Hooks perform a hard task, and every carp angler will tell you it’s not easy to land a fish without the right hook.
However, it can be challenging when shopping for hooks since there are many variants on the market today. But, after careful consideration, we found the Korda Long Shank X Size 8 to be the best fishing hook for carp.
We’ll review it in this article along with our top picks. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Best OverallKorda Long Shank X Size 8 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best GraspFox Edges Arma Point Curve Shank |
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 | Top StrengthKorda Wide Gape XX |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Sharpest PickNash Fang Twister Size 10 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best for Pop-Up BaitsFox Edges Arma Point Stiff Rig |
| Check Today's Price |
The 5 Best Fishing Hooks for Carp in 2022
With so many options, here’s a list of the best fishing hooks for carp. Read on to check their pros, cons, and more.
1. Korda Long Shank X Size 8
Best Overall
Rating: 4.9
Features:
- 20-degree in-turned eye
- Long, straight point for better hook holding
- Forging on the bend that helps in tough conditions
Rating: 4.9
Most anglers believe that long shank hooks are the most effective for carp fishing. This is because they prevent fish from engulfing the entire hook. In addition, a long shank hook prevents carp from spitting the hook once they bite it. This is why the Korda Long Shank X Size 8 Hook comes at the top of our list.
Once you purchase it, you get 10 pieces with long shanks to accommodate your fishing rigs for carp. So it’s safe to say that Korda Long X is ideal when catching ultra-riggy carp in pressured areas.
Moreover, this hook is brown, which means you can use it in muddy and sandy areas. It also has a 20-degree in-turned eye, helping it work well with stiff and braided lines.
Bottom Line
Korda Long Shank X Size 8 is one of the best carp fishing hooks out there because it can hold carp so well, especially in muddy and sandy fishing environments.
Pros
- Holds carp well
- Works well with braided lines
Cons
- Doesn’t work well with smaller hair-rigged baits
2. Fox Edges Arma Point Curve Shank
Best Grasp
Rating: 4.6
Features:
- Curved hook leg
- Needle-sharp hook tip
- Powerful grasp
Barbed hooks tend to cause much damage to the fish’s lips when trying to catch them. On the other hand, barbless carp hooks aren’t as effective as barbed ones. For that reason, manufacturers created micro-barbed hooks as they hold the fish better without causing too much damage to their lips.
With the Fox Edges Armapoint Curve Shank Micro-Barbed Carp Hook, you can effectively catch carp without causing many injuries to their lips, as stated above. This hook has a size 6 gauge that works well with a boilie or a large pellet bait.
It also features a needle-like sharp tip to easily penetrate the fish’s mouth. However, it isn’t suitable for catch and release, unlike barbless fishing tools.
Bottom Line
The Fox Edges Armapoint Curve Shank Hook is your go-to option when looking for a hook that’ll hold carp firmly without causing much damage to their mouths.
Pros
- Has a sharp tip
- Has a non-reflective colour
- Effectively holds carp without causing much damage to their mouth
Cons
- Not suitable for catch and release
3. Korda Wide Gape XX
Top Strength
Rating: 4.8
Features:
- Slightly in-turned eye
- Beaked point
- Heavily forged bend
Wide-gape hooks are excellent for big carp. This is because they possess effective hooking properties, and they’re more robust. In addition, an increased distance allows the angler to apply more pressure on the hook, giving them a firmer hold.
So when fishing, you can get the features of a wide gape using the Korda Wide Gape XX Carp Hook. It comes in a pack of 10 pieces with sizes ranging from 2-8. You can choose your preferred size according to your preference.
In addition, the hooks are made of an extra-thick wire, giving you the required strength to catch carp in various fishing situations. Also, they’re brown, making them suitable for fishing in muddy areas.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a super-strong hook that can work in different fishing situations, you should opt for Korda Wide Gape XX.
Pros
- Has a wide gape
- Made of extra-thick wire
- Allows more pressure application
Cons
- Unsuitable for smaller carp
4. Nash Fang Twister Size 10
Sharpest Pick
Rating: 4.8
Features:
- 30-degree down-turned eye
- Square bend for fast turning
- Sticky sharp point
Nash Fang hooks are among the most effective in the market today. This hook can perform optimally when handling hard-fighting river carp or even pressurised small water carp.
It’s also micro-barbed, giving you better hold to the carp. In addition, it has a razor-sharp hook point with a frictionless coating that maximises carp picking and holding. The hook also possesses a radical square-like shape to help you turn it faster and hook deeper.
What’s more, it’s made of Japanese high quality carbon steel, making it one of the strongest hooks for carp fishing. However, it’s not budget-friendly, so it might not be the best option for your tackle box if you’re on a budget.
Bottom Line
Nash Fang Twister Hook has one of the sharpest hooks points out there, making it efficient for picking and holding carp.
Pros
- Micro-barbed
- Holds carp effectively
- Made from Japanese steel
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Unsuitable for catch and release
5. Fox Edges Arma Point Stiff Rig
Best for Pop-Up Baits
Rating: 4.9
Features:
- Arma Point technology
- 25-degree out-turned eye
- Strong Vanadium forged steel
Fox Edges Arma Point Stiff Rig comes with a 25 degrees out-turned eye that helps you knot braided and super-stiff monolines. Additionally, it makes sure that the hook is in the correct position in relation to the popped-up bait.
