whats a good hook these days

[CosmicCat]

just wondering what people are using these days.
i had some good and bad experiences with different hooks.

just looking at buying some new ones and would like to know what people use.
looking at:-
cox and rawle (heard these are good reliable hooks)
Chinu ( very good top hook on pully rig)
sakuma ( very sharp and seem to hold up)

cheers
mike

 

[tonybax]

varivas big mouths for me

 

[Stewart 1971]

Loved the Black Eagle Aberdeens from UK Hooks but I've run out now and the p&P is very expensive unless you are buying a lot of stuff.

Quite like the Sakumas, been using the Stingers with no problems. In the past I've used the Varivas Big Mouth from Veals and again they are a decent hook.

For smaller hooks (1/0 down to size 2 or even 4) I never look past the Kamasan b940, absolutely brilliant hooks in the smaller patterns

 

[paul221280]

Like mustad uptide vikings and kamasan b940's

 

[CosmicCat]

just ordered a 100 kamasan b940's and some Amnesia
should last me a while as never catch owt lol
just read a view reviews on them seem good time will tell

 

[lead chucker]

Mustard up tide Vikings all the way

 

[Juliogeordio]

Sakuma manta and manta extra seem excellent to me. Also use kamasan aberdeens for flatties in the summer

 

[Dilbertd]

Interesting thread. I have been thinking about hook strength a lot recently. There is a lot of discussion about which are the strongest hooks but considering the ground we fish is the strongest hook the best to use ? We usually assume that we lose rigs because the leads get snagged but in my experience it is usually the hooks which get snagged and this shows by the fact that when you get a rig back the hook has usually bent out! If we use rotten bottoms on the leads what are the best hooks to use to allow the hooks to bend out of a snag. I realise that if you have a good fish on that you do not want the hook to bend out but sometimes i think it might be better to get your rig back with a chance of smaller fish than lose 20 rigs with the hope of getting that one pig which never comes. I have thought about using the 940 m match hooks to use thinner wire but they do not go to very big sizes. Any one got any recommendations on 'bendy' hooks around 3/0 or 4/0 ?

 

[sean start]

Mustad Viking and also varivas big mouth extra. When using smaller hooks I go for sakuma in 1/0 or 2/0

 

[Stewart 1971]

Interesting thread. I have been thinking about hook strength a lot recently. There is a lot of discussion about which are the strongest hooks but considering the ground we fish is the strongest hook the best to use ? We usually assume that we lose rigs because the leads get snagged but in my experience it is usually the hooks which get snagged and this shows by the fact that when you get a rig back the hook has usually bent out! If we use rotten bottoms on the leads what are the best hooks to use to allow the hooks to bend out of a snag. I realise that if you have a good fish on that you do not want the hook to bend out but sometimes i think it might be better to get your rig back with a chance of smaller fish than lose 20 rigs with the hope of getting that one pig which never comes. I have thought about using the 940 m match hooks to use thinner wire but they do not go to very big sizes. Any one got any recommendations on 'bendy' hooks around 3/0 or 4/0 ?

Mustad Vikings bend out, as do most Aberdeen patterns. I've landed Smoothhound to 7lb on a size 1 Kamasan b940...

 

[Stewart 1971]

Mustad Viking and also varivas big mouth extra. When using smaller hooks I go for sakuma in 1/0 or 2/0

2/0 a smaller hook Most of my summer rigs are made with size 1 or 2 Kamasans, if I'm really scratching (or Sole fishing - welcome back Seaham North pier) then I'll go down to a size 4

 

[g-force]

Matzuo Americas all the way for me - however, just like the Gamakatsu G-points before them, they're no longer available though the few packs I've got left should see me through next winter. Second choice are Mustad Powerworms or Sakuma Atlantics for the rocks; Kamasan Uptides in smaller sizes for flatties & whitings on the beaches.

Gary

 

[regpude]

ANY hook,you take out of a 5lb codlings a good hook,imo,lol.

 

[brownmike]

Whats a good hook these days. There is not one judging by the amount of hooks ive got . Bit of a sore subject with me . Why on earth smaller and smaller barbs , am I missing some thing , surly barbs are meant to keep fish on the hook. In the 90s when I did a lot of match fishing we used the cox and rawle up tide hooks . Never lost a fish once on and ive caught loads of fish. They was a sharp hook with a decent barb. The new ones that they brought out are junk . Any body who can recommend a good hook I would appreciate it. Cheers.

 

[Jeffrob445]

For catch and release you can't beat Varivas circle hooks, once you get the hang of baiting up and not striking they are the dogs dangly bits. Mustard Vikings and any quality Aberdeens are also good. Cox and Rawle bass hooks (look like Aberdeens but aren't) are way too stiff to sprink out of kelp/rocks.
very impressed with some of the Japanese hooks (Ebay is your friend) as they are razor shard and not too pricey.
VMC made some crackers, but they are hard to get in sensible sizes (the CHINO in 2/0 is an excellent crab hook).
Steer clear of unbranded Chinese rip offs.