Monday Report

ABL · 04-09-2002, 07:02 AM

Three of us fished out of St. Helens for about 4 hours Monday late afternoon and evening. My friend caught a 17-18 lb clipped Springer. The other two of us each had a takedown that did not stick. Ours was the only fish we saw caught.

The two fish that did not stick pumped the pole hard twice and then nothing. I have always waited until the tip is pointed at the water before I set the hook. Maybe we should have gone after those two a little sooner. Anybody have a similar problem? Any suggestions? I replaced the stock hooks with Gami's and added a second split ring which seemed to work well last year.

fishchaser · 04-09-2002, 07:10 AM

That's your propblem. You used Gami hooks. I nailed three fish and landed all three. I use nothing but OWNER hooks.

Owner is a darn good hook. I have to say that every fish I hook into has a Owner hook in it. My brother-in-law was using Gami hooks and he lost his fish, both times

Something about those Owner hooks. Once you set the hook you never have to worry about that hook coming loose. Unless you screw up and give the fish slack line.

Good-Luck

sturg · 04-09-2002, 07:19 AM

This sounds like an advertisement for owner hooks. Gami hooks are just as good. Not all fish take downs are the same because some fish the don't hit it as hard as others. Last year on some days I would just feel a little tug and then nothing, when I took my herring up there were teeth marks on them. Later I hit it when I got a little nibble and there was a salmon at the end of the line.

crabbait · 04-09-2002, 07:58 AM

"Gami hooks are just as good", love to agree with you Sturg, but I just can't do it. The Owner cutting points are truncated like a surgical instrument so they cut on contact. Gamis are round, sharp, but round.

The Owners cut on contact and bury to the bone. The Gami is a good hook but it just can't do that.

Don't take my word for it. Get a sample of each, attach your favorite line, set them on the edge af a neutral medium like waxed cardboard, and pull down. See which one takes more pressure to bury in the cardboard.

No, I do not own stock in Owner hooks but I have been using their Octopus for bobber fishing fall chinook for years and I haven't lost a fish that I got a decent hook set on. The cutting point trebles are just as good.

Nothing at all against Gamis. Its a design difference. :smile: :smile:

TundraIII · 04-09-2002, 07:59 AM

If a fish really wants what you have to offer does it matter what hooks you use? I dont think so. I use Gami's more often than anything else, (I like the color options) but have also used tons of bulk stainless. Have I seen a difference in catch rates? No not really. If a fish is serious about hitting your bait, and you are checking to make sure your hooks are sharp, you are going to catch fish. My boat hooked nearly 100 fish last year
all on Gami's and bulk. I keep a couple of sharpeners handy and I make sure every hook in the water gets checked repeatedly through out the day. Presentation of the hook is important too. When trolling herring I leave the lower hook free, I have seen people who imbed that hook into the bait also, not a good idea. When using prawns (red) I use a red Gami and a prawn stringer. I string my line thru the prawn tail first and slide it down to the eye of the hook. This leaves the hook almost completely exposed and gives the prawn a nice spin. I have seen other methods but this works for me.

fishchaser · 04-09-2002, 08:01 AM

I don't have anything against Gami's, but I prefer to catch fish, and not loose them when they get hooked. Yeah they cost more money, but remember, you get what you pay for.

Fishen Fool · 04-09-2002, 09:36 AM

I use flat fish for steelhead, even after changing hooks to a larger size and adding a split ring to both hooks, I was loosing well over 50 % of my fish. I switched to owners this winter and my pardner and I are landing over 90% of our take downs. I wish that I had changed years ago, were owners availble then?

[ 04-09-2002, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: Fishen Fool ]

FishinMission · 04-09-2002, 01:24 PM

I use the dumb hooks that come with the lures.

BUT

I sharpen them real good... :grin: :grin: :grin:
And that seems to do the trick.

Mark

sturg · 04-09-2002, 02:20 PM

To me the hooks are a factor but it is also not the hook that keeps the fish on either. There are lots of variables like stretch in the line, type of rod, drag on the reel, and most important is the experience you have in bringing in the fish. I think most people lost fish when they jump is holding too much tension and it rips the lips off. It doesn't matter what hook you use because if you don't have it hooked through the nose you will lose it. Most people don't get out much fishing so the best thing is to learn what you did wrong because it is not always the gear that makes a good angler. I see guys at many stores that say new people who get into fishing and try to sell them G loomis rods and Calcutta reels. You don't have to wear $150 Jordans to make a basket.

Nuttinbutnet · 04-09-2002, 02:32 PM

If you were using Quikfish, don't set the hook. A guide and good friend taught me years ago to just raise your rod tip and start reeling. Hook sets and quikies just don't seem to mix. Stock hooks out of the box stock and sharpened. I am happy to say that I have never lost a fish on a Quikfish and I use them alot, especially in the Fall.

Salmonator · 04-09-2002, 02:58 PM

A fish swims within 3 feet of an owner hook and he's as good as barbequed