Hook Glossary

Hook Glossary

53 terms in 7 sections
The parts of a hook: eye, shank, bend, gap, point, and barbShankGapEyeBendPointBarb
The parts of a hook, as this glossary names them.

Eyes

Ball eye
An eye made by turning the end of the wire into a closed round loop of even thickness. Older labels often call a hook with this eye "ringed".Also: Ringed eyeMilward 3719 — Indiana Bass HookPflueger Hooks – 3121-JWright McGill 291 — Sproat BendMustad Hooks – 34007Herter’s 39RMXC — Improved O’ShaughnessySee all 335 hooks →
Blind (eyeless) hook
A hook with no eye. The end of the shank is flattened, tapered, knobbed, or marked (scored) so that a snell or a gut loop can be whipped on securely.Also: Flatted shank, Marked shankH. Milward & Sons’ – 2303 F.S. Allcock & Co’s – 180 FWm. Bartleet and Sons – M 64Partridge CS6 Hooks – Adlington & Hutchinson Blind Eye Salmon HooksMustad Hooks – 3739See all 146 hooks →
Brazed eye
A turned eye whose closed end is brazed to the shank, so the eye cannot open under strain.Mustad 7799The Van Vleck Hook Co. 842,594 — Van Vleck HookMustad Hooks – 39643 hooks in the catalog
Eye
The end of the shank the line or leader is tied to. How it is formed and which way it points are recorded separately.See Ball eye, Turned-down eyeA hook with the eye marked
Jig eye
An eye bent at 60 or 90 degrees to the shank so the hook can be moulded into a jig head.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 91750 STSilhouette of Mustad 32756Silhouette of Mustad 34185 O’ShaughnessySilhouette of Mustad 32760 — AberdeenSilhouette of Mustad 32762See all 21 hooks →
Looped eye
An eye formed by turning the wire back along the shank, leaving a doubled loop. Common on salmon hooks and some doubles.Mustad 36814TMC 7999Partridge CS10/2 Hooks – Bartleet Supreme Salmon Fly HooksAllcock L220: Gilt Long-Shank Fish HookEdgar Sealey & Sons – S 1937See all 62 hooks →
Needle eye
An eye made by flattening and piercing the end of the shank, like a sewing needle, rather than by bending the wire into a loop.Mustad Hooks – 7731 APflueger Hooks – 10015TMustad Hooks – 7734Pflueger Hooks – 5515Mustad Hooks – 3998 GSee all 5 hooks →
Straight eye
An eye in line with the shank, neither turned up nor down.Also: Ringed, In-line eyeSilhouette of Milward 3719 — Indiana Bass HookSilhouette of Mustad 3308 — Cincinnati Bass HooksSilhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 3121-JSilhouette of Herter’s 39RMXC — Improved O’ShaughnessySilhouette of S. Allcock 1904 RSee all 271 hooks →
Tapered eye
An eye whose wire is ground thinner before it is turned, so the finished eye is smaller and lighter than a ball eye of the same wire.Bergman Blue Label Perfect Balance — Perfect BalanceMustad Hooks – 39848Partridge B Hooks – Albert Partridge Widegape Up Eye HooksS. Allcock & Co’s – W 205Orvis 4x TUE Supreme Dry Fly HookSee all 255 hooks →
Turned-down eye
An eye bent below the line of the shank. Abbreviated TDE on packets.Also: TDESilhouette of Mustad 4011ESilhouette of Partridge CS2 SH BL Hooks – S.E.B Steelhead and Salmon Down Eye Wet Fly Hooks (Black Finish)Silhouette of Bergman Blue Label Perfect Balance — Perfect BalanceSilhouette of Allcocks – W208Silhouette of Wright McGill 291 — Sproat BendSee all 337 hooks →
Turned-up eye
An eye bent above the line of the shank. Abbreviated TUE on packets.Also: TUESilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3911Silhouette of Partridge D5B Hooks – Partridge Mayfly HooksSilhouette of Herters – 3718Silhouette of Edgar Sealey & Sons – S 1938Silhouette of Ray Bergman – Red Label, short shank, forgedSee all 115 hooks →

