THE ANGLAR - DX406 SODE FLATTED BRONZE 4406 FISHING HOOK

The Anglar DX406 Sode Flatted Bronze 4406 Fishing Hook

Sode (袖, "sleeve") is a classic Japanese freshwater pattern: long slim shank, narrow gape, and a point that runs straight instead of curving inward. That shape is made for fish that bite softly and have small mouths — it enters with very little resistance, so a cautious fish feels almost nothing before the line comes tight. The DX-406 is Anglar's long-shank version in high-carbon wire, with a straight barbed point so the pull runs directly down the shank. The added length takes a threaded prawn or worm and makes unhooking easier. It is a light-tackle hook by design: very good at converting timid bites, not intended for heavy fish or high drag.

Key Features

• Sode pattern — long shank, narrow gape, straight point, low resistance on the take
• Longer in the shank than the standard 4400 Sode: more room for threaded bait
• High-carbon wire that resists flexing open on the strike
• Flatted (spade) shank end rather than a ring eye
• Bronze finish for low glare in stained water
• Fourteen sizes, #4 to #17

Flatted vs ringed eye. A flatted hook has no eye — the shank end is pressed flat so the knot cannot slip off. Nothing sits above the shank, so the rig stays slim and the pull lines up with the point — it suits fine line and snelled knots. A ringed eye is stronger and accepts heavy leader, split rings or snaps, which is why the 484 Plain Shank in this range uses one.

How To Rig It

• Snell it, do not tie a normal knot — Lay the line along the inside face of the shank, whip 6–8 turns toward the bend, pass the tag back through and tighten. The line must leave on the inside so the pull aligns with the point. A clinch knot has nothing to grip and slides off.
• Threaded bait — Enter at the tail of a prawn or worm and thread it up the shank so it lies straight; a straight bait spins less.
• Light float rig — Stick float, one or two split shot, bait just off bottom. Strike on the first clean dip; sode hooks set on tension, not a hard sweep.
• Sizing — Sizes follow the Japanese gō system, so the number rises as the hook gets larger. #4–#8 for small pond fish, #9–#13 for average pond and river fish, #14–#17 for bigger baits and mouths.

Target Species By Region

• Southeast Asia — Prawn ponds (udang galah), tilapia, javanese carp (lampam), small catfish (keli); whiting, ponyfish and juvenile bream on light jetty rigs.
• North America — Bluegill, crappie and yellow perch on worm or maggot; bullheads on cut bait, and shiners taken for live bait.
• Japan & East Asia — The pattern's home water: funa (crucian carp), oikawa (pale chub), haze (goby) and tanago on delicate float and bottom rigs.
• Australia, Middle East & Europe — Bream, garfish and whiting off Australian jetties; small rabbitfish on Gulf breakwaters; roach, rudd and perch on European canals.

Specifications

Finish: bronze throughout. Bronze is an economical plating for fresh water and short saltwater sessions — it will corrode if left wet in salt, so rinse and dry the packet after a coastal trip.

Recommended Pairing

• Light float, feeder or hand-line bait rod with a 1000–2500 spinning reel
• 2–8 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon, snelled direct or to a fine dropper
• Step up to the 418 DX-400 for a forged, chemically sharpened version of the same pattern