kirbed

a hook offset to the right when viewed from the top of the hook with the eye towards the observer, cf. reversed. A hook that is not offset is called straight or flat. Kirbed is from Charles Kirby reputedly a superb hook maker in Izaak Walton\'s day. Kirbed or reversed hooks are all the same to fish but fishermen have strong preferences. Offset hooks are more likely to strike home on fast-biting fish while straight ones work better with slow-biters and chewers. Also flatfish mouth anatomy makes offset hooks more effective. However offset hooks lack the strength of straight ones and can be harder to set in bony or muscular mouths. Offset hooks tend to rotate if trolled or if in a current which may be either an advantage or not