Bends

Aberdeen bend
A round bend with a wide gap and a long, straight point, usually on light wire.Silhouette of Mustad 3260 B — AberdeenSilhouette of T. H. Bate’s Hooks 501 M.Silhouette of H. Milward & Sons’ – 2627 RSilhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 15120-BSilhouette of Horrocks – Ibbotson Co. No. 465See all 40 hooks →
Bartleet bend
A salmon-hook bend with a long, sweeping curve, named after the Redditch hook makers Bartleet.Silhouette of Alec Jackson 2051Silhouette of Partridge CS 22 Hooks – Alec Jackson Spey Fly HooksSilhouette of Ronn Lucas Sr. HB — Harrison and Bartleet4 hooks in the catalog
Beak bend
A bend whose point turns in toward the shank, like a bird’s beak.Also: Reversed pointSilhouette of Partridge CS2 BL Hooks – S.E.B XX Strong Lure HooksSilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 530 BSilhouette of Gamakatsu – 03009Silhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – 180 FSilhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 15120-BSee all 69 hooks →
Bend
The curve between the shank and the point. Its shape gives a hook most of its family name.A hook with the bend marked
Carlisle bend
A long-shanked pattern with a wide, gradual bend and an offset point.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3700Silhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – 1770Silhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 8921Silhouette of Harrison’s – 2996 Spring Steel Carlisle HooksSilhouette of Milward 2814.5 — CarlisleSee all 48 hooks →
Crystal bend
A bend that is round at the bottom but turns up into the point at a sharp angle close to the point.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 204 NSilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 9166Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 313633 hooks in the catalog
Dublin bend
A Limerick-family bend with a more open curve, historically tied to Irish trout and salmon hooks.Silhouette of Partridge CS2 Hooks – S.E.B. Steelhead/Salmon Wet Fly Hooks (Down Eye)Silhouette of Harrison’s – Celebrated Dublin LimerickSilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 1804 ASilhouette of Partridge of Redditch CS7DB – Dublin BendSilhouette of Partridge CS10/3 Hooks – Bartleet Traditional Blind Eye SeriesSee all 10 hooks →
Gap
The distance between the point and the shank, measured at right angles to the shank. Also called the gape. Recorded as narrow, standard, or wide against hooks of the same size.Also: GapeNarrow, Standard, and Wide, on one bend and shankSilhouette of Orvis 4x TUE Supreme Dry Fly HookNarrowOrvis 4x TUE Supreme Dry Fly Hook91 hooks →Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 9485StandardMustad Hooks – 9485655 hooks →Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 38943WideMustad Hooks – 38943162 hooks →
Kirby bend
A round bend with the point offset to one side of the shank (kirbed).See Kirbed and reversedSilhouette of Milward 3719 — Indiana Bass HookSilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3138Silhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 3221-JSilhouette of John James & Son’s – 3819Silhouette of Samuel Allcock & Co’s – 198See all 46 hooks →
Limerick bend
A bend that is flattened at the bottom and turns up sharply into the point, so the widest part of the curve sits toward the point rather than the shank.Silhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 3121-JSilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 36673Silhouette of John James & Son’s – Limerick SalmonSilhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – Limerick Hooks 185Silhouette of Edgar Sealey & Sons – S 1937See all 106 hooks →
New York bend
A bend name used in American trade catalogues; makers applied it to more than one shape, so check the silhouette rather than the name.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3429Silhouette of H. Milward & Sons’ – 2599Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3802Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 38014 hooks in the catalog
O'Shaughnessy bend
A strong bend on heavy, often forged wire, with the point turned slightly outward. A traditional sea and bait pattern.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 34007Silhouette of Gamakatsu – 13107Silhouette of Herter’s 39RMXC — Improved O’ShaughnessySilhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 3421-BTSilhouette of H. Milward & Sons’ – 4064See all 67 hooks →
Perfect (Model Perfect) bend
A true round bend: the curve is an even half-circle from the shank to the point.Also: Model PerfectSilhouette of Bergman Blue Label Perfect Balance — Perfect BalanceSilhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – Model Perfect W173Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 1798Silhouette of gamakatsu SP11-3L3H — Saltwater Perfect BendSilhouette of Herters – 423 RSee all 17 hooks →
Round / Kendal bend
A round bend. Kendal is the traditional English name for it.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 530 BSilhouette of Partridge L3A Hooks – Captain Hamilton Dry Fly (Down Eye) HooksSilhouette of Bergman 2x Fine Wire TDESilhouette of Pflueger 3621-BSilhouette of Gamakatsu – 03009See all 175 hooks →
Sneck bend
A bend with near-square corners: the wire turns sharply down from the shank and sharply up into the point, with a straight section between.Silhouette of Partridge Sneck Taper HooksSilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3331Silhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 5621-BrSilhouette of H. Milward & Sons’ – 2639 R.Silhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – Sneck Hooks – 194MSee all 28 hooks →
Sproat bend
A parabolic bend: gentler on the shank side and tighter where it turns up into a straight point.Silhouette of H. Milward & Sons’ – 2303 F.Silhouette of Wright McGill 291 — Sproat BendSilhouette of S. Allcock – 5887Silhouette of TMC 7999Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3389See all 144 hooks →
Viking bend
A strong round bend with the point set parallel to the shank, used on bait and sea hooks.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 7947 ASilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 9673Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 94840Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 9094Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 7948 ASee all 32 hooks →

