Too Much Pressure????

[Saltheart]

Good question about the actual load on the hook. That load can be tremendous. the line can only withstand a force along its length. If you pull sideways , the string just points in a different direction so the load is again along its axis. A hook though can be pulled by that line in all directions. If you were to stick a hook nto a side of beef and pull straight down the shank , I doubt you could get that hook to bend or come out. however , if you were to pull sideways to the hook axis , you could easily twist the shank out of line with the point out to the side. Once bent sideways , you could then pull straight down the shank again and easily pull the point out since the "hook" part is no longer pulling the point in but almost staright out. Not a perfect description but you get the idea. Because the hook can be subjected to "bending moments" , It sees much higher stress than that seen by the straight line pull of the line.
another thing I've seen even in 7/0 forge Mustads id the slight opening of the gap of the hook if the point is stuck but not sunk in to the apex of the hook bend. I would say that an opening of that gap of only about 30 degrees from straight back along the shaft results in a lot of the line pull then going into pulling the point out rather than sinking it in further.
I find it interesting since I can pull with my arms and break even the fifty LB spectron but I need to use pliers to straighten a bent 7/0 forged hook.
In terms of the bending moments on the hook , trebles are even worse. because more tha one barb often sinks in , the hook cannot swing around to stay in line with the line pull as well as a single hook. Therefore you see lots of trebles let go with the points bent sideways.
The bending moments I'm talking about are a big reason I like the live bait hooks for eeling. The shank has minimal length. I would estimate that you could generate 3 to 5 times more bending moment on a long shank hook than you can on a short shanked live bait hook.
I guess theres a lot more to it but in my opinion , the bending moments present are why a hook, that with a straight on pull could support twenty times the breaking load of the line , often bends out without the line breaking.