The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I have just took delivery of my new flip up landing net.
To save paying the postage of £6.25 I had to spend another £6.00, so I got some line and a packet of hooks size 12 ( I have plenty of bigger hooks)
The size 12's look more like a size 4!
I am loosing track now even of the old sizes.
Is there now an actual size chart conversation?
What I can make of it.. "its all about the gape"?

Photo bellow.

There is really no standard 'size' for 'size', as it were. The original sizes were based, iirc, on wire gauges originally used for making needles and then fishing hooks. It makes a nonsense of fishery rules regarding hook sizes. I've got size 8's in one pattern smaller than size 12s in another pattern.

I found a packet of 1980s Sunridge Specimen hooks in size 2. Back then they were huge and I never used them.
Here is one in the middle compared to a modern size 6 on the left and a size 2 on the right.

That's remarkable Snape, I well remember the old Sundridge hooks and, like you, I never used a size 2 as they were massive. What make are those you compare to it?

Mr B, when this has come up before it's been suggested that the scale relates to the distance between to hook point and the shank. The hooks you've bought are almost circle hook patterned so the hook tip is turned in and closer to the shank. But, when you look at Snape's hooks, that theory goes for a ball of chalk.

I think I'll stop buying hooks online.

Dave Burr wrote: ↑Sat Sep 24, 2022 5:59 pm That's remarkable Snape, I well remember the old Sundridge hooks and, like you, I never used a size 2 as they were massive. What make are those you compare to it?

Mr B, when this has come up before it's been suggested that the scale relates to the distance between to hook point and the shank. The hooks you've bought are almost circle hook patterned so the hook tip is turned in and closer to the shank. But, when you look at Snape's hooks, that theory goes for a ball of chalk.

I think I'll stop buying hooks online.

Yes, I know just what you are all saying.
I like to support my local tackle shops when I can.. and, yes, I just walk round a pick up a packet of hooks that I think will do.
Buying on line has its advantages ( unfortunately) but when comes to hooks... this is the last time, but it was done in desperation to save the postage cost.
The hooks look good though and I am very pleased with the landing net!
I remember going into my local tackle shop when was a young teenager and getting little boxes of Mustard hooks 100 at a time for a pittance and they were always good and true to size, had a print of a key on them if I am not mistaken?
Oh for the good old tackle shops.

I agree entirely Mr B. I have some 20s the same size as another brand's 14s !!
Crackers!

Whilst agreeing with all the comments above re lack of uniformity in sizes, I have to say that Korum, in particular, do seem to make all of their hooks huge when compared to other brands. That surprises me a little as I do wonder if they don’t simply buy them in from other makers.

Phil

I remember going to my favourite tackle shop where they sold Mustads from the boxes singularly, used to buy 10 for a penny each! (Size 2 for Carp and Pike).

Yes, as said above hook sizes were geared to SWG thicknesses, Standard Wire Guage. The appropriate thickness for the job in hand was given and the resulting hook called by the gauge sizing:



This was when the world was simple and black and white.

Since then It's impossible to choose a hook by its given 'size' because the number given reflects no thickness size nor overall dimensions. They just make it up as they go along.


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On waters with a maximum hook size (like the one I've been fishing this week) it would be useful to know the hooks that run big. If anyone queries the size you can just show the packet. Where I am there's a maximum of size 12.