Points and barbs

Barb
The backward-facing spur cut behind the point that keeps a fish from slipping off.A hook with the barb marked
Barbless
Made without a barb. A hook with a barb pressed flat is recorded as barbed.Partridge E3AYMustad 3257 B — Mustad-Barbless HooksTMC 200BLMustad Hooks – 79578Mustad 95133See all 73 hooks →
Hollow point
A point whose inner face is ground concave from the barb to the tip, making it thin and quick to penetrate.Mustad Hooks – 94833Allcock L220: Gilt Long-Shank Fish HookRay Bergman – Yellow Label H.P. Sproat, T.D. EyeOrvis 4x TUE Supreme Dry Fly HookH. Milward & Sons’ – 1939See all 282 hooks →
Kirbed and reversed
A point offset to one side of the shank. Kirbed and reversed name the two directions; either way the point does not sit in line with the shank.Also: Offset pointSilhouette of Milward 3719 — Indiana Bass HookSilhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3138Silhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – 180 FSilhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 3221-JSilhouette of John James & Son’s – 3819See all 186 hooks →
Needle point
A round point that tapers evenly to the tip, like a needle, with no ground faces.Herter’s 993DH — Custom’s Hump Long ShankAlec Jackson 2055Alec Jackson 2051Gamakatsu – 02011Kamsan B175 — Trout Heavy TraditionalSee all 52 hooks →
Spear point
The standard point: straight, with its sides ground to a spear shape above the barb.Also: Standard pointMilward 3719 — Indiana Bass HookWright McGill 291 — Sproat BendPartridge D5B Hooks – Partridge Mayfly HooksTMC 7999S. Allcock 1904 RSee all 306 hooks →
Superior point
A point style named in Mustad’s catalogues. On this site "Superior" always means the point, never a product line.Mustad Hooks – 3389Partridge CS10/2 Hooks – Bartleet Supreme Salmon Fly HooksS. Allcock & Co’s – Sneck Hooks – 194MPflueger Hooks – 5515Joe Roope Jr Longshank HooksSee all 197 hooks →

Shank and wire

Forged
Wire flattened sideways at the bend, which makes the hook stiffer without heavier wire. Visible as a flat face when the bend is seen from the side.Mustad Hooks – 34007Milward 3719 — Indiana Bass HookGamakatsu – 13107Bergman Blue Label Perfect Balance — Perfect BalancePartridge E3AYSee all 229 hooks →
Shank
The straight length of wire from the eye to the start of the bend.A hook with the shank markedShank
X fine
Wire thinner than standard for the size. 1X fine means the wire of a standard hook one size smaller.Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3751Silhouette of Partridge CS6 Hooks – Adlington & Hutchinson Blind Eye Salmon HooksSilhouette of Harrison Bartleet’s – 3051 SproatSilhouette of Pflueger Hooks – 15521-Br.Silhouette of TMC 7931CSee all 227 hooks →
X heavy (X strong)
Wire thicker than standard for the size. 1X heavy means the wire of a standard hook one size larger.Also: X strongSilhouette of John James & Son’s – 3819Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3406 BSilhouette of Partridge CS2 SH BL Hooks – S.E.B Steelhead and Salmon Down Eye Wet Fly Hooks (Black Finish)Silhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – W 205Silhouette of Gamakatsu – 13107See all 299 hooks →
X long (1X, 2X, 3X…)
A shank longer than standard for the size. 1X long means the shank is as long as the standard shank of the next size up; 2X long, two sizes up; and so on.Silhouette of Mustad 3658 B — Limerick HooksSilhouette of Partridge D3ST Hooks – Straight Eye Streamer HooksSilhouette of H. Milward & Sons’ – 2303 F.Silhouette of S. Allcock & Co’s – Limerick Hooks 185Silhouette of Ray Bergman Nyack Brand – Medium LongSee all 428 hooks →
X short
A shank shorter than standard for the size, counted in sizes the same way as X long.Silhouette of Gamakatsu – 02408Silhouette of Mustad Hooks – 3451Silhouette of Partridge K4A Hooks – John Veniard Grub/Shrimp HooksSilhouette of Bergman Short Shank TDESilhouette of Arthur James Lothrops PatternSee all 130 hooks →

