Wide Gap Hooks are Overrated

Over the last several years in jig design and crafting, certain things start to stick out as pure marketing schemes rather than actual innovation. I mean look across all industries. In the gold club scene, they happen to come out with the ‘next big thing” every year, right on time. Cars and trucks have gotten jammed with new tech like push to start, 360 cameras, and 15” tablets as radio interfaces. Yeah, these things are cool and all, but they aren’t necessarily as groundbreaking as the Model T or metal clubs. Just another reason to break out the checkbook to keep up with the Joneses.

Fishing is the wild west of innovation without borders. Because let's be honest, what is going to work better than a plain hook and worm? Now, I’m not adverse to bold claims and high hopes for the next game changer. I think it keeps the chase of fish alive and well! Other hobby industries show this. If there is no commerce behind it, it tends to stay small and wither away. But I think being honest in marketing lends an honest hand to your customers. So, on to one of my biggest gripes, and hot take, on the ice jig industry. Wide gap hooks are overrated for panfish ice jigs. 

Example of a wide gap ice jig hook

Yeah, I know I know. But just here me out for a second and we can break this down from a purely practical standpoint. 

Largemouth bass get their name for good reason. Their big mouths are designed to intake prey in a quick suction like motion. And a lot of times, wide hooks are super for more positive hookups on them! More so for the baits used, but I’m not going there in this piece. But let’s go to the other end of the spectrum and consider the humble bluegill. As much as they try, they can only open their mouths a mere quarter inch or so. Why are we trying to get them to swallow a hook bend that’s the same dimension?

I think a lot of the general thinking seems to be along the lines that wider allows more penetration because it would poke them sooner or has room on the inside of the bend for the hook to pivot around. But I think that’s the wrong line of thinking. What is needed to stick a fish is the needle point, up to when the bend starts, past the barb. If this is embedded, the fish isn’t going anywhere. And because narrow bend hooks are more low profile, the small suction bluegill have when they open their mouths, allows the hooks to enter more easily without getting hung up. Win-win!  

In the fly-fishing scene, generally, hook size is dictated by matching the current hatch on the water, rather than the size of fish biting. So, it’s not uncommon to land a 20” brown trout on a #20 hook.  

Food for thought, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 

-Aaron