Fishing for trout is not a simple task by any means. Trout are always on the lookout for anything that is remote to their natural environment. This is why it is essential to choose the perfect size of hook so that you may become adept at catching them. The smaller the size of the hook, the greater your chances of catching trout become. So, lets read more about what size hooks for trout fishing?
Before you go out fishing with your friends or family, you need to make a mind map about the size of the trout that you are hoping to catch. If you are uncertain about your objective, then the chances of you having a poor day out become significantly larger. It is just as much about your luck as it is about pre-planning smartly and efficiently.
However, regardless of the trout that you want to catch on your big day out, small hook sizes are always the way to go!
The Perfect Size
It is important to note that trout have a great eye for hooks. To lure and deceive them, your hook must be of a comparably smaller size. Trout have extremely good eyesight, so your hook needs to be camouflaged well in order to trick your prey. Since hooks generally come in a great variety of shapes and sizes, we will help explain which one may be the best option for you.
Single Hooks
There sort of hooks are used most commonly during the fishing season. A great thing about this type of hook is the fact that they are generally quite imperceptible which helps catching all kinds of fish. These hooks can further be divided into various subsections such as:
- J-Hooks: The shape of a J-hook is quite similar to the letter J itself. While this hook can be used to a great affect, it poses the risk of harming your fish, as it can get stuck in their eye or sometimes their digestive tract. Unless you are adept at fishing, you should always seek help from a professional while setting up the J-hook.
- Circle Hooks: These types of hooks are sharply curved at the corner which allows it to maintain a strong grip of the prey. The average size of circle hooks is wider than J-hooks. This reduces the mortality rate of fish, which is excellent when it comes to conservation. A great thing about these hooks is that unlike in J-hooks, you do not need to set them up. However, maintaining a piece of bait on this type of hook can be slightly more difficult due to their varying size.
- Kahle Hooks: This type of hook is essentially a cross between the aforementioned Circle and J-hooks. These hooks can be exceptionally damaging to the fish, if their size is larger than 10. Hence, only professionals should employ it.
To catch an average-size trout, anywhere between sizes 8 to size 12 hooks can work well for you. However, if you want to catch trout that are relatively bigger than average with the use of powerbait, you may even go up to size 6. A size 12 hook would work if you want to make the hook almost invisible to the trout.
Number Sizing
This is the most common scale of measurement of hook sizes. The hooks begin from 1. The size reduces as the number goes larger. Some sizes can go all the way up to 16 as well, making them some of the smallest available hook sizes in the industry. However, there is no universal sizing when it comes to hooks, as different companies employ different scales to measure sizes. For this reason, you need to have a sharp eye when it comes to figuring out the best hook size, otherwise the scales can be confusing.
Conclusion
Other things that you may want to take into consideration are the hook gauge and the hook sharpness. Make sure that the gauge of the hook is not too thick which can make them noticeable while underwater. The sharpness of the hook is an integral part of your setup. Make sure your hook’s end hasn’t dulled. The sharper the hook, the less damaging it would be to the trout.
However, as we have already uncovered, sizes ranging from 8 to 14 are the best sized hooks if you intend to catch prey. They can work equally well in murky or clear water. Anything larger than that poses the risk of scaring away your catch. Your hook’s size is as important as anything during fishing season.
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