Hook maker points the way to more sales for retailers

“Anglers in the know put as much thought into selecting the right fish hook as they do their rod, reel, line and lure,” says Eric Allee, Marketing Manager of US-based hook specialist, Eagle Claw.

“The design elements of a hook can be the difference between a triumphant yell as a fish hits the net or a breathless sigh as you add another ‘big one that got away’ story to your list.

“The bad news? Fish hooks are often overlooked by anglers and store owners. I get it. Not everyone is obsessed with hooks. But goodness gracious, they’re such a vital piece of angler success that it’s borderline criminal how often they’re ignored.

“Now for the good news: this is an opportunity. If you are willing to dive deeper into hooks and help your customers see the light, you’ll move more products and help them catch more fish, building more authority, trust and loyalty.

“Much like a golfer selects specific clubs or a mechanic reaches for the right wrench, hook selection is about choosing the right tool for the job. Sure, you can use one hook for everything, like you can play 18 holes with a putter, but it’s far from efficient, tactful or optimal.

“Hook selection matters – just look at the worm hook category.

“First things first: ‘worm hook’ doesn’t mean these hooks are only for plastic worms. I know that probably goes without saying, but for clarity’s sake, hooks in this category can be used for worms, craws, tubes, creature baits, poop baits – yes, that’s a real thing – soft stick baits, flukes and more.”

There are three main styles of hooks in the category:

• Round Bend
• Extra Wide Gap (EWG)
• Straight Shank

Round Bend
Slender soft plastics, like stick worms, finesse worms and ribbon tails pair best with a round bend hook. The Lazer Sharp L091 is a go-to here. Its offset between the line tie and hook point gives anglers a higher bite-to-land ratio, making it a great option for these slimmer baits.

Extra Wide Gap (EWG)
Bulkier soft plastics, like tubes and creature baits, call for an EWG (right). The Lazer Sharp L092, L098 and L7013 are all excellent options. The wider gap gives your bait room to collapse on a strike, exposing more bite space for solid hook-ups. While bite-to-land ratios might not be quite as high as a round bend, this is still your best bet for thick-profile baits.

Straight Shank
Straight shank worm hooks shine in close-quarter situations like flipping and pitching. They’re also great with bulky baits when rigging for heavy cover. In open water situations the Lazer Sharp L095 is the hook. When you’re flipping in heavy cover the Lazer Sharp L13 Flipping Hook (main image) is the go-to. Straight shank worm hooks give anglers a great bite-to-land ratio in vertical set situations (close quarters).

“Carrying all three worm hook options and helping your customers understand these simple guidelines will keep them coming back,” says Allee.

• Round Bend: slender soft plastics
• Extra Wide Gap: bulky soft plastics
• Straight Shank: tight areas where an angler is close to his presentation (flipping).

Allee adds: “Don’t sleep on fish hooks. They’re the first point of contact between your customer and their fish story. Stock smart. Teach confidently. Help them land more fish, more often with American-made Lazer Sharp hooks on the business end of their line.”

T: +1 720 941 8700 export@eagleclaw.com www.eagleclaw.com