Inshore insights: Gaps in hook eyes can be troublesome

Some hook manufacturers completely seal off the gap between the hook eye and shank, eliminating problems created when line gets caught in that space.

A dab of super glue can solve the problem

They say the devil is in the details and, when you consider all the details when it comes to fishing, there’s a lot to take into account.

So in this article I hope to bring to your attention a small detail that could eliminate some hassles out on the water, ultimately leading to more casts and more fish. Because if you ever visited my blog, you’d know my number one goal: To help you catch more speckled trout and redfish.

Not all hooks are equal

There are a million hook designs out there and, if there is one thing 99.99 percent of them have in common, it’s the “eye,” or where we tie our line.

Most hook eyes are simply bent into a circle, with the edge of the wire being crimped against the hook shank.

Now, this works just fine, but some hook manufacturers are better at making that crimp than others.

Some are “squished” against the shank, eliminating all space, but most aren’t — and leave a little to torment us.

The big problem with hooks…

That tiny space between the end of the eye and the shank is what causes problems for inshore anglers.

Thicker fishing line, such as monofilament or fluorocarbon, can get wedged in that tight little space.

This fouls hooksets, because now you are pulling from the back of the eye instead of the front and, even worse, that tight space can pinch the knot in such a way that it breaks when you whip the rod back.

Have you ever had a problem with your knots breaking? It probably wasn’t you, but this design deficiency.

The issue of this gap in the hook eye is even worse with smaller diameter of braid.

Even thicker braid, like 65-pound test, can get caught in this space or even slip through it.

The solution to this problem…

I used to make a habit of crimping the eye with a set of stainless steel pliers.

That mashed it down pretty good, but I eventually learned that putting a dab of super glue in there works, too.

Or, you can skip this homework by using hooks that ship with resin-closed eyes.

Yep, some hook manufacturers like VMC ship their products with a resin around the base of the eye to completely seal off that gap — so no more getting your line stuck.

Conclusion

You cannot possibly catch a fish without your line being in the water, and time spent not having your line in the water is time spent not catching fish.

Sometimes we don’t notice the smaller things that keep us from doing that, so it’s good to have someone else point them out to us from time to time.

So with that said, I hope this is something that helps you catch more speckled trout and redfish, and spend less time being frustrated with your tackle.

Tight lines, y’all.

P.S. If you liked this article, then you will love what I have at my site, Louisiana Fishing Blog. Look for the link below!

Editor’s Note: Capt. Devin Denman is an avid inshore fisherman who writes the Louisiana Fishing Blog. To read more of his articles, visit lafishblog.com