What’s a Kahle hook?

Some very good guides and other fishermen use Kahle-style hooks when targeting speckled trout with live bait.

A Kahle hook is not a circle hook and not a J-hook but somewhere in between, with the point of the hook pointing toward the hook’s eye. They have a very wide gap that allows them to hold larger baits. Kahle hooks are often made of thinner wire than circle hooks of similar size, which causes less damage to live bait.

Kahle hooks are excellent for securely hooking fish, but the wide gap can contribute to gut- hooking or hooking deep inside a fish’s mouth. Some fishermen suggest that they are best used when the targeted fish is intended for consumption rather than release.