Category: Hooks

Hello Italo,I use body baits for trolling for salmon. Do you find replacing treble hooks with singles on body baits alters the balance/action of the lure? And what size single hooks do you recommend? Thanks in advance. Brian Voisin

Posted on November 28th, 2021

Hi Brian, great question. I have often replaced treble hooks when using spoon for trolling and casting for salmon as well as body-baits and also on in-line spinners. I have had many trebles destroyed and lost salmon on the due to the aggressive head-shaking and rolling in the line.

I have not had any problem with the action being compromised by changing to single hooks. Though the standard single hook most anglers use is the Siwash, I have found that the “in-line” single is much more efficient. I normally use a 1x-3x strong single to ensure larger salmon won’t open the hook.

Make sure to check the fishing videos on our Italo Labignan YouTube channel and if you have any questions just email them to me at Ask Italo throughout our www.canadian-sportfishing.com website.

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HI Italo, are you familiar with “mosquito hooks”? Are these basically octopus hooks that are made with thin wire and more finesse? Are “mosquitoes” recommended for fish like steelhead or smaller trout? thank you!

Posted on December 16th, 2020

Hi Dako, I am familiar with them but use the Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap hook and have used them successfully for Steelhead both in Ontario and in BC…God bless you.

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Thanks ….now them size hooks u recommend…the balance will be alright.

Posted on January 22nd, 2019

Hi Will, definitely…God bless you.

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Hello Italo …I use alot of rapala cd3,cd5,cd7 and yozuri pin minnows for river steelhead in my river …can u tell me what size single hooks I can use instead of the trebles on them lures…..thanks….heres my email calif63@hotmail.com.

Posted on January 18th, 2019

Hi Will, I would suggest you use a Gamakatsu Octopus hook as single hooks on all 4 lures:

-CD3  #10

-CD5 & Yozuri Pin Minnow  #8

-CD7 #6

I would only add a single hook to the end of the minnows and try to place them on the split-ring so the hook is facing up….God bless you.

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Hi Italo, I just wonder why do trout fishermen tend to use smaller hooks and baits in clear water and larger in high and stained? Is this just because of visibility or is it something else? Hook size is something that can be debated I guess. Most fishermen would consider a #4 octopus hook to be too large for trout, yet it only as long as a #1 blue fox spinner blade, which is considered small by most lol Anyways, what would be an average size hook for stocked rainbows in your opinion? Thank you!

Posted on November 10th, 2018

Hi Dako, most anglers fishing for tributary trout/steelhead use smaller hooks most of the time for two main reasons; 1. Small hooks are lighter, have a shorter gap between the hook point and the shaft and are less likely to get caught on the bottom when drift fishing. 2. Small hooks are much easier to “embed” in the mouth of a fish when using lighter line then a larger hook. 3. Small hooks are less visible then larger hooks in clear water. In murkier water it’s common for tributary anglers to up-size their roe bag or artificials so that the fish can detect them easier. To go along with the larger bait, they sometimes up-size their hook, but not always.  Average size hook for fishing stocked rainbows ranging from 12-16″ long would be a #8 or #10 hook.

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Good day I have never fished with a drop shot before. Can you advise what to use and how to rig. Thank you

Posted on June 25th, 2015

drop_shot_rigs

Most anglers tie a hook onto their line about 1-2′ from the end of the line. They use either a bell sinker, pencil-sinker or round sinker tied to the bottom of their line. The drop-shot rig keeps the bait/soft-plastic lure off the bottom. The rig is usually fished vertically (not cast and retrieved). You can use bait or soft-plastic lures like; 4″ worm, minnow, leech, etc. You can also purchase special “Spin-shot” hooks that have a build-in swivel allowing the hook to rotate around the line.

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Good morning Italo, question regards to best catch rate hooks. What type of hook should I get for walleye when using pickerel rig? Yesterday I think I hooked 2 big walleye (3lb+) and both of them were hooked and gone, my friend (4 years fishing experience) is blaming my stock walmart pickerel hook which come with the packages, I they said I should get at least octopus hook. They also blame my drag line setup is way to heavy. Please advice what is the best catch rate hooks? And is it has something to do with the drag? Thanks a lot in advance!

Posted on June 25th, 2015

baitholder_hook

Best hooks to use with the pickerel-rig for larger fish like walleye is either a #6 or #4 baitholder hook. The shaft is the ideal length & they are heavier steel (won’t bend like the gold-plated, thin hooks that come in the rig pack). Drag setting is very important. For hook-sets it should be very tight so that no drag sounds when you set the hook, and only engages when a larger fish starts to fight. Good test is to set the drag by pulling the line from off the rod-tip (not at the reel).

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