Hooks....

[Trick]

Over the years I've used about every brand of hook known to man. Everything from the private labels like South Bend and Northwoods to Gamakatsu brands.

What are the brands you hate and why? What brands do you love and why?

My least favorite brand overall is Mustad bronze hooks. I spent the better part of my youth having these gems bend out on me everytime I hooked up on any fish of size. I also don't care much for Eagle Claw lazer sharp hooks. The points are too brittle and the bend and break often when they contact any hard surface. They work fine for open water trolling and Sturgeon fishing on muddy/sandy bottoms, but thats about it.

Gamakatsu hooks are my all time favorites. Super sharp, hold their points well, never bend out and they are designed well. Only downside is the price, but it is well worth it.

[Jigman]

Gamakatsu makes an excellent hook. For light line drift fishing I use a VMC cone cut, nice hook in the smaller sizes. Like the Eagle Claw heavy wire jig hooks for their strength, been able to horse chums and kings without worrying about the hook bending.

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Fish the best....Rainbow Jigs!
www.rainbowjigs.com

[Salmonator]

#1 Owner (when you know you won't be snagging up much)

#2 Gamagatsu (best all around)

#3 VMC (best bargain hook)

[Jigman]

Owners are expensive but they are a great hook!

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www.rainbowjigs.com

[Mikie]

#1 GAMAKATSU ( best ) #2 VMC ( spinner's @ plug's ) .

[chinook_hunter]

Gamakatsu is #1 strong and always sharp

[RichH]

I used to be a big Gami fan until I broke a couple 2/0's with 10# ultragreen leader on fish. I now pretty much stick with VMC cone cuts and have not broke one yet.

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Rich H

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

I've fished pretty much every brand from the South to the PacNW in my fishing adventures, and this is what I say:

1) OWNER --well worth the money if you plan on landing your fish. Please fish them with quality mainline and leader. Can't lose.

2) DIACHII --in my eyes, pretty much just as good if not better than Owner, but much harder to find. Pilar probably fished with these hooks when he went to the Keys. Big Name in saltwater hooks, but I've just recently seen them out here in Octopus.

3) Gamakatsu --best all-around for the money, and great buy when bought in bulk packs. Variety of colors and sizes, but a very hard hook, and hard to sharpen with an ordinary hook file. I suggest a metal file when especially trying to sharpen these. I personally use a metal file on all my hooks.

There are other hooks out there that I haven't used enough (because they are new) to give a field test report on, but those are my top 3. Hope this helps.

[fishchaser]

Well here's my two cents worth.

I myself believe in the old saying "You get what you pay for."

1. Owners (haven't missed a fish yet on them)
2. Daiichi (If I have run out of Owners)

3. Gamigatsu (when I run out of everything else, which is very unlikely)

[drifter]

MUSTAD PRO SELECT (now ULTRA)

Pro Select was recommend to me by guide, Terry Mulkey. They have all the advantages of Gami, but can be sharpened more than once.

My unoffical tests have been 2 lost steelhead out of the past 30. (I will not disclose how many season it took me to total these results.)

Great hook. I am a believer now. Tight lines, Drifter.

[This message has been edited by drifter (edited 02-02-2001).]

[STRIKE ZONE]

#1 Gammi
#2 Gammi
#3 Gammi
Get the point?????.Owner's are to spendy.I buy bulk gammi.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

[fishbait]

I pretty much use mustad 92553 and 92158. Don't spend the money for the expensive hooks. Also dont care how sharp they are out of the package as I always sharpen my hooks often. Do not think I have ever lost a fish due to one of these bending, but I tend to use big hooks. 1,1/0 & 2/0 for trout, 2/0,3/0 & 4/0 for steelhead and 5/0,6/0 for salmon. I do find myself cutting off a hook because it has been sharpened so much that point get a little blunt. I always buy in bulk whenever I can. I do like the wire size on the new mustad, but find the are a little harder to sharpen. my .02 worth.

[Joe M]

Have any of you guyz tried Raven hooks???
If you havent there great hooks!! There for rainbows and salmon...

I dont know if you guyz have them out in the Northwest but here in Ontario we have them and there amazing....

