For the New Year, I thought I would share a bit of admittedly lousy art work that hopefully will help some of the newer fisherman with getting "hooked up".

The top image is supposed to represent a typical down-turned eye single hook tie up w/egg loop. (Yeah, I know....there's a barb...pinch it)

As you can see, the blue arrow represents the "bite" of the hook as legally defined. Actually not quite true as I show the distance between eye and point vs. shank and point. This is what you will get if you use only a corkie, cheater, spin n glow, etc.

The lower drawing represents what I will call the "effective bite" of the same hook with yarn, eggs, or whatever (I use a bead). As can be observed the "bite" has not changed but the "effective bite" increased dramatically.

More than one thing occurs with the addition of something in the egg loop, however. Depending on the rigidity and size of what is inserted in the loop (say, yarn vs. bead) the depth of bend in the hook buried in a fish's jaw will vary. Because yarn will give more, the hook will bury less under strain (same with roe).

So a bead in the loop with and without yarn will maintain that increased bite under strain. Bead size depends on hook size...hold the finished hook by the leader end with the hook hanging down and you can gauge this yourself.

Here's the pay off!

The bead not only will increase hook ups it also helps tremendously when the fish is running away from you, which tends to "unhook" the hook.

There are two drawbacks. The bead will also increase the strain on your line at the point where your leader exits the bead, so if you are into "ultra light", you may have to adjust.

Secondly, because of the increased bite and possibly bead weight, you'll snag up more......Heh, like you'll notice a difference. j/k

Anyway...give it shot....or not. Works for me. Happy New Year! Be Safe!