The Point is
the sharpened end which penetrates the fish's mouth.
The
point of a fish hooks is expected to penetrate the fish's
mouth with as little force as possible being used. In
addition, the point should stay sharp over a period of
time.
The barb is the projection extending
backwards from the point that secures your catch from
unhooking.
Total Penetration Process
The point punctures
The point profile and its length influence penetration
The barb, its angle and elevation , influences
total penetration and holding power.
The Puncturing Point
The key word is sharpness -- the
point ought to be sharp! Yet, making it too sharp,
the tip will easily bend or break..
If we look back in history, it used
to be a real challenge to make sharp points. Grinding
technology was rough and inconsistent, so fish hook
manufacturers used to make a "point" out of who could
make the sharpest hooks.
Important development in Mustad in terms
of sharpness of the point:
- 1953 Chemical Sharpening
- 1960s Significant improvements on polishing processes
- 1985 Laser Point hooks
- 1990 Accu Point hooks
- 1998 Ultra Point Hooks
As a last step in the production of most
Mustad fish hooks, the outer point is ground to obtain
a perfect balance between sharpness and durability.
This is crucial when it comes to keeping sharpness throughout
a long and exciting fishing event where sand, rocks
and fish are tearing on your hooks.
Point Profile to Ease Penetration
By grinding the outer point, Mustad also reduces
the mass to be pushed through, hence reducing the force
needed. This fact in combination with a best possible
angle up to the barb give the superior total penetration
offered by Mustad hooks.
Barb Elevation
The view of "right & wrong" when it comes to
barb has changed radically during the last decades, and
still it depends very much on what kind of fishing situations
we are talking about. As a result of increasing sophistication
in both anglers' skills and fishing tackle in general,
there is an evident trend in consumer preference towards
smaller and smaller barbs.
Mustad applies microbarbs on a wide range
of hooks for light weight and ultra light weight fishing.
You can also find somewhat larger barbs on hooks for
the really tough and challenging situations, where you
need maximum holding power to secure the wildest quarry!
Roughly, fish hooks are manufactured according
to two different principles: Pressed and Cut Point
and Needle Point.
Pressed and Cut Point:
In the Mustad terminology we call such hooks Mustpoint hooks since Mustad
developed this technique as far back as 1877. The product is finished directly
from a wire coil in a machine through a series of operations.
The following points are made using such
a technique:
 Spear Point/Superior
Point: This is our standard type of point. The
precise shape of a spear point varies with different
manufacturers.
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 Knife Edge
Point : This is a very sharp point used mainly for
big-game fish. Two sides of the point are ground. The inner
surface of the barb is flat and wider than normal, thus
making it difficult for a big fish to throw the hook.
 Needle Point:
This is a high-tech process used for making high-grade
points. The wire is straightened and cut in one machine, then
transferred to a grinding machine where the point is formed,
then it is fed as pointed blanks into a bending machine. The
needle point is ground on all sides so as to get a conical
shape, and when properly made it has the best penetrating
quality.
  Ultra
Point: Ultra Point is a new hook concept that combines
the benefits of the needle point -- quick and easy penetration
and ultra sharpness-- with demands for strength and durability.
Mustad's three-step grinding method makes it possible to remove
less metal from the point without compromising sharpness.
The result is a hook featuring sticky sharp, true needle points
that are stronger and more durable for easy penetration and
longer performance.
 Barbless Hooks:
Although barbless hooks were in use long before anyone
had the idea of making barbs to secure the catch, this type
did not become popular until late 20th century, when ecology
and sustainable management of fish populations were put on
the agenda.
"Catch and Release" fishing is now quite popular
in many countries, and in some areas regulations have been
introduced in order to protect vulnerable fish populations
forcing you to release the fish you catch. By using "barbless"
hooks it will be easier to unhook the fish and the damage
to the fish's mouth will be minimal. Instead of buying a barbless
point it is very common to use a pair of pliers to pinch down
the barb. Nor-tempering of Mustad hooks allows you to pinch
down the barb without any risk of breaking the barb.
Common Hook-Point Positions:
The following categories are used to define the position of the point either
curved in towards the shank or away from the shank:
 Hollow Point: This type,
like the needle point, is designed for fast penetration,
being hollowed or rounded out between the tip of the barb
and the tip of the point. The outer side of the point is
straight.
 Beak Point: Sometimes called
a rolled-in point, this type has the point bent in toward
the shank of the hook. The rolled point is excellent for
baitfishing in saltwater. Besides being a description of
how the point looks like, Beak Point is also a registered
Mustad Trade Mark.
Curved-in Point:
There is no clear distinction between a Beak Point and
a Curved-in Point, in as much as a Beak Point is curved in.
But some specialists distinguish between them by saying that
the Curved-in Point differs from the Beak point in that the
entire spear is bent toward the hook shank. Although such
a point achieves a small bite, it is difficult for a fish
to disgorge.
 Dublin Point/Out Point: In
this position the hook point is bent away from the shank
to achieve a quick penetration. A slight degree of out-point
is sometimes considered desirable in small flies and also
on big-game hooks.
The following categories below are used to
define sideways position of the point:
 Reversed: Which means
that the point is bent towards the left (18-20°), (as
shown by the icon) -- or
 Kirbed: Which means that
the point is bent towards the right (18-20°), (as shown
by the icon)
The reason for bending the point sideways
in relation to the shank-line is that it will more easily
hook on to a fish's lip or mouth than is the case with a
straight hook. In addition, it facilitates easier baiting
of the hook. |
Hook
Anatomy