What is the best brand of hooks and preferences?

[HuyFishin]

Many use the factory hooks that come with the lures we purchase and many will change them out larger or stronger hooks that do not bend or break as easily.

What is your main brand you trust and why?

[Smoky buck]

I build all my lures with mustads because they are good quality and I have a good source for bulk. But in all honesty I think VMC’s are better hooks

I have broke them all honestly lol

A tip if swapping hooks on a bait match the weight of the original or you are changing the original action. Heavier you deaden the action lighter you open up the action

[Poppa]

there's Gammy's and there's everyone else!

[Kings]

OWNER hooks Japan made.

[jr_80]

No choice for “make my own”?

[Bhflyfisher]

owner is first choice, gammy's 2nd.

[Talking moose]

Gammy..... tried mustad last year, too brittle.

[keeks]

I use whatever is on what I buy. When I tie flies I use Mustad, but only because thats all I really knew. Maybe I'll try something else now.

[Osky]

Mustad or Gama's. Note I am not any sort of officinado or complex user of any sort. I simply change out most trebles for singles due to people flopping fish around me and I don't care to be caught.
The two I listed are easy brands to find in size variety. To date I haven't broken any that I recall. There may well be better out there?

Osky

[HuyFishin]

Where do you guys purchase you owner hooks?

[WayneChristie]

Gamma and Owners for big fish. had a few cheaper hooks straightened by sturgeon so Id rather pay a bit more and get the good quality. Ive broken a couple owners but that was with 80 pound braid and hooked on a rock not a fish. gone mostly to circle hooks for pike and walter now helps keep them on through the ice. since Im a long ways from a fishing store usually get them online. watch BP they are in US bucks and a lot more

[calgarygringo]

Switch lure hooks out to gamma's always and have for years. My bait hooks are gamma as well , treble, circles and octopus are the most common. I have tried a few of the new Berkley Fusion hooks and my first thoughts are they are pretty sweet as well. I have not tried a bunch of them yet so will not be switching yet but for those that are not afraid to try a newer product don't hesitate to give them a shot. Super sharp and very strong and don't appear to want to bend easily. I have seen lots of good reports on them as well.

[lenka]

I like Daiichi hooks to tie wireworms. They are sharp and strong.

[trigger7mm]

Originally Posted by Bhflyfisher

owner is first choice, gammy's 2nd.

Same here. No question.

[EZM]

Gamakatsu and Owners are both premium brands. Certainly the best in my opinion for most applications.

Seems to me, when comparing them side by side and messing with them (which I do because I'm a busy body) Gami's are generally thinner and far more flexible (when comparing a few different configurations of the same size). The shape is also a little different in radius and offset on a few hooks. The Owners are more rigid and thicker and harder to bend for sure (at least on the ones I've seen and compared).

Mustad is also an excellent hook - no complaints about these hooks from Scandinavia - they have been doing this a long time. I wouldn't hesitate to call these "almost as good" and certainly better than most.

You mentioned Berkley - although I have not purchased or used the hooks - I know that the premium variety of their swivel snaps (black ones and the expensive ones) are actually Sampo swivels - which are the best in the world and weight rated. Berkley also has a "garden variety cheap brand" so you have to know what you are looking for. Now that Berkely has been gobbled up by Rapala, not sure if this will tank the brand as they now produce in China and make crap.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

Where do you guys purchase you owner hooks?

Fish Tales in Calgary. Buy the bulk pack.

[Walleyedude]

Originally Posted by EZM

Now that Berkely has been gobbled up by Rapala

When did that happen????

[calgarygringo]

No....they were sold but not to them unless they were sold again but I don't think so. Article



Newell Brands has agreed to the sale of Pure Fishing to private equity group, Sycamore Partners.

Newell Brands has today announced that it has agreed the sale of Pure Fishing to a New York-based private equity group in a deal that is worth $1.3 billion.
Sycamore Partners is the surprise choice of new owner for the business. It is unknown in fishing circles and owns no outdoor leisure-related industries. It specialises in consumer, distribution and retail-related investments.

[AK47]

I think those who voting for Eagle Claw probably never tried Gamakatsu or Owner. Eagle Claw is by far the worst hooks I have ever seen.... maybe those on infamous pickerel rigs can compare - unless they are made by Eagle Claw.

[WayneChristie]

this was probably the last eagle claw hook Ive tied on for the rivers. One of the members I took sturgeon fishing trying to slow down a big sturgeon, I know it was big I set the hook on it. The fish straightened the hook out when he thumbed the spool https://youtu.be/jDCel-aXGHk

[BiteArray]

I voted for Gamakatsu, but another +1 for Owner!

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

this was probably the last eagle claw hook Ive tied on for the rivers. One of the members I took sturgeon fishing trying to slow down a big sturgeon, I know it was big I set the hook on it. The fish straightened the hook out when he thumbed the spool https://youtu.be/jDCel-aXGHk

I would not trust eagle claw for big game fishing either but I have had all brands fail in those situations you have to crank down and try to turn them do to snags/bad area/or going to get spooled

When I guided and fished the white sturgeon on the fraser I have seen every brand of hook break or straighten out. This was a rookie horsing them or when you had no choice trying to get them away from snags if you can let them run or follow with the boat you should not have issues. When I fished them on shore it could be a rodeo when a giant picked up the bait and you could not run down river

Gami’s are still my go to for a single hook but I have had sturgeon and big springs break them in those tough situations. They are strong but seem to break instead of bend because how they were hardened.

Big fish just wreck stuff but they are fun

I still need to catch a lake sturgeon here in Alberta. They are the only freshwater species between Alberta and BC I have not caught yet

[FlyTheory]

Owner, Trokar, Gammi, Daiichi, and partridge by reddich are all the brands I use. Never had issues with any of them.
I’ve had major issues with mustad and eagle claw (except for their trokar hooks obviously).

[Mr Flyguy]

Mustad now at the bottom of my preference, although I have an inventory of old 9671's and 9672's which were made in Norway and are good. Many of their products are now made in China and are inferior to Daichi and TMC. Stay away from the Mustad 94840 dry fly series if after good sized trout in rivers, too many bent hook pull outs.

[fisher Gord]

use gammys when tying rigs of any kind. fish walleye with jigs a lot and have learn to leave the thin hooks in the store.