cricket hooks

[chris kowaleski]

I was in Cabelas the other day and noticed they had cricket hooks, which i've never seen before. Does anyone know why they are so long? Are there secrets about crickets i don't know about?

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Many live bait hook designs often have longer shanks Chris.....sometimes with additional barbs....intent is to make it easier to bait the hook and subsequently much easier to take the fish off....This is ideal for kids and new fishermen but many folks fish a long shank hook all the time....My dad has some mild arthritis and the long shank helps him with less strength in his hands....I know no secrets about crickets....Get a "tube" (about 75) when you go because you normally get one chance per bait and it's time to put on another........

[Jason Preslar]

when i fish nightcrawlers or minnows i use long shank panfish hooks; you can get more bait on the hook and the fish doesn't swallow the hook nearly as often; also, like previously stated the hook is far easier to remove from the fish's mouth

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Jason hits on what is probaly the best feature - the extra length keeps the fish from swallowing the hook as much. I also like what Jeffry says about their ease of ahndling. Great answers!

PS I also use the light wire cricket hooks as the raw material for making my home made "Micro Slider" lures.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

HEY CHRIS , IF THERE IS ANYONE ON HERE THAT KNOWS ABOUT CRICKETS ITS SIR JEFFREY AND DAVID, can't go wrong with whatever they tell ya about crickets!!!!!!!!

[Vince Fusco]

 I have used the cricket hooks and agree with the comments about them. I personally like Eagle Claw 214 elf. hooks for crickets, and red wigglers. They are a extra lite fine wire hook, that will most times bend out when snagged, and they don't damage your bait as much as some heavier wire hooks. I do sort of a wacky rig on my red wigglers, and the fine wire is important for for me. I would guess that a lighter wire hook would dissolve quicker on a deep hooked fish too, but I have no real proof of that. 

[chris kowaleski]

Sweet, thanks for the info guys!