How to Pick the Right Size Hook for Bass Fishing

Sometimes, it seems like bass fishing boasts more terms than even a spelling bee! In some instances, even lifelong anglers might know what everything certainly means. Often, many people are embarrassed or afraid of asking questions about bass fishing. One of the most common questions when it comes to bass fishing has to do with picking the right hook size. How do you know which size is the best for this kind of fishing?

​Hook sizes for bass fishing might seem complicated. The fact that both sea hooks and freshwater hooks utilize the same scale brings about this confusion.

​The rule of thumb is that the larger the number of a hook, certainly the smaller the actual size. Sizes start at 32 and proceed to 1 getting larger and larger as they go.

​For the largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing, the appropriate sizes are 6/0, 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 1/0, 1, 2, and 4. Definitely, the size depends on the technique one uses. Sometimes, fish hooks that are larger or smaller than this range are utilized.

​Before looking at how to choose the right size hook for bass fishing, let us first look at the most common bass fishing hook styles:

Using the right size hook for bass is highly important. Utilizing a hook that’s too large sees the bites missed. This is because fish shall be unable to fit baited hook to its mouth. Utilizing too small hook on the other hand brings a number of problems. It may cause bites to be missed because striking wouldn’t see the hook point driven to the fish mouth. Using too small hooks might cause the fish to be gut-hooked, thus making ‘catch and release’ fishing impossible.

Always remember that whatever the hook pattern of size you choose, you must ensure that the hook point is exposed clearly so that it’s possible to pierce the fish mouth and offer a secure hook-hold to reel in the fish.

The Hook Measurement ScaleHooks can be small or large. They’re defined by ‘aughts’ and ‘sizes’. 1/0 is the middle or median of a hook scale.

Size I hooks are larger compared to size 7 hooks. 1/0 is smaller in comparison to 7/0. Smallest standard sizes available are 32 while largest ones are 20/0. As defined in aughts, a higher hook number translates to a larger hook. For example, a 1/0 is larger compared to a size 1. Hooks usually ascend based on their increased size. Consequently, a 6/0 hook is bigger compared to a 2/0. However, a plain 6 is normally smaller compared to a 2.

Of great importance to note is the fact that hooks are normally made from different wire thickness or gauges. They run from extremely thick to thin gauge wire. For instance, 4x heavy, 3x heavy, 2x heavy, extra heavy, heavy wire, fine wire etc.

Conclusion

Enter any tackle shop and you’ll come across a huge selection of fishing hooks to choose from. Actually, the vast selection will make your head spin 360 degrees. Today, different hook styles and sizes exist. There is no doubt about that. You must be knowledgeable in order to settle for the right size.

Whether you are a weekend bass warrior or a brand new tournament angler that’s looking for more trade tricks, choosing the right size hook for bass fishing is highly important. That is for sure. In fact, settling for the wrong size will lead to a disappointing bass fishing experience.