Hooks for put and take

The hook is the small detail that actually holds the fish, so it pays to choose right and not to skimp on quality. For put and take you do not need many sorts, but size, type and barb affect both how well you hook and how gently you can handle the fish.

The right size

Medium hooks suit a normal put-and-take rainbow trout. Let the bait decide: a small lump of PowerBait or a shrimp wants a smaller hook that hides in the bait, while a larger bait can take a slightly larger hook. The rule of thumb is that the hook should be large enough not to straighten on a strong fish, but small enough not to show or spoil the bait’s natural lie. A hook that is too large scares shy fish in clear water.

Single or treble

A single hook is the first choice for bait fishing and a gentler option on lures. It usually hooks shallow in the jaw edge and is easy to unhook. A treble sits on many factory lures and hooks well, but does more damage and can catch in the net and in fingers. If you want to be able to release fish, a common trick is to swap the lure’s trebles for singles.

Barb or barbless

A barbless hook, or one where you have pinched the barb down with pliers, unhooks much more easily and damages the fish very little. That matters when you release, see keep or release, and some waters require it. You may lose the odd extra fish, but if you keep a tight line while you play, the difference barely shows.

Sharp hooks catch more

Whatever the type: keep the hooks sharp. A dull hook, from rust or rubbing on the bottom, makes you miss takes. Change the hook when it feels dull or has nicks, and learn to tie it on properly, see tying on a hook. More small kit sits under hooks, weights and floats.

If you want hooks that are sharp out of the box and hold: Gamakatsu LS-3423F (size 8, eyed) (4.8★) is Japanese quality in a size that suits rainbow trout, at a low price. See price on Amazon