ATTENTION: Fishing Gear Reviews needed

06-02-2001, 07:28 PM

I would like some volunteers to review new tackle that is on the market.Here is some of the tackle I had in mind was.
Garcia ABU Eon reels
Maxima's new Perfexion line
Owner hooks
Lamiglas Titanium Rods
Berkely AIR IM7 Rods
So if you have used any of these let us know what you think. If you can think of other new tackle please give us a review on it too.

[ 06-02-2001: Message edited by: BIGSTEW ]

Stz ll · 06-02-2001, 08:13 PM

I have been using owners hooks for about 2 or 3 years. These are by far the sharpest and strongest hooks, ever!. They also have come out with a line of treble hooks recently. These hooks are perfect for the different plugs, such as wigle warts, and hot shots. The only problem with them is that they are quite expense compared to other hooks. Go look at the hooks and compare with others. you might find the hooks worth the extra price.

06-02-2001, 08:14 PM

Donations gladly accepted. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

willierower · 06-02-2001, 08:41 PM

I currently own a Berkley Air IM7 spinning rod. It is rated for 8 to 12lb line. For the money, Around 80 bucks, They are great.
I aslo owned 2, 8'6" castng rods rated for 10 to 20lb line. These rods were designated diver rods. They just wernt sensitive enough for drift fishing. I feel the action was a little on the light side for the line rating. The tips are light enough to see #30 hotshots work well. For the price they are a great rod.
One thing Ihave noticed about Berkley rods is the guide inserts break fairly easy.

Salmonator · 06-02-2001, 08:52 PM

Cost aside, Owner hooks are the best available. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

HOGTIDE · 06-02-2001, 09:05 PM

Does someone actually 'own' an ABU EON ? I gave up trying to find one.

Owners are as good as it gets. But the cost is prohibitive for a drift fisherman. And, one might be just as successful with a well sharpened Eagle Claw. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Ramstrong · 06-02-2001, 09:23 PM

Berkely IM7's rock for the price. I've been using the heavy boy (15-50) for springers and it's performed wonderfully. Just as well as the Lamiglas salmon moocher it replaced. I really like the guide spacing, and haven't had a problem with the guides. It also passed the adams apple sensitivity test with flying colors.

Fish Hunter · 06-02-2001, 09:38 PM

I like the black Owner octopus style hooks that I've used tied up as herring rigs.

The two Berkely IM7 rods I own work well as salmon trolling rods. They are 7'9" one piece rods that handle 1/2-4 oz. Line rated at 15-50#, I plan to use them on sturgeon aswell. I like the taper, they feel less like a broomstick than those heavy North river rods, but still handle the lead ok.

bob b · 06-02-2001, 09:44 PM

been using owner cutting point hooks for trolling cut plug herring,bobber fishing and some steelhead fishing.excellent.local store,baxter's, has stopped stocking,lack of demand due to price I think.

alwyze fishin · 06-03-2001, 06:39 AM

Owners are as good as they get as for costing a little more you get what you pay for

Jeff

Hookset · 06-03-2001, 08:49 AM

Fish Hunter,

I know a guide who tried the heavy Air IM7 Berkley rods for sturgeon. First time out a woman client sets the hook and the rod broke. They landed some fish on these rods but he thought the walls were to thin and wouldn't hold up.

He's using some one piece (custom) 9 foot G Loomis salt water rods instead for keeper type fishing.

hook

Stz ll · 06-03-2001, 10:20 AM

bob b.

A complete line of Owners hooks can be found at Great American Tackle in Clackamas on 82nd drive across form Fred Meyer. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

First Bite · 06-03-2001, 12:12 PM

I've thought about trying the new Perfexion line but I've heard mixed results so I think I'll stick with good old reliable Ultragreen.

I have to agree with the comments about the Owner hooks. They are one of the best hooks out there. They might be more expensive but the hook isn't toast after one fish. In that perspective, they are worth the extra money in my opinion. That is why I'm offering the Owner hooks on my jigs.
Mark

www.firstcastjigs.com

Backlash2 · 06-03-2001, 01:51 PM

Well, here's my two cents....
I was one of the many who tried to buy one of the EON's when the advertising blitz started November of last year. When the wait kept going and going, I cancelled my order. Thank God! I played with one in the local tackle shop last week, and to say the least, was not impressed. Even with the brake all the way off, or the bail open, this reel is crap. Not to mention the feel of it. Low grade plastic....uhhh! Anyway, no I have not fished with it, and if it fishes good, that's great, but I won't own one.

Perfection line...haven't tried it, don't need to.....'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.....ULTRAGREEN

Lamiglass TITANIUM rods...fished with a friends for a while last winter...nice rod...better than a higher grade Loomis...no

Berkely IM7 rods....great boat rods.....

One you didn't mention; the new TechnaAV from Fenwick....very nice. Would purchase one of these instead of the Titanium, very light, very sensitive. Fished one for springers that was spooled with 50lb. Whiplash....WOW...talk about feelin' bottom. I thought I would need to go to the doctor and get an extension to ever feel bottom that well [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

David Johnson · 06-03-2001, 02:03 PM

I almost strictly fish Gamakatsu hooks but this past month I've been fishing Owner hooks on my backbouncing and diver/bait rods and they are very nice. The fish I've hooked in the jaw have been hooked very deep, several times to the point of all the way through the jaw bone!

You can be sure I'll be trying them out for herring fishing this summer down at Astoria.

Spooled · 06-03-2001, 02:15 PM

I have used Owner hooks with good results. If you want to try something comparable that cost less try Hayabushi hooks. I came across them at Wal-Mart and like them a lot. They have an excellent eye, without any sharp edges around the eye which can nick the line you tie on. They are super sharp and seem very strong.

