Fishing hook brands may different sized hooks at certain sizes than other brands. Cancel. The thickness of the hook wire is commonly referred to as the gauge of the hook. Youve probably been waiting for me to finally tell you what the best trout hooks are or what trout hooks I use and recommend to my clients, but that can take up an entire page, and it did, so go to my page on the 5 Best Hooks and enjoy. Im not talking about trolling inshore waters for speckled trout! If you want to be among the small number of anglers that succeed in their speckled trout fishing endeavors, there are several speckled trout fishing tips; you will have to be familiar with. As you go further into this article, what size hook for trout, cricket, salmon, and other species would be looked into. I use this when fishing structure with no current. Sadly, not every angler gets to go home with a prize 7-pound speckled trout. But trout can be line-shy and that means that a big strong hook will never be put to its full potential because the chances are that the lighter leader will always break long before the hook will bend or break. src: url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/roboto/v20/KFOmCnqEu92Fr1Mu4mxP.ttf) format('truetype'); We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. However there are some trout fishing lures available with single hooks. 3 Best Nymphing Leader Setups Guide Secrets For More Trout, For small baits and in very clear water I will use a size. Wolfmanjack Member since Jun 2017 568 posts. We participate in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Read MoreContinue@font-face { Just like how one clothing lines medium shirt may fit like a large in another clothing line. The packs come with an unweighted 4/0 hook and is good for me in only super shallow situations of one and a half feet of water or less. There are a number of common terms used to describe each part of the hook.. I also believe a hook constantly dragging along the bottom is a bad thing since trout tend to feed up or sideways 87% more than they feed down. The best rule to follow when selecting a trout hook is to choose the smallest suitable size possible. Two main factors determine what size hook for trout fishing: A trout fishing hook is fundamentally the same as most other freshwater fishing hooks and is constructed and described in the same manner. Just kidding. Im not sure why its done this way but I think they did this to confuse the crap out of new anglers :). I will often stick with the 1/0 or increase to 2/0 depending on the whitebait size for live baits. One of the reasons that I use size 10 trout hooks for steelhead without worrying that Im going to bend out hooks is because I know that if I pull too hard my leader will break long before my hook will bend so I never have to worry about bent or broken hook, especially since I only use good quality trout hooks. They are also used on single hook lures. Top 9 Speckled Trout Fishing Lures. Single hooks are most popular when fishing with bait for trout. Most people dont troll inshore, but its actually a really fun (and effective) way to fish. Best Trout Baits The Only 5 Baits You Will Ever Need, How To Catch Trout: Learn From A Professional River Guide, 2 Float Fishing Leader Setups From A Pro River Guide, Best River Fishing Rods Of 2021: Trout And Steelhead Rods, 5 Best Trout Nets And A Guides Advice On How To Attach Them, What Are The Best Indicators For Fly Fishing? Seabirds and speckled trout have one thing in common: they love to gorge on baitfish. The faster the water the less the hook size matters however almost never will I drop down to a size 2 or size 4. This method may not be perfect but if can provide considerably less damage to a trout that regular barbed hooks.. The majority of hook-caught speckled trout survive when released. For the extra 1 to 2 dollars a pack its worth buying better quality hooks. Id be happy to help you with any questions you might have on hooks size for trout or any tips you might have so leave a comment or question in the comments section below. Many rivers and fisheries will operate on a catch and release system. Of course a traditional cork, slip cork, or Carolina rig can work. The gauges are commonly described using and X descriptor. Louisiana conducted a 18-month study ending in 1995 on the survival of released speckled trout. What size hook, weight etc etc TIA. There are many advantages to using the right hook size for trout but there are some disadvantages to the wrong hook size. The majority of hooks for trout will be single hooks. The size of your leader should also be considered when considering your hook size. #2 Best Speckled Trout Lure Grub On A Jig Head. Menhaden play an important role in the coastal bay's food chain, and are truly essential food sources in the life cycle of the speckled trout. Trout has a habit of suspending at a certain depth, depending on water conditions. If the water is dirtier and I can get away with a bigger hook or I am using larger baits, I will go with the same 2 hooks but in a size 8 or maybe a size 6 trout hook if its really dirty water. Replies (3) Options Top. This has enabled me to have plenty of opportunities to watch thousands of trout feeding above and below the surface. Barb-less hooks are used to when you want to create less damage to the trouts mouth. A size 1 trout hook on the other hand is about an inch long and is meant for much bigger baits. Speckled trout, or spotted sea trout, are arguably the most popular inshore saltwater game fish species.They are widely distributed, being