How Long Is A Size 6 Hook

Trout hooks are an of import part of fishing and knowing the best hook size for trout volition assist yous catch more fish. Have you ever wondered which hooks river guides use and why? This commodity explains trout hooks from a guide's perspective.

The best claw size for trout fishing will depend on the size of the bait and the size of the trout that you are fishing for. The best hook size for trout will be between a size 8 and 12. A bigger trout hook is amend at property on to the trout but it can also be bad in certain situations.

There are many advantages to using the right claw size for trout only at that place are some disadvantages to the wrong hook size. The wrong hook size, the wrong shape, and even the wrong colour can atomic number 82 to a no-fish twenty-four hours!

As a guide for the last 20 years, I have done a lot of inquiry on trout feeding habits. I have had the opportunity to work with professional trout anglers, professional guides, and even trout biologists. This has enabled me to have plenty of opportunities to watch thousands of trout feeding above and beneath the surface.

I accept seen plenty of fish turn away from a bait, but with a few hook adjustments, I have seen that same fish catch the bait.

I have also put in thousands of hours testing baits, testing hooks, and testing unlike methods for communicable trout, and I believe I have come upward with the best hook sizes and shape for trout nether all conditions.

Trout Hook Sizing

Hook size for trout or whatsoever hook for that matter is measured in numbers from 1 to 26 with the larger number beingness a smaller claw and a smaller number beingness a bigger hook. I'm not sure why it's done this way but I think they did this to confuse the crap out of new anglers :). But kidding.

A size 24 hook is less than a 1/four inch long which is really small and a hook this pocket-size would probable just be used by the odd fly tier to necktie midges or mosquito patterns. A size 1 trout hook on the other hand is nearly an inch long and is meant for much bigger baits.

There are also hooks bigger than a size i 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 angling.

The claw size for trout that I utilize the near is a size 10 but when I go trout fishing I accept trout hooks with me from size half-dozen to size xiv because in that location are times when a size x is besides large or too small.

The Deviation Betwixt Hook Sizes

I would consider a large hook to be anything bigger than a size 6 claw. Even a size 6 to me is large for trout.

A large trout hook will be thicker, heavier, and stronger and has the advantage of hooking the trout and holding onto the trout improve.

A larger claw will exist wider which will give you improve hook penetration, and a larger hook will likewise grab more flesh so it will hold onto the fish better, merely don't let that exist the reason you get straight to a big size 2 hook considering if the claw is also big they may not put it in there oral fissure in the outset identify.

On the flip side, a small hook doesn't grab a lot of flesh and doesn't hook trout as well and is more probable to tear out of the fish's mouth but a pocket-size hook in a bait is less likely to be seen by the trout and is more probable to go grabbed.

I utilize a larger size 6 or viii hooks whenever I tin can, and I utilise a smaller size 10 to 14 hook when I need to. The key is knowing when to use the bigger claw and when yous should employ a smaller claw.

The Hook Size For Trout Depends On The Bait

At that place are many reasons why your allurement volition dictate the best hooks size for trout angling.

I believe that trout feed more based on sight than they do on scent or other factors so I adjust my claw size accordingly to make sure they don't run into the hook.

If they see your hook you will have a tough time catching trout.

Wild trout that are feeding in clear water will be actress cautious and the incorrect size hook volition mean fewer fish.

A hook that is too big for the bait will stand out likewise much and exist ignored by the bigger wiser trout, especially under clear and slow water conditions.

Trout aren't smart plenty to know that it'south a hook, all they know is it's non natural and their instincts kick in and tell them to avert it. Unless you are fishing for stocked trout which I oftentimes telephone call dumber than impaired, you will struggle to get wild trout to seize with teeth if the trout keep seeing your hooks.

A thick hook stands out more a thin hook does so that is something else to consider when choosing the best hook size for trout.

Presentation Will Ameliorate With The Correct Hook Size

Hook size for trout presentation — The right hook size for trout line-fishing can brand a big difference on the presentation of your bait.