WaterDog · 06-03-2001, 05:25 PM

I've got three berkley IM-7's, Med 8'-6" for stealhead, xheavy 8'-6" and xheavy 7'-9" for salmon. Great rods for the money. Have never let me down and they catch fish.

Snapset · 06-03-2001, 06:01 PM

I have owned 2 Air IM7's and I loved the feel of them, they have great balance and cast well, and have a good sensitive tip attached to a rod with a good hook setting spine. Alas, I have broken them both a foot down from the tip setting the hook in sub-zero temperatures. I think they need to re-engineer their transition taper between spine and tip. There seems to be some point that weakens due to a reduced recovery zone along the MOE curve at lower temperatures. I have to give Berkeley credit though, they have always replaced their gear at no cost. Now I only use IM7's for summer runs.

BUGLEMAN · 06-03-2001, 06:11 PM

I like the Berk. 15-50 but you really have to horse to keep them from running up and going slack. The rod doesn't bend much unless you have a big fish.

I love my North River 12-25 for bobber fishing salmon. A piece of lumber is just what the Dr. ordered for a firm hookset. It plays fish reel nice too.

I have used owners alot, they are a good strong hook and that leads me to my Question. What is the better hook, straight hooks or the type that curve in and point at the eye like owner hooks and gammi's? I missed alot of takedowns bobber fishing on my last trip. They could have been squaws though. Never the less my confidence in Owners has erroded some. I think the fish could have been just lippi'n the bait. It is a quandary.

Also in the event you hit a rock you can resharpen owners. I use a file and push into the point with a rolling motion on either side of the center rib and that sharpens one side of the center rib plus the outside blade. It is really like having a knife point then. Ouch!!!!!!

[ 06-03-2001: Message edited by: BUGLEMAN2U ]

Coot22 · 06-03-2001, 10:56 PM

Bigstew,

Berkely rods are the best...I own three. 2 10-20's and a spinning rod for jig fishing. For the money, they are the best. As for the Lamiglass Titanium rods, they are incredible! I have played with them a lot and fished with them a couple of times. They are the most sensitive rods you will ever find. A titanium blank through handle integrated into IM7 graphite!!!! WOW!!! I have held them straight out in front of me in the store and had someone else lightly blow on the tip and you can easily feel it all the way through the handle. One of my friends has one that he uses for drift fishing and for fun plug pulling. He holds onto his rod when he backtrolls and said that he could feel the fish that he hooked on a plug scrape its teeth on the plug...yes he was using a tuff line mainline and yes he was probably exagerrating but you get the idea of how sensitive these rods are. maybe a little over priced but if you live a lucrative life style, your collection of rods would be lacking without a Lami Titanium.

-Cody

chuck 'n' duck · 06-03-2001, 11:42 PM

I recently bought an Air IM-7 9.5' 4-10lb spinning rod for summers. It is a really nice rod. It is very limber and great for tossing small baits/small weight. The drawback to this rod is the lack of force transmitted on the hook set. However, still a great rod for the money.

CnD

SteelieSteve · 06-04-2001, 12:10 AM

Check out those Hayabushi hooks. I used them when I fished with Spooled and they are well made and sharp. Another plus is they can be resharpened easily, can't say that about Gami's.

finclipped · 06-04-2001, 06:40 AM

The titanium Lamiglas are the most sensitive rod available. I was reluctant to admit they are better than G Loomis, but there is a huge difference in the Titanium insert and the straight Graphite. They are spendy, but if you want the best, this is the rod. I have three guys I fish with and all agree they are hands down the most sensitive rod available.

Owners are incredibly sharp hooks, but I can't afford going through too many a day. I have also had a hard time putting an edge on them once they get a little dull. I'm staying will Gami's, as I can re-use them and they are more in my price range.

dawhunt · 06-04-2001, 07:18 AM

I agree owner hooks are very sharp.what I didn't like them for is drift fishing if you damage the point against the rocks while drifting you can't resharpen them and they are very expensive compared to others.I've gone back to gamakatsu's and use owners in the boat salmom or sturgeon fishing where there's less chance of damageing the point.
Oh yea,I just bought me a lamiglass titanium rod rated 8-12 lb for a retirement present to ME !! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img],now if I good just get down to the river to try it out [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img].,oh well I should be pretty mobile in time for winter steelhead in nov. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Bob [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ 06-04-2001: Message edited by: dawhunt ]

dawhunt · 06-04-2001, 07:25 AM

I've been reading in here about Vision Hooks and swivels nobody around here sells them any idea where a guy good get some to try out ??
Bob

Killertraylor · 06-04-2001, 10:54 AM

I own a Lamiglas Titanium - I can't remember the # right now - but I it's a 7'9" one piece 5 power I think (they come in power ratings). I use it for keeper sturgeon and salmon - it's a great rod and I got it used in Woodland for 1/2 price with a warranty. It broke the 1st time out and I took it back and they replaced it with a brand new one which I've used for 2 years. It's nice, but I'm not sure I'd shell out $400 for one when you can get a new Loomis GL2 BBR for $150.

I've used Owner hooks and agree they are the sharpest but for a treble hook, I still like the plain old round bend Gamakatsu. I tried the new Owner stinger trebles this spring on my kwikfish and I still think the Gamakatsu's are sharper out of the package and better hooks. When I tie up 40 or 50 3 hook solid tie mooching rigs with 5/0 hooks for the upriver bright run each year, I use Gamakatsu's for the top 2 hooks and an Owner as the trailer hook - a little more cost effective this way.