in These floats let you put the bait right there with them. For a good multi-purpose trout hook that is suitable for most river conditions and most bait sizes, and most fish sizes, I will use the same two hooks types as above but in a size 10. There are some brands of hook that are very good and there are cheap hooks that might bend or break. For example a 2X hook is twice as strong as a normal gauge hook. They are basically the same size hook but one is just stronger due to the thickness of the hook. A size 6 will hook and hold a trout, steelhead, or even a salmon just fine. The survival rate depended on the fishing method. On the flip side, a small hook doesnt grab a lot of flesh and doesnt hook trout as well and is more likely to tear out of the fishs mouth but a small hook in a bait is less likely to be seen by the trout and is more likely to get grabbed. The wrong hook size, the wrong shape, and even the wrong color can lead to a no fish day! Did you know that trout have superb sight? Dont Set The Hook Hard. In faster currents, the best hook size for trout fishing will be a bigger hook. Nine times out of 10, you hook them in the corner of the mouth. So for example a 3/0 is bigger than a 2/0. A heavy hook will also drag along the bottom too much which also looks unnatural to the trout because most bugs and other bait will drift freely on and off the bottom. A 3x 4/0 hook has the same wire thickness as a 7/0 hook. Not aggressively setting the hook particularly for speckled trout is a big key to catching more fish. The larger the hook size, the more likely trout will see it as something to avoid. How to Catch Speckled Sea Trout 1. A size 1 trout hook on the other hand is about an inch long and is meant for much bigger baits. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. The size of the fish usually doesnt matter, except when hook strength is a factor. The best jig head size is usually still the 1/8 ounce or 1/4 ounce because they are usually in the upper parts of the water column. 4 Best Places To Buy River Fishing Gear Online? The only difference between a hook for a large trout and a small trout is the thickness of the hook. The key is having the right set up to ensure that when you hook one you can successfully land it. Posted by Wolfmanjack on 8/6/17 at 9:03 pm to eyepooted. If the current is fast the trout have to make a split-second decision when feeding which means they are less likely to see a bigger hook and since bigger hooks will hook and hold better I may go to a size 6 or size 8 trout hook in fast water. As for rigging up this bait I only use an Owner Beast 4/0 1/8 ounce weighted hook. But dont worry because I have caught lots of 20 to 40-pound salmon on size 8 trout hooks. There are several species of birds that signal the location of speckled trout, but seagulls are by far the most reliable. Single hook - Size #8 to #12 Eagles Claw Baitholder hooks depending on how big the nightcrawlers are. Unfortunately there are two systems that are currently used to describe the size of a hook. There are also hooks bigger than a size 1 and they rate them like this 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, and even much bigger with some over 8/0 for musky and saltwater fishing. A bigger hook will hook more fish and will hold on better so if the water is dirtier and I think that the trout wont likely see my hook due to the reduced visability, I will use a bigger size 6 or size 8 trout hook. My go-to size when I am guiding for steelhead is a size 10 trout hook in clear water conditions, and I sometimes put over 300 steelhead in the net just in the month of November. This post will list the Capt. You want a flimsier fishing hook that flexes for fish species with softer, paper-thin mouths, like a speckled trout. Trout fishing is an enjoyable experience and it's very important to have the right size hook size for better success when catching trout. If a size 10 trout hook is good enough for steelhead its good enough for trout too. font-display: swap; That number is based on a recent study I read, but I have been saying this for over 20 years. Another hook that I like in all these sizes and conditions is the. For all the same reasons why I would or wouldnt use a large hook will still apply to big trout or small trout. I find my hookup ratio is much better if I let them eat and lift and reel, especially with the trout, he said. What bait you are using and how big it is. Whether the trout is 20 pounds or 4 inches they both see things the same way and they will both see the hook if it is too big. When speckled trout are biting, they are biting, and the fastest way to keep catching them is to do exactly that: keep catching them! Treble hook artificials had a 97% survival rate, single hook artificials were 91%, treble hook with bait had 83%, and single hook with bait was 74%. However if you are fishing in a stocked pond and want to avoid the smaller younger fish you can use a slightly bigger bait and hook, the bigger hook will deter the smaller fish. How big are the trout in the local rivers or lakes. Debris on the hook will prevent the trout from biting the hooks. font-weight: 400; As for size, 2500 or 3000 size reel will work fine if you use a medium action rod. I am a professional river fishing guide with over 20 years of experience in guiding and instruction and I am considered the top river guide in my area. Guides Advice, How To Keep Fishing Rod Guides From Freezing 3 Guide Tips. Speckled trout will be wherever the bait is. Best Size Hooks For Trout In most situations, the best size hook for trout is a size #10 or #12. A hook that is too large and too heavy will also snag the bottom too much which means more lost hooks, and it also means you are more likely to have debris stuck to your hook during your drift. Fishing hook sizes may not be exact, but they are roughly equivalent. Here are some general tips for catching speckled trout. These are my guide tips for trout hooks. Back to top. A double hook is simply two hooks joined together at an angle. Each system describes the size of the hook relative to the maximum nominal hook size. As this guide is about fishing for trout and trout hooks in general we are going to use the second scale. The right hook size for trout will improve your presentation. The larger sized hooks are described by the aught system and are generally used for sea fishing. Hook sizes without a zero:The second hook size system does not include a zero. font-family: 'Roboto'; That means the wrong hook can warn them off your bait entirely. Catching Speckled Trout Tips. Unless you are fishing for stocked trout which I often call dumber than dumb, you will struggle to get wild trout to bite if the trout keep seeing your hooks. If you are not sure about how to present your bait effectively or you want a guides advice on the best methods for bait fishing check out my page on How To Float Fish and my page on How To Bottom Bounce Lie A Pro. Some anglers think that you need a bigger hook for big trout and a smaller hook for small trout but thats not true. I have seen plenty of fish turn away from a bait, but with a few hook adjustments, I have seen that same fish grab the bait. If you want to know what my favorite baits are for trout and my tactics for catching more trout on baits, go to my page called Best Trout Baits The Only 5 Baits You Will Ever Need. Hook size for trout or any hook for that matter is measured in numbers from 1 to 26 with the larger number being a smaller hook and a smaller number being a bigger hook. If you are fishing on these types of waters it is bet to use a barb-less hook. font-style: normal; As a guide for the last 20 years, I have done a lot of research on trout feeding habits. src: url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/roboto/v20/KFOlCnqEu92Fr1MmWUlfBBc9.ttf) format('truetype'); For example, if youre using a longer six-inch tail you would need a 4/0 size hook, not a 2/0 like you might use for a four-inch tail. The majority of trout fishermen and fly tiers will always use the system without zeros as they are the smaller hooks more suitable for trout fishing. You may have to increase up to a 3/0-4/0 hook. The best hook size for trout fishing will depend on the size of the bait and the size of the trout that you are fishing for. The ideal hook size for trout fishing range from 6-18. When choosing the best hooks for trout fishing you need to be aware that trout especially wild brown trout can be notoriously finicky when it comes to bait presentation. Single hooks - Size #12 or up to # 8 Gamakatsu trout hooks if you are fishing for larger fish. A Raven size 10 sedge hook is a thin wire hook that might straighten out on very big trout or on a big salmon, but a size 10 Gamakatsu Octopus Strong hook wont bend or break. The hook size for trout that I use the most is a size 10 but when I go trout fishing I have trout hooks on me from size 6 to size 14 because there are times when a size 10 is too big or too small. One of the most versatile lures in your arsenal for speckled trout (and just about any other species of fish out there) is a plastic grub on a jig head (this also is one of the best redfish lures lures for red drum & puppy drum).. I use a larger size 6 or 8 hooks whenever I can, and I use a smaller size 10 to 14 hook when I need to. This means that generally the bigger the number the smaller the hook so a size 1 is much bigger than a size 12. I leave the line slack so the bait can swim down on its own and that is the key. Single hook - Size #12 Gamakatsu Single Egg hooks or Size #12 Eagle Claw Salmon Egg hooks, Best Powerbait for Trout How to Fish With Powerbait, Best Fishing Line for Trout The Best Lines Reviewed. Choosing the best hooks for trout fishing is one of the most important tackle decisions to make. As an example, a size 6 hook by Eagle Claw may not be the exact same size as a size 6 Gamakatsu hook. In clear waters trout can be very wary of anything that looks unnatural. If you have a good quality hook, then all you have to do is set your drag right, use the right size hook based on the bait and the conditions, present your bait well and you will catch more trout. I trout hook that is too big will not allow a small bait to move naturally in the current because it is too heavy and weighs it down. 6 or No. You can catch a ton of speckled trout around the deep ends of docks and around bridges. If the gap is closed up or the point is covered by the bait you will miss a lot of trout on the hook set or the trout will pick up the bait, feel the pull or line and spit the hook out without you getting a hookset. font-weight: 700; I have had the opportunity to work with professional trout anglers, professional guides, and even trout biologists. This works particularly well in creeks where there is a deep bend. Having said that, there are so many different hooks that are built for the different species of fish, with different hook sizes designated for each kind. I believe that trout feed more based on sight than they do on scent or other factors so I adjust my hook size accordingly. If you have read any of my previous posts on how to