Question on Hooks

[JerryA]

I'm getting ready to tie up a bunch of nightcrawler harnesses for this year. Has anyone used the Cabelas brand walleye hooks? They are octopus style and offer an ultra-sharp model. I think they are made by Mustad and the price looks pretty good.

[Eyez]

I bought a bunch of them off the rack at Cabela's in Mitchell last year, the ultra sharp octopus in size 4 silver for spinners. They were not real expensive, but I've had bad luck with the tips bending over or breaking off everytime it gets a little hung up. Maybe I just got a bad batch, but I won't buy them anymore. I wasted more time changