There are a lot of different hook choices on the market, making it all too easy to become confused.
There are several factors to consider what you should use, and it ultimately depends on what you are trying to achieve. For example, the hook that you use for catching big skimmers on the pole will be very different to what you rely on when working with the Method feeder for big carp.
I’ve listed six patterns – all made by Guru – which cover pretty much every scenario I’m likely to face on commercial venues.
YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT HOOK, NOW SELECT THE RIGHT HOOKBAIT WITH THIS EXPERT GUIDE.
Super LWG
This is my go-to hook for commercial pole fishing, as it’s a great all-rounder. If in doubt, this is the one to go for! I use them in both spade and eyed, mainly in sizes 14 and 16 for maggots, corn, meat and hard pellets.
They are ideally suited to carp from 2lb-8lb, and they get more use in summer, but I will also use them in winter for maggots and corn when targeting carp. They are suitable for many hooklength diameters, but I tend to choose one between 0.13mm and 0.17mm.
THE SUPER LWG IS THE IDEAL POLE FISHING HOOK, USE WITH THE BEST FISHING POLES.
XS Spade
This is the ‘big-fish hook’ in my repertoire. It’s perfect for margin fishing and will handle carp to 20lb-plus! They are a wide-gaped and super strong pattern that I find perfect for big baits such as bunches of maggots, double worm or double corn. They also make a good paste hook when big carp are the target.
In terms of sizes, it’s normally 12 and 14 although, where allowed, I will use them in a 10 for paste fishing. I combine them with beefy hooklengths ranging from 0.17mm to 0.22mm, depending on the average stamp of carp and the number of snags nearby. The bigger the fish and the snaggier the peg, the heavier that I’ll go.
THE XS SPADE IS IDEAL FOR MARGIN FISHING WITH THE BEST MARGIN POLES.
F1 Maggot
A more recent addition to my hook boxes, these are very much my winter commercial hook for silverfish on pole and feeder. Their extra-long point is perfect for natural baits such as maggots, casters, pinkies and even bloodworm.
Being a longshank hook, they are also great for speed fishing, as it’s easy to get hold of the hook to unhook a fish. Best of all, they have an extremely durable razor-sharp point, which again makes them ideal for catching large numbers of small fish.
I rarely use them for F1s, preferring them for skimmers, roach and perch. Hooklengths are usually between 0.10mm and 0.14mm.
STEVE RINGER SHOWS HOW TO CATCH F1'S ON MAGGOTS IN THE WINTER WITH THE F1 MAGGOT HOOK.
Kaizen
The spade version is like the Super LWG in terms of usage and strength, but in recent times has become a real favourite of mine for meat fishing for carp and F1s. This is due to its shape, and I find meat sits on it well.
I normally use them in sizes 14 and 16 for 6mm cubes for commercial carp with 0.13mm to 0.17mm hooklengths. They can handle carp up to low doubles, and they are a surprisingly strong hook when you consider the wire doesn’t look very thick. It also has a slightly longer point in comparison to the Super LWG, which I’m a big fan of.
ALWAYS PICK THE CORRECT POLE FLOAT FOR THE JOB WITH THIS EXPERT GUIDE.
QM1
This is a brilliant hook for bomb and Method feeder work. I prefer them in bigger sizes from 8 to 14, depending on fish size and hookbait choice. They are primarily a carp or big F1 hook.
As far as hookbaits go, they are purely a hair-rigging hook, so I’m talking about wafters, hard pellets and bread in winter, to name but a few. Their unique shape means that once they go in, they very rarely come out.
They are also ridiculously sharp, which makes them a very hard hook for carp to deal with.
USE THE BEST SHORT FEEDER RODS ON THE METHOD WITH QM1'S.
Super MWG
Last but certainly not least is the eyed Super MWG. It’s a hook that I use for both pole and feeder/waggler fishing, it’s that versatile.
Starting with pole fishing, I tend to use them in sizes 14 and 16 for hair-rigging hard pellets for both shallow work and on the deck, normally when the carp are slightly bigger than average, maybe 5lb-15lb.
They are normally fished in conjunction with hooklengths from 0.17mm to 0.22mm, which just goes to show how strong they are.
When it comes to rod and line, I use them for pellet waggler fishing in sizes 12 to 16, depending on fish sizes. I also like them for Method work when targeting more of a mixed bag.
THE BEST PELLET WAGGLER RODS ARE IDEAL TO USE THE SUPER MWG HOOK.
