What size trout hook should I choose? Don't get lost again

The size of a trout hook varies according to the lure used and the technique employed. However, once these factors have been considered and mastered, choosing the right hook size for trout fishing is easy. For any angler wondering how to choose your trout hook sizeHere's a clear summary so you don't get lost in your choice and your purchase.

Which hooks to choose for trout?

Often overlooked, The size of your trout hook is a key factor to take into account when fishing.. In fact, the size of a hook can easily affect the discretion of your lure, increase trout rejection, misses and stalls. For any novice angler wanting to know how to choose the right hook size for trout, there are some basic rules that will help you make your choice quickly. Of course, these rules depend on your choice of hook (single or treble), the size of your lure and the fishing conditions. But don't worry, we'll explain everything to you.

If you are a beginner angler, keep in mind that the larger the hook, the smaller the hook! For trout fishing, most of the hooks we use are size 8 to 12, or even 14 depending on the size of your lure. The The size of your hook should also depend on the average size of the fish you are targeting.

We also recommend that you opt for fine iron hooks. The latter are lighter and allow your lure to be sucked in more easily. They also offer better penetration when striking. Note also that trout are fragile fish. The finer the iron of your hook, the less likely it is to cause damage.

Most of the well-known brands (VMC, Owner, Mustad, etc.) all offer hooks with a very good bite. This aspect is therefore given less attention on our side, as it is already a market standard.

How do I choose the right size of single hook for trout?

Beyond the size of a trout hook, more and more anglers are focusing on design, i.e. single hooks rather than treble hooks. Personally, we've switched from treble hooks to single, barbless or crushed hooks. We have noticed slightly more unhooking on small fish, but we don't mind. For us, putting the health and integrity of our fish first is more important than taking them out at all costs.

Here are some of the positive aspects of using single hooks for trout:

• A better hook penetration easier to hook and therefore more effective on big fish
• More safety for fish and fishermen
• Fish are more easy to remove
• Fewer clashes on obstacles
• Fewer spaces in your box and fewer tangles

Having said that, let's get back to business. As far as the simple trout hook size, we tend to choose hook sizes equivalent to the length of the original treble to avoid tangling.

Here is a summary of the trout hook sizes to choose according to the size of the lure. Note that for lures under 3cm, we tend to use a single hook. For lures over 8 cm, we use stronger iron hooks.

Lure size	Simple trout hook size
2 to 3 cm	#10 or #8
4 cm	#8
5 to 6 cm	#6
7 to 8 cm	#4 or #2
8 to 10 cm	#2 or #1/0
10 to 12 cm	#2/0
13 to 14 cm	#3/0
15 cm	#4/0

Here are a few references of simple hooks we use:

• Gamakatsu LS
• Owner S-75
• VMC inline super light

How to choose the right size of treble hook for trout?

As for single hooks, here is a small table of lure size / trout hook size correspondences that we recommend in the triple version:

Lure size	Triple trout hook size
2 to 3 cm	#18
4 cm	#16
5 to 6 cm	#14 to #10
7 to 8 cm	#8 to #6
8 to 10 cm	#6 to #4
10 to 12 cm	#4 to #2
13 to 14 cm	#1 to #1/0
15 cm	#1/0 to #2/0

Here are some of the treble hooks we use:

• Owner ST 36
• Gamakatsu Treble 13 Nickel

However, note that hook sizes can vary depending on the brand. The size of a brand A trout hook does not necessarily correspond to the size of a brand B trout hook. This rule also applies to different references of the same brand.

Here are the average hook lengths found on the market according to their size: 

• 1.45cm for a size 10 hook
• 1.65cm for a size 8 hook
• 1.85cm for a size 6 hook
• 2.3cm for a size 4 hook
• 2.65cm for a size 2 hook
• 2.9cm for a size 1 hook

Useful links to complete this article on trout hook size:

Best trout lure 2023 - Our selection by lure category

Trout lures - 10 essential lures for trout fishing

Trout reel - Our selection of the best ultra-light trout reels

Opening to fishing in 2023: All opening dates by species

How to choose polarised glasses for fishing?

Learn to fish with a fishing guide

Start lure fishing