fish for trout you will know that I think proper presentation is critical in catching trout consistently. The offset point can improve strike rate but it is also easier for the trout once hooked to shake it free. A lot of trout fishermen will swear by the same size, shape and brand of hook for all of their fishing lives. However, while there are plenty of 4-8 lb. A bigger trout hook is better to hook and hold onto the trout but it can also be bad under certain situations. Choosing the wrong hook can definitely work against you as you try to land a picky trout. Many anglers think they need and big strong hood because they are fishing for big trout. I would consider a large hook to be anything bigger than a size 6 hook. Jim Klopfers top 9 speckled trout fishing lures. This means that if they see your hook you will have a tough time catching trout. fish to be had most anglers spend their time pulling in smaller 2-4 lbs. A hook that is too large for the bait will stand out too much and be ignored by the bigger wiser trout especially under clear and slow water conditions. This article may contain affiliate links. To avoid this, cancel and sign in to YouTube on your computer. A thick hook stands out more than a thin hook does so that is something else to consider when choosing the best hook size for trout. Using the correct hook will increase your chance of reeling in the best trout. Nine times out of 10, you hook them in the corner of the mouth. } The right hook size is just as important as the right rod, lure, and fishing line. 1 of 3 This keeper trout landed by Harvey Winingham of Phoenix hit a croaker with authority -- note the bait is on the line above the hook being removed by Capt. This rig is a weightless one and I use a Number 8 treble. The best hook size for trout will be between a size 8 and 12. Even a size 6 to me is big for trout. If the current is slow then the trout will have more time to inspect your bait which means they might see a bigger hook. font-style: normal; Same strong and sharp black nickel hook Confirm. I have guided and taught around 3000 anglers and many other fishing guides. A larger hook will be wider and it will give you a better hookset, and a larger hook will also grab more flesh so it will hold onto the fish better, but dont let that be the reason you go straight to a big size 2 hook because if the hook is too big they may not put it in there mouth in the first place. I like to use a small circle or kahle hook free lined. If you're using a pinfish, pigfish, etc. To do this simply squeeze down the barb of the hook so that it is flat against the hook wire. Not aggressively setting the hook particularly for speckled trout is a big key to catching more fish. A thin wire hook produces a smaller hole in the fish's mouth and won't tear it up so bad the fish comes off. The best hook size for trout fishing when I am using a bigger bait like a garden worm or a spawn bag that is about the size of a nickel would be a size 8 or size 10 trout hook. Reply. Another rig for speckled trout fishing with live croaker is a free line. The fish's weight and the rod will do the rest in making sure that hook penetration is good. Free Lined The free lining is just what it sounds. Like I mentioned earlier, you can either choose JRW Gang Hooks for better catch, or if you prefer single hook, try the Gamakatsu Trout Worm Hook , both of which are readily available to order online at Amazon. This looks unnatural to the fish and could be a warning signal to them. Hook sizes run from No. If you want a big wise old trout to bite you need leader and a hook size that they wont see. This something a lot of guys dont think about when choosing the hook size for trout. Here, I hook the croaker just in front of the dorsal fin and toss it towards the structure. Both are 3/0 hooks, but one is thicker than the other. The sizing for these is described as for a single hook. Single hooks - Size #12 or up to # 8 Gamakatsu trout hooks if you are fishing for larger fish. Trout have small mouths (much smaller than that of a bass and other game fish) which is why you need to use such a small hook. If you dont want to skip to another page, here is a quick summary of the best hooks for trout and the ones that I use the most for both trout and for steelhead. So, if you can find birds dive-bombing the water, chances are there's a school of speckled trout below the surface sharing in the feast.. However there are scenario's when a double or treble hook may be favorable. Heres why: If youre passing through an idle zone, you might as well have a line out; A small trout feels like a monster when youre trolling Not sure but can be confusing if not using and buying hooks often. The key is knowing when to use the bigger hook and when you should use a smaller hook. A size 2 or size 4 trout hook will likely be too large and will affect how the bait drifts through the current giving you a poor presentation. 4 for flies that imitate tiny prey to 2/0 or 3/0 for big mullet patterns to tempt those big gator trout. However having a small variety in your tackle box is definitely the best approach. You might use something like a size 10 (great for salmon eggs), size 12, or 16 hook size for smaller brook trout or lakes with smaller stocks. Follow the Birds. The bait will re: How to rig live mullet for speckled trout? The problem with small hooks and bait is that a size 14 trout hook might be too small and will get buried in the bait which may close up the gap which will then affect how well the hook penetrates and how well or how poorly it hooks the trout.