Parts of a Fishing Hook

Determining the best fishhook for a particular purpose can be difficult. Fish hook manufacturers do not manufacture their hooks to meet a common standard, and each manufacturer produces hooks in a variety of shapes and sizes. Despite these differences, the terms that identify the parts of a basic fish hook appear to be universally accepted.

  1. Eye

    • The eye of the hook generally forms a closed circle that serves as the connection point between the hook and the fishing line. The eye of a hook may be in line with the hook's shank, or it may join the shank at an up or down angle.

    Shank

    • The shank of the hook runs from the hook eye to the beginning of the hook bend. Two similarly sized hooks (size is determined by a hook's "gap") may have very different hook shank lengths.

    Bend

    • The bend of a hook is the curved portion of the hook that connects the hook shaft to the hook point. Although the hook bend is curved, the hook point and shaft are generally straight portions of metal that run parallel to one another.

    Point

    • The point of the hook is attached to the hook bend and tapers rapidly from that heavier gauge metal to a sharp point capable of penetrating the tissue of a fish's mouth.

    Gap

    • The gap of a hook is the vertical distance between the shank and point of the hook. The size of a particular hook is generally determined in accordance with the size of the hook's gap.

    Barb

    • Many hooks have a metal barb located near the point of the hook. Anglers use such barbs to prevent fish from escaping once they are hooked.