Comparison of Circle Hooks & Fluke Hooks

The "compleat" angler, as dubbed by Sir Izaak Walton, uses a variety of gear: Special rods, reels, lines and lures fill the fisherman's arsenal. Each item is chosen carefully for a particular use and the clever and organized angler can spot the appropriate tool immediately by its design. Hooks come in a variety of sizes and shapes as well.

  1. Circle Hooks

    • Not an actual closed circle, the circle hook gives that impression because of the way the point end is turned back toward the shank at a severe angle. The working premise is that this shape prevents the hook from snagging a fish in the gut or throat by using resistance to implant the barb in the jaw or the mouth. They are used both commercially and for recreation, deemed less harmful on the fish for anglers who choose to catch then release the fish.

    Use Of Circle Hooks

    • They are best used by inserting through a soft or fleshy part of the bait rather than a cartilage or bone. This allows the sliding and resistance action to work efficiently. Some circle hooks have an offset point, angled away from the center axis, but these have been shown to be more injurious to fish and are in fact not allowed in some states.

    Fluke Hooks

    • Fluke hooks are regular "J" shaped hooks chosen by size and weight, according to the target, to fish with soft lures or "flukes" that resemble small bait fish such as young shad. These lures are meant to be jerked along near the top of the water to attract big hitters like bass.

    Weighted Fluke Hooks

    • Adding some weight to a fluke hook allows the fisherman to go deeper with artificial bait as well as jerk the lures a little faster. Lead weights are affixed to the shank for the extra heft and a stainless steel spring is installed at the line end to help the hook hold to the bait at its front end.