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Last Updated on October 11, 2023 by Paul Clayton
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What Size Hook For Bluegill?
Ah, the art of catching the elusive bluegill! It’s not just about the bait, folks, but about the hook type for bluegill fishing. Now, you may be wondering, “What is the best size hook to use?”
Well, dear friend, it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal. These little finned devils are crafty and picky. Typically, hooks ranging from size 6 to size 10 are your best bet.
But remember, it’s not just the size of the hook but how you wiggle your worm that matters. So gear up, pick your hook wisely, and let the bluegill fishing begin!
Bluegill is a very popular fish among both professional and amateur anglers.
This is because they are very common across the country and are fun and exciting to catch for individuals at any skill level.
Professional anglers particularly target bluegill from the second half of spring to the middle of summer.
While bluegill can definitely be caught by amateur anglers, they are best known for being tricky and for putting up a fight when hooked.
Therefore, you must reel them in skillfully and safely using the right equipment especially if you are sportfishing.
It is the challenge of reeling them skillfully and safely which makes landing bluegills exciting for professional anglers.
As mentioned above, you need the right equipment to skillfully and safely catch bluegills.
In this post, I will share with you all you need to know about the right hooks for catching bluegills. I will be specifically focusing on the hook size.
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The Best Hook Size For Bluegill
When fishing bluegill, you need to use the right hooks. This is because the right hook size makes it easier to catch bluegill.
The right hook size also makes it unlikely for fish to get harmed during unhooking and, therefore, reduces the fish mortality rate.
Before I share with you the best hook size for bluegill, let me tell you something about fish hook sizes. The smaller the size number, the bigger the size of the hook.
For example, a size 1 hook is bigger than a size 5 hook. With this said, now it is time to reveal the best-size hook for bluegill.
The best size hook for bluegill is hook size 8. Many professional anglers catch bluegills using size 8 hooks. In addition to size 8 hooks, size 6 and size 12 hooks are also great for catching bluegill.
The Best Hook Size For Live Bait
Bluegill can be hooked using artificial bait. While this is great, bluegill usually isn’t easily fooled using artificial bait.
This is because they are very clever fish and they will quickly notice if something looks out of the ordinary. This is the reason why experienced bluegill anglers use live bait.
The best live bait for bluegill are grasshoppers, worms, and crickets. Live baits usually attract bluegill better because they typically look appetizing and irresistible.
If you are going to use heavy live baits such as worms, you should use large bluegill hooks such as size 6 hooks.
But if you are going to use lightweight live bait such as crickets or any other insects, you are better off using small bluegill hooks such as size 8 and size 12 hooks.
The purpose of using large hooks for heavy live baits and smaller hooks for lightweight live baits is to make the presentation in both cases look normal and ordinary to bluegill eyes.
The Best Hook Types For Live Bait
The best hooks for catching bluegill are worm hooks.
This is because they are simple and hold worms in such a way that they appear free and natural inviting unsuspecting bluegills to take a bite and get caught.
The fact that they are simple makes them easy to use and easy to unhook from bluegill after reeling it in.
Below are some of the best worm hooks currently available on the market!
1. Mustad 3261 Classic Cricket Worm Hook
This hook is made by Mustad, which is one of the best-known fishing equipment manufacturers in the United States.
[amazon link=”B0068HTXYS” title=”Aberdeen Cricket Worm Hook” /]
The company is known for making tough and extra sharp hooks and this one is no different. It has an extremely sharp point and it is made of tough steel.
The best thing about this hook is the unique design that makes it nearly impossible for bluegill or any other fish to throw it off once it is set.
The second best thing about it is that it comes in sizes 6 and 8 which are the perfect hook sizes for bluegill.
This hook comes in an attractive bronze color.
The only thing you might not like about this hook is the fact that it is relatively pricey. However, considering its quality and brand, it is totally worth it.
It is sold as a pack of 100 on Amazon.
2. Eagle Claw Live Bait Aberdeen Light Snelled Hook
This already-snelled hook is perfect for catching bluegill and other similarly-sized freshwater fish.
[amazon link=”B00019NKWK” title=”Aberdeen Light Snelled Hook” /]
The thing that stands out the most about this fishing hook is its shape. It is so devastating in the water that every time you feel a tug, it does not come out of the water without catching something.
In addition to its shape, which makes this hook fantastic for targeting bluegill is its size (it is a size 8 hook).
The hook is tough and durable and features a down-eye style.
It is made in the USA by an American brand. So if you want to promote the local economy and the people in it, you should strongly consider buying it.
3. VIPMOON Carbon Steel Worm Hooks Box
This box comes with 500 hooks. The hooks are in a reusable plastic box and are relatively cheap.
[amazon link=”B07BXMWKDR” title=”Carbon Steel Worm Hooks” /]
The best thing about the hooks in this box is that they are very effective for catching various types of fish. This is because despite having the same effective design, they do have different sizes making them capable of catching different size fish.
The sizes of hooks in this box start from size 3 to size 12. Thus, you can easily use some hooks in this box to catch bluegill.
All the hooks in this box are made of tough carbon steel, are super sharp, and are extremely durable. They can be used for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
One more thing I must mention about these hooks is the fact that they are easy to rig with live bait.
4. QualyQualy High Strength Carbon Steel Fishing Hooks Box
This box contains 500 pieces of high-quality freshwater fishing hooks from size 6 to size 15. This means there are several size fishing hooks in it that are ideal for catching bluegill.
[amazon link=”B0B58V1M42″ title=”High Strength Carbon Steel Hooks” /]
This QualyQualy fishing hooks box is one of the few fishing hooks pack on Amazon with an Amazon’s Choice badge. The badge shows that the hooks are both high-quality and reasonably priced.
The hook points on the hooks in this box are all chemically sharpened. This makes them deep dig into fish allowing them to set easily.
5. Persei Octopus Bead Offset Fishing Hooks Box
This fishing hook box includes 150 pieces of carbon steel hooks. The steels include size 8, which is great for targeting bluegill.
[amazon link=”B07YCZJMJM” title=”Octopus Beak Offset Hooks” /]
The hooks are tough and perfect for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
The only thing you may not like about this hook box is the fact that it is relatively expensive compared to the others.
Summary
In the grand theater of fishing, where bluegills are the unsuspecting actors and you, the angler, are the cunning director, the hook type for bluegill fishing is your star prop. The size hook to use could be the difference between a standing ovation and a tragic flop.
After much “reel” research and “line” analysis, the conclusion is that a size 6-12 hook triumphantly takes the lead role. It’s small enough to fit in their tiny mouths, yet large enough to keep them on the line. So, folks, let’s give a round of applause to the size 6-12 hook – the true MVP in the drama of bluegill fishing!
The best hook size for bluegill is size eight and the best type of fishing hook for targeting bluegill is the worm hook type. There are several size 8 worm hooks on the market including the brilliant Mustad 3261 Classic Cricket Worm Hook.
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