Abstract: A counterbalanced fishing hook having an eye oriented at an angle to the shank. A weight is mounted to the eye and shank in a position to counterbalance the weight of the hook when a line is connected to the eye and the hook is suspended underwater. In a second embodiment, the shank has a horizontal straight portion and a portion that is bent at an angle with the curved portion and the barb oriented in a plane parallel to and displaced from the plane of a straight shank portion. The second embodiment employs a flat weight that is oriented parallel to the plane of the curved portion and the barb for holding the barb above the bottom of a body of water.