Hooks

Catfishing hooks are designed to handle the strength and toughness of catfish, which have thick, bony mouths and often put up a serious fight. Here's a breakdown of the most popular styles used in catfishing, including their features and best use cases:


🪝 Catfishing Hook Styles Explained

Hook Type Description & Best Use
Offset Circle The hook point is angled slightly away from the shank. Improves hook-up rates but may increase gut-hook risk if swallowed too deep.
Inline Circle The point aligns directly with the shank. Designed to hook fish in the corner of the mouth—ideal for catch-and-release.
Hybrid Circle (Triple Threat) Combines features of J, circle, and kahle hooks. Can be used with different hookset techniques—great for versatility.
Kahle Hook Wide gap and offset point. Excellent for live bait and cut bait. Offers strong hooksets and is popular for channel and blue catfish.
Big River J Hook Heavy-duty J-style hook with a wide bend. Designed for trophy catfish and strong hook penetration. Best for aggressive hooksets.
Octopus Hook Short shank, curved shape, often with an offset point. Good for finesse rigs and smaller baits. Used in both inline and offset versions.


🎯 Choosing the Right Hook for Catfish

  • Catch-and-release: Inline circle hooks reduce injury.

  • Aggressive hooksets: Offset circle or Big River J hooks are ideal.

  • Versatility: Hybrid hooks like the Triple Threat allow for multiple techniques.

  • Live bait: Kahle hooks hold bait securely and offer solid hooksets.

Hooks