Finishes

Blued
Steel oxidised by heat or chemicals to a blue-black colour.Mustad Hooks – 3802S. Allcock & Co’s – 1770Harrison’s – 2996 Spring Steel Carlisle HooksPartridge Extra Fine Wire Round Bend BlueH. Milward & Sons’ – 5644FSee all 58 hooks →
Bright steel
Polished or uncoated steel with no applied finish. Rusts easily.Milward 3719 — Indiana Bass HookPflueger Hooks – 3421-BTMustad Hooks – 9863Herter’s 39RMXC — Improved O’ShaughnessyPartridge K14ST Hooks – Oliver Edwards Nymph/Emerger HooksSee all 31 hooks →
Bronzed
A brown lacquer or oxide finish, the commonest on freshwater hooks.Mustad Hooks – 94833Wright McGill 291 — Sproat BendBergman Blue Label Perfect Balance — Perfect BalanceS. Allcock 1904 RPartridge E3AYSee all 406 hooks →
Gold-plated
Plated with gold or a gold-coloured metal, usually for show or for bait hooks where colour attracts fish.Mustad 3284 D — Mustad-Aberdeen HooksAllcock L220: Gilt Long-Shank Fish HookPflueger Hooks – 3321Alec Jackson 2055Herters – 189See all 34 hooks →
Japanned
Coated with black japan lacquer and baked hard. Common on older salmon hooks.Also: Black japannedMustad Hooks – 36890S. Allcock & Co’s – Sneck Hooks – 194MTMC 7999Harrison & Bartleet’s – Celebrated Pennell Limerick HooksPartridge CS10/2 Hooks – Bartleet Supreme Salmon Fly HooksSee all 100 hooks →
Nickelled
Plated with nickel for a bright, rust-resistant surface.Mustad Hooks – 3908 CGamakatsu – 03009Allcocks – S217Edgar Sealey S 4320 — Extra Superieure, Italians Renversé Down EyedW. Woodfield and Sons Double — Superfine Cast Steel Double Fish HooksSee all 58 hooks →
Tinned
Coated in tin against corrosion, mostly on sea hooks.Mustad Hooks – 3138H. Milward & Sons’ – 4064Pflueger Hooks – 15521-Tgamakatsu SP11-3L3H — Saltwater Perfect BendS. Allcocks & Co – 4555 B Gut HooksSee all 78 hooks →

Construction

Double hook
Two hooks sharing one shank or eye, bends set back to back. Common for salmon flies.Mustad Hooks – 9060W. Woodfield and Sons Double — Superfine Cast Steel Double Fish HooksPartridge Code 02 Hooks – Double Wilson HooksMustad 35881 — Double Live Bait HooksMustad 3674 D — Double Limerick HooksSee all 30 hooks →
Snell
A length of gut, silk, or nylon whipped to the shank of a hook, usually a blind one, so it can be tied to the line. A hook sold with one is "snelled".Also: Snelled, Gut-eyed
Treble hook
Three hooks sharing one eye, bends evenly spaced around it.H. Milward & Sons’ – 2555 TMustad 3556 — Treble HooksPflueger Hooks – 7631-BrR. Turner and Sons Treble — Tapered TrebleMustad 35647 — Treble Round HooksSee all 17 hooks →

Packaging and records

Quality number
The pattern number a maker printed on its labels (Mustad 3906, Milward 2639 R). Some labels print it after the word "Quality".Also: Pattern number, Model number
Specimen
One box, card, packet, or loose hook documented on a page. A specimen describes itself; it does not stand for every example of the model.