless: Gamakatsu Octopus Barbless.

Best Treble Hook: Mustad UltraPoint KVD Elite Triple Grip 1X.

Best for Surf Fishing: Eagle Claw TroKar Saltwater Circle Inline Hooks.

Best for Trout Fishing: Owner Hooks SSW with Cutting Point.

Best for Bass Fishing: VMC Spinshot Drop-Shot Hooks.

Best for Saltwater Fishing: Gamakatsu Saltwater Live Bait Hooks.While this can help weed through the endless options, I’ve taken the time to find the best fishing hooks for a variety of scenarios, taking out some of the guesswork. With this in mind, anglers can choose the right hook regardless of species and know their choice is ready for whatever they come across.

Any hook worthy of using should come razor sharp, hold a hooked fish well, and be durable enough to withstand trophy sized fish. Selecting the right hook can dramatically improve your success in that split-second when the opportunity presents itself. No matter how expensive your rod and reel setups are, without proper hooks fish are going to get away. Fishing hooks are a critical component in any fishing setup, yet they’re all too often overlooked.

Types of fish hooks