Moreover, it possesses a non-reflective dark coating making it practical in muddy areas. This hook is also barbed and suitable for the bottom and pop-up baits.
Plus, it’s considered one of the strongest and sharpest hooks on the market, so it’ll hold your carp so well. And although it’s strong, it’s lightweight.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a stiff-rig hook that works well with pop-up baits, then you should go for the Fox Edges Arma Point Stiff Rig Hook.
Pros
- Has a turned-out eye
- Has a non-reflective dark colour
- Works well with pop-up baits
Cons
- Not suitable for catch and release
Factors to Consider When Shopping for the Best Fishing Hooks for Carp
Before purchasing your fishing hook, you need to consider certain factors. The following tips will help you get the best carp fishing hook suited for your needs. We’ll also walk you through some common fishing jargon.
Size
The carp fishing hook size can make a great difference. It’s referred to by a number from 32 to 1, with 32 being the smallest. Choosing the right size depends on both the carp and bait size. However, many carp anglers choose sizes between 8 and 4, but it all depends on your preference.
As a general rule of thumb, you opt for larger sizes when you want to catch big fish. But if it’s everyday fishing, you can go with the range mentioned.
Moreover, it depends on bait size; smaller baits need smaller hook sizes.
It’s also important to note that the size of the hook gauge depends on the thickness of the wire used to make the hook. And sizes aren’t standardised; different manufacturers have different measurements.
Colour
Surprisingly, the carp fishing hook colour can influence your fishing situation. For instance, carp tend to ignore large hooks with insufficient baits for some reason. Therefore, it would be best to blend your hook with the carp’s environment using different colours to attract them.
For example, a brown hook will blend well with sandy and muddy areas, a dark green one is ideal for highly vegetated areas, and a black or grey hook will work well in areas with gravel or rock bottoms. Finally, a yellow hook is perfect when baiting using corn.
Shank
A shank refers to the hook’s straight area between the eye and the bend. Sometimes carp anglers go for curved shank hooks, depending on their preference.
You can also choose a hook depending on the shank length, either long or short. For hair-rigged tight baits, it’s important to pick a short-shanked hook since it fits perfectly. On the other hand, you can minimise the chances of the fish unhooking themselves if you go for a long-shanked hook.
Bend
The bend is the area between the shank and the hook point or barb. Bends can also influence your carp fishing since they vary from one hook to the other. For example, circle hooks will turn when bitten by fish because they have an increased bend.
Barb
A barb is a sharp projection near the end of the hook. Depending on your choice, a carp fishing device can either come as barbed or barbless hooks. To avoid injuring the fish, you can go with barbless hooks. Alternatively, you can opt for a micro-barbed one as it gives a superior hook hold compared to barbless hooks and does less damage to the fish’s throat.
Point
A hook point refers to its tip. Some of the features to consider when choosing the right hook point are gauge, sharpness, and length. Although a long hook point can be thinner and sharper, it stands a higher chance of breaking. However, it grabs and holds fish better compared to short-pointed hooks.
Gape
The gape is the area between the shank and the hook point, determining the hook’s size. High numbers translate to small hooks and vice versa. Depending on your fishing situation, you can choose between narrow gape hooks or wider ones. For instance, coarse fishing hooks require a wide-gaped hook to accommodate larger baits and effectively hold the fish.
Bite
Bite refers to the length running from the hook’s point to the middle of the bend. Although hooks with longer baits take time to penetrate the fish fully, they’re much harder to come off once they do. Bites come in different designs depending on the brand of your choice.
For instance, some are more bent than others, creating a spiral-like action as the fish tries to get the hook off its lips. In today’s market, the designs to expect are straight, reversed, or kerbed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Take Care of My Hook’s Tip?
The tip is probably the most crucial part of your fishing device. To maintain it, avoid touching hard objects with the tip to break them. Also, don’t hang grass on your hook when fishing in grass areas since water plants can blunt it.
What Should I Do After a Day’s Fishing?
No matter how tired you are, be sure to dry-wipe your hook after use. After that, place it in a dry and ventilated place and apply vegetable oil to it. Additionally, ensure you use a hook sharpener to hone blunt hooks.
How Do I Remove Rust From My Carp Fishing Hook?
You can remove the rust off your fishing hook using fine sandpaper, a rotary device, or soaking it in certain solutions like vinegar, baking soda and water, or lime juice and salt.
Also, if you have many hooks, some might rust without you noticing. Therefore, it’s essential to sort them one by one and eliminate rusty hooks to prevent usable ones from rusting.
Final Words
Selecting the right hook should be a priority for every serious angler. As you can see, we’ve reviewed some of the best fish hooks for carp out there. But to make things easier for you, we’ll recap our top three picks.
Our top pick is the Korda Long Shank X hook, which holds fish effectively and works well in a muddy environment. But if you’re looking for the best micro-barbed hook with a firm grasp, then Fox Edges Armapoint Curve Shank is your go-to option.
Lastly, you should opt for Korda Wide Gape XX if you want a robust fishing hook.