The right claw size for trout will improve your presentation. A size two or size 4 trout hook volition likely be too large and will affect how the allurement drifts through the current giving you a poor presentation.

If you lot have read any of my previous posts on how to fish for trout yous will know that I think proper presentation is critical in catching trout consistently. If you are not certain about how to nowadays your bait effectively or you want a guide'due south advice on the best methods for bait angling check out my page on How To Float Fish and my folio on How To Bottom Bounce Lie A Pro.

I trout hook that is too big will not allow a small bait to move naturally in the current because information technology is too heavy and weighs it down. This looks unnatural to the fish and could exist a warning indicate to them.

A smaller size 12 trout hook will be lighter and let the bait to take ameliorate and more than natural motility which looks better to a trout and provides a improve presentation but don't get ownership a bunch of tiny hooks just yet.

A heavy hook will likewise 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. I also believe a hook constantly dragging along the bottom is a bad thing since trout tend to feed upwards or sideways 87% more than they feed down. That number is based on a recent study I read, but I have been saying this for over 20 years.

A hook that is too large and besides heavy will too snag the bottom also much which ways more lost hooks, and information technology also ways you lot are more probable to have droppings stuck to your hook during your drift. Debris on the claw will prevent the trout from biting the hooks.

The trouble with small hooks in size 12 to 18 is that a size 14 trout claw might be likewise small and will get buried in the bait which may shut up the gap which will and so affect how well the hook penetrates and how well or how poorly it hooks the trout.

If the hook gap is closed upward or the point is covered by the bait you will miss a lot of trout on the hook set or the trout will selection up the bait, experience the pull or line and spit the hook out without you getting a hookset.

The all-time hook size for trout fishing when using a grub or a single salmon egg is a size 12 or maybe a size 14 trout hook if the water is very clear. I would only go this small just so that the trout exercise not see the hook.

Small Hooks are good for big trout — Small hooks are skillful for large trout. This six pound steelhead was caught on a size 8 Raven Specialist trout hook.

The all-time hook size for trout line-fishing when I am using a bigger bait like a garden worm or a spawn pocketbook that is near the size of a nickel would be a size 6 or eight trout claw.

The best claw size for trout when using a very large bait like a chunk of skein, a crayfish or a dew worm, or fifty-fifty a large minnow would exist a size 4 or six trout hook.

If you want to know what my favorite baits are for trout and my tactics for communicable more than trout on baits, become to my folio chosen All-time Trout Baits – The Merely 5 Baits You Will Always Demand

Water Clarity And Claw Size For Trout

The claw size for trout line-fishing will alter based on the water clarity.

A bigger hook will hook more than fish and will hold on ameliorate so if the water is dirtier and I retrieve that the trout won't likely see my claw due to the reduced visibility, I will use a bigger size half dozen or size viii trout hook.

If the water is very clear and I think the trout are more likely to see the hook in this clear water I will go smaller trout claw but only every bit small as I need to. In other words, I'k not going to put on a size fourteen hook when a size 10 will still piece of work.

A size ten hook Raven sedge hook is a sparse hook and in a three-inch plastic worm, it will be hidden plenty that the trout won't see information technology even in very clear h2o.

Current Volition Determine The Hook Size For Trout

A Fast Trout river — In faster h2o the claw size won't affair every bit much so I will oftentimes go with a bigger hook.

If the current is slow then the trout will take more time to inspect your bait which means they might run across a bigger hook. In slower currents, the best hook size for trout fishing will be a smaller thinner claw like a size 10 to 12 trout claw.

In faster currents, the best hook size for trout fishing will be a bigger claw. If the current is fast the trout have to make a divide-second decision when feeding which ways they are less likely to see a bigger hook and since bigger hooks will claw and agree better I may become to a size vi or size 8 trout claw in fast water.

The faster the water the less the hook size matters however nearly never will I driblet down to a size 2 or size four. A size 6 will hook and hold a trout, steelhead, or even a salmon just fine.

