What is an assist hook?
The assist hook is a term for a type of hook mainly used by sea anglers. It is mainly used to rig jigs and certain hard lures, such as stickbaits and poppers.
This is a single hook connected to the lure by a line, often braided, which allows the hook to be completely disconnected from the lure.
Some assist hooks are used for their teaser effect. They are adorned with feathers or other shiny materials, designed to further stimulate the interest of predatory fish
Reduced risk of crookedness
Assist hooks considerably reduce the risk of snagging on the bottom when jigging.
Jig fishing can be practised either in open water, in search of pelagic fish, or close to the bottom. In the latter case, the lure is animated by vertical pulls, designed to make the jig glide as close to the bottom as possible.
These lures are often fitted with a treble hook on the bottom, which positions them very close to the bottom during animation and frequently causes snags.
The assist hooks, attached to the top of the jig, help to limit this inconvenience. Thanks to their strategic positioning, they not only reduce the risk of snagging, but also increase the chances of hooking the fish correctly while reducing the risk of stalling.
More efficient shoeing and fewer stalls
Assist hooks generally consist of two single hooks. Thanks to their flexible braid connection to the lure, they offer greater freedom of movement than a conventional single hook.
When striking, the hook is more effective, as the single point of attachment ensures better penetration. This considerably reduces the risk of stalling and increases the success rate.
You'll see for yourself: the number of stalls during fights is considerably reduced when using assist hooks. In fact, thanks to the braid connecting the hook to the lure, it becomes virtually impossible for the fish to lean on it and thus unhook.
I've been able to observe these advantages during my bluefin tuna fishing sessions. By arming all my poppers with assist hooks, I've cut the number of fish lost in fights by more than half.
Easy relaunching
These advantages also apply to single hooks in general, but assist hooks confirm their effectiveness even more.
Fish show far fewer injuries when caught with assist hooks. The flexibility of the braid prevents the fish's mouth from being torn during the fight, making it easier to return the fish to the water in the best possible condition.
