Hooks

There are so many type and sizes out there its confusing...

The type of hook we normally use in Conventional Bank Angling. Sizes range from #0.5 to #6.

The type of hook known as a bait-holder hooks. Note the extra barbs on the shaft to hold meaty baits like worms in place. The size of the hook used is determined by the size of the bait and the size of the fish targeted

Size does matter. 

For social angling I prefer using #3 up to #5 so I can put on bigger baits like 2-5 maize pips or big floaties and dough. One tends to catch bigger fish using bigger baits although the waiting period is also longer. But it is worth it.

For comps one can use anything from #0.5 for muddies up to #2. I use #2 most of the time and I do catch a lot of fish. Anything from a single floatie to a small piece of dough or worms etc... The logic behind using smaller hooks is that a small bait amongst all the groundfeed would not stand out and scare away the fish. It must look like a piece of groundfeed and thus as the fish are feeding, it gets sucked
in and the fish gets hooked. Its about catching as much fish as possible in the allotted time. So basically the fish doesn’t go for the bait, but the bait is rather sucked in as part of the feed.