What is the Best Hook Size for Bluegill?

What size hook for bluegill is best? A fishing hook is the simplest item that’s necessary for your bluegill fishing setup. It doesn’t have to be made of ultra-high-tech materials or be invisible when submerged in water. In fact, it’s just a piece of metal bent and added with a pointy end. Still, many of you wonder what’s the best hook size for bluegill.

As with all the things that involve fishing, fishing hooks are honed and perfected into thousands of unique varieties. The hook sizes and types suitable for bluegill fishing are distinct from those that are suitable to target other species of fish.

In this article, we’ll tackle everything you need to know about the best hooks to use for catching bluegill fish.

What is the Best Hook Size for Bluegill?

When deciding what hook size to use, remember to opt for the smallest option. A small fish hook will be able to catch bluegill of any size, but a big hook will only catch fish that’s big enough for taking the bait. So, when bluegill fishing, always choose the smallest size that’s available to you.

Understanding hook sizes can sometimes be challenging as hooks are advertised in various ways. For aught measurements, what you need to remember is the higher the number is, the bigger the hook. However, you may also be dealing with sizes of hooks in #’s. They are the ones that are opposite of the caught sizes – the smaller the size of the hook, the bigger the hook.

For most anglers, the best hook size is #10. This is the size of a hook that’s considered an all-around size. If you find bluegill that you’re targeting isn’t taking the hook, try sizing down to a smaller fish hook e.g. #20.

It’s possible that the fish present in the body of water you are in are smaller compared to other fishing holes. Just be ready to make adjustments in terms of the size of the hook, depending on the circumstances.

Take note: the best hook size for you can be entirely different for other anglers. For this reason, it’s recommended that you get several hook sizes so you can determine for yourself what you prefer as a bluegill hook size.

Best Types of Hooks to Use for Bluegill Fishing

If you’ve spent some time in your local tackle shop, then you know very well you have dozens of different types of hooks to choose from.

There are a couple of types that are most suitable for bluegill fishing, such as:

Bait Holder Fish Hooks

Bait holders will do exactly what you would expect of them: they’re going to hold your bait and make sure it doesn’t slip.

There are barbs on their shank for holding bait in place. Barbed points of bait holders latch on bluegill that bite them.

A bait holder is very effective for bluegill fishing, but the barb will cause damage to the fish. It’s not a recommended type of hook if you plan on releasing your fish back on the water.  

Jig Hooks

These ones are simple but highly effective at catching bluegill. A jig hook has its eye set at the correct angle in relation to the shank for increasing the movement of a lure while in the water.

A jig hook can be adapted easily for the practice of catch and release. This is done by breaking or filing down a jig hook’s barb that’s on the point.

Worm Hooks

Do you prefer fishing with a plastic worm? If so, then you already know what worm hooks are. There’s a bend close to the eye which holds a worm’s “head” in place.

The body of the worm is pierced by the point, just waiting to latch into the fish. As the other parts of the lure hang loose, it moves naturally and freely.  

Circle Hooks

These are our personal favorites. A circle hook is the closest that you’d get to having a fish-friendly tackle.

Its point bends towards the shank that stops it from hooking deep into the gut or throat of bluegill. A circle hook can take some time to get used to.

There’s a need for you to wait up until it lodges in place so you can put pressure on, otherwise, you’ll pull the hook out of the mouth of the fish.

Best Baits for Catching Bluegill

You can experiment yourself or save yourself the trouble and use these proven-and-tested baits for hooking bluegill:

Worms

They’re the popular option for catching bluegill. They get gobbled up quickly by fish, especially bluegill.

The garden-variety earthworm can work or you can buy a can of nightcrawlers if you’ll make a stop at your local bait shop.  

Fathead Minnows

These are the favorite of most anglers. Small to medium won’t mess with smaller minnows.

However, the bigger bluegill will consume small minnows and devour them, particularly the ones that are approximately 2 inches long.

Leeches

They also make for effective baits for panfish like large bluegills, black crappie, and yellow perch. Leeches are extremely common in most lakes across North America that hold fish.

If you plan on using leeches, make sure you check the local regulations first. There are bait shops not authorized in carrying live leeches.

Conclusion

Bluegill fishing is one of the most relaxing and satisfying outdoor activities. It’s fun to do with the family, but it can also test your patience and skill.

Although there are lots of other game fish swimming about in our waters, catching bluegill is how the majority of seasoned anglers got started.

Remember the valuable information we shared with you in this article, particularly the best hook size for bluegill and types of hooks. Chances are, you’ll hook plenty of bluegill on your next trip!