Setting the Hook
The kind of hook you use makes a big difference in what you need to do when setting the hook. Different kinds of hooks allow you to do different things and are more effective in some kinds of situations than in others. Pick the right hook for the fish you want to catch.
Always be aware of the strength and condition of your line when setting the hook. Light lines require a lighter hook set than heavy lines. If there's any chance your line is frayed, a strong hook set will break it. Use enough force to drive the hook home without breaking your line.
Barbed Hooks
Hooks with barbs are made to hold the fish and not come out easily when you hook them. When fishing with barbed hooks you should set the hook with more force because you must drive the hook past the barb into the fish.
Barbs are in proportion to the size of the hooks, so a small hook will have a small barb and is easier to drive home. Big hooks for saltwater fish require a lot of force to make them penetrate past the barb. A stiff rod or a heavier line that doesn't stretch much helps drive the hook in. Use a hook appropriate for the fish, but stick with the smallest hook that will do the job.
Barbless Hooks
Hooks without barbs are required in many places, especially where catch and release is required. Many trout streams have barbless-hook regulations, so always check before fishing. Barbless hooks penetrate easily and come out of the fish's mouth easily without damage, but they're more likely to come out during the fight, too. With practice you can land fish just as well with a barbless hook.
Do I have to buy barbless hooks?
No. To make barbed hooks barbless, use a pair of pliers to mash the barb flat on the shank of the hook, or file off the barb.
Double and Treble Hooks
Hooks on plugs are usually either double or treble hooks and are generally fairly small. Even so, these hooks can be hard to get into the fish's mouth and can also tear it. If you're losing a lot of fish when they jump, check the ones you do land to see if there is a big hole where the hook is in their mouth. If so, back off on your hook set a little. If there's not a big hole or if the plug comes out of their mouth easily after you land them because the barb didn't penetrate, set the hook harder.
Circle Hooks
Circle hooks are designed to hang in a fish's lip without requiring a hard hook set, minimizing the chance of hooking a fish in the throat or gut. First used on long lines in salt water where a line is baited up and left unattended, they hook fish well without jerking on the hook when you get a bite. Experiment with circle hooks and see if they work for you. They're very popular in salt water and many freshwater cat fishermen and bass fishermen use them, too, but some fishermen hate them. Some say they just don't work for them. Try them out and see if they fit your needs.