The Right Hook Size For The Size Of The Trout

A Salmon Caught On A Size 10 Trout Hook — This 25 pound salmon was caught on a size 10 Raven Specialist hook on a fast water river.

Some anglers think that y'all demand a bigger hook for large trout and a smaller claw for pocket-size trout simply that's non true.

Whether the trout is 20 pounds or 4 inches they both meet things the same way and they will both see the hook if it is as well big.

For still reasons why I would or wouldn't use a large hook will yet apply to big trout or small-scale trout.

In fact, sometimes I have to apply smaller hooks for big trout but because they are much wiser than younger trout and they are more likely to exist cautious of a large hook. Only don't worry because I take caught lots of 20 to twoscore-pound salmon on size 8 trout hooks.

My get-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 Nov.

If a size x trout hook didn't work for large fish over five pounds I wouldn't exist using it. If a size 10 trout hook is good enough for steelhead it's good enough for trout too.

The size of the fish usually doesn't matter, except when hook strength is a gene.

The only difference betwixt a claw for a big trout and a modest trout is the thickness of the hook. A Raven size 10 sedge hook is a thin wire claw that might straighten out on very big trout or on a large salmon, merely a size x Gamakatsu Octopus Strong hook or the Raven Specimen hoo k won't bend or break on bigger fish.

They are basically the same size claw but one is only stronger due to the thickness of the hook.

I will change my claw strength based on the size of fish I'm line-fishing for but if I think there is a chance the fish may break the claw or bend information technology.

Best Hooks For Trout Line-fishing

You've probably been waiting for me to finally tell you what the all-time hooks for trout angling are, or which trout hooks I employ and recommend to my clients, but that tin can take upward an entire page, and it did, so go to my page on the 5 Best Hooks and enjoy.

If y'all don't 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.

For pocket-size baits and in very clear water I volition use a size 12 Raven Sedge Hook or a size 12 Raven Specialist Hook. I rarely go equally pocket-size as a size 14 trout hook.
For a skilful multi-purpose trout hook that is suitable for virtually river weather and nearly bait sizes, and most fish sizes, Use the Raven Specimen hook in a size 10 and 12. This is the claw that I and my guides adopt the about because it tends to concur onto the fish well and penetrate well.
If the water is dirtier and I can go away with a bigger hook or I am using larger baits, I will go with the Raven Specimen hook but in a size 8 or peradventure a size half-dozen trout hook if information technology's really dirty water.
Some other hook that I similar in all these sizes and conditions is the Redwing Blackbird Sabertooth hooks

Leader Size And Claw Size For Trout

hook size for big trout — If your hook size for trout is incorrect those big wise old trout volition ignore it.

The size of your leader should besides be considered when considering your claw size. This something a lot of guys don't recollect about when choosing the hook size for trout.

Many anglers recall they need and big potent hood because they are fishing for big trout. Just trout tin can be line-shy and that means that a big strong hook will never be put to its full potential considering the chances are that the lighter leader will always suspension long before the claw will bend or break.

If you want a big wise former trout to seize with teeth you need a leader and a hook size that they won't encounter.

One of the reasons that I use size 10 trout hooks for steelhead without worrying that I'm 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 take to worry near bent or broken hook, especially since I only use adept quality trout hooks.

I have a page on the best leaders with tips on the best brands, and sizes, and some warnings and mistakes many anglers make, not to mention how to fix your leader like a pro.

Best Hook Brands

There are some brands of hook that are very skilful and in that location are cheap hooks that might bend or break. For the extra 1 to two dollars a pack it'southward worth ownership meliorate quality hooks.

If you lot have a good quality hook, and then all you have to practise is set up your drag right, employ the right size hook based on the allurement and the conditions, present your bait well and you will take hold of more trout. You can't go incorrect with the 12 Raven Sedge Hook in clear h2o with small baits or Raven Specimen claw for virtually situations

Got A Question Near Hook Size For Trout – Merely Inquire

I'd exist happy to assistance you lot with any questions you might have on hooks size for trout or whatsoever tips you might have so leave a annotate or question in the comments department below.