Raven's are my #1 hooks...give them a try sometime, youll know what im talking about,..

[Joe]

Diachi for me...

Gamakatsu's are great in the fresh water but seem to dull to quick in the salt, which is where I usually fish.


[This message has been edited by Great White hunter (edited 02-02-2001).]

[scales]

The last hook I hooked a fish with is usually my favorite.

[Snagly]

Salmon/steelhead: Gamakatsu Octopus and Siwash. I don't often try to sharpen the Octopus hooks -- usually just change them. I use a double-cut fine file (Luhr Jensen or similar) for sharpening Siwashs

Saltwater trebles: VMC 3x barbless and 4x. Value-for-money and easy to sharpen. Must be sharpened frequently and changed at least once a season due to corrosion.

Saltwater singles (circles): Owner. I also use Gami 1/0-3/0 Octopus hooks for bait. Work OK but a brittle point means you can break them on rock/ reef.

Jig heads: like the strength and needle-sharp points in the Kalin's. I like the price and strength in the Offshore Angler (Bass Pro saltwater) dressed bucktail "hotlips" jigs and bare jig heads. Need sharpening but a value-for-money, strong hook. (Can be bent out of/ back into shape so if you're lazy you'll play that game too many times and lose fish.)

Don't know what hooks Rainbow Jigs uses, but like the strength in the 1/4 oz-plus sizes.



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The worst steelhead season in Oregon is still better than the best steelhead run in Singapore!

[Trick]

What got me thinking about the whole hook thing was an ad for the Mustad Ultra Point hooks in the 2001 Cabelas. They show a picture of a "conventional needle point" with the point curled up just like the Eagle Claw Lazer Sharps used to do to me. I had a bad taste in my mouth from my humble begginings with Mustad Bronze and associated the name with shear crap. It does look like they've improved. As far as prices, Cabelas has Daiichi priced at about $7 a dozen...Wow. The Owners, Ultra Point and Gamakatsu at about $3.50 a dozen all in the Octopus Style.

Are the Daiichi hooks worth it? Almost 60 cents a hook....ouch.....But if it guarantees more fish on the bank/boat.....

[smilesforu]

I am a big mustad fan 9236e. These are a fine wire hook built extra tough. The stronger steel keeps the points sharper. Vmc's just don't hold the point well enough. Eagle Claws have bent out and rolled over to easily. Gamis come sharp out of the pack but don't stay that way forever and must be pitched when they are dull. Haven't tried the owner or Diaichii or the new mustad line.
I bought a case of octapus mustad hooks when my low cost hook dealer was closing the doors. Got a couple more years before I have to actually purchase more.

Don't have any solid favorites in siwash, but know I don't like the vmc siwash. Have used eagle claw, mustad and gami's with success.
In jig heads I believe the hooks have been extra strong eagle claw and some gami's. Hard to find a big hook in a light jig head for bait fishing under a float. Since jig head hook points don't get much abuse gamis stayed sharp with no need to touch up, but had small hook gap. I prefer a larger hook size so bait doesn't cover the point.
I always carry a hook file and check hook sharpness frequently...after every hangup or a periodic check when fishing snag free areas. Usually the line shows wear first in this situation. I change hooks because I have sharpened them to the barb and they have become blunt. Looking forward to trying some of the new mustads...hope they don't want both of my legs for them.

[Steelheadman]

I like the Mustad 92553 and buy via Cabelas. They cost about $6 for 100. That's about 6 cents per hook. It only takes a couple of seconds to sharpen them.

[fishhead5]

Tshickam email me I'll send you some samples

[potter]

I have been looking closely at the different hooks also. I am interested in thoughts about a couple of points about hooks not mentioned yet in this post. First, barb size. Gammies and vision have thinner wire and smaller barbs then eagle claw and mustad. Secondly, the "side bend" is way less in the gammie and vision, almost a siwash style compared to eagle claw and mustad. Any thoughts/knowledge appreciated.

[Osprey]

My Favorite Hook is the sharp one embedded in the Jaw of the Steelie.....
For the money I like the VMC also,I have no complaints against Mustad or Gammi either ,I lose them all...Os

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

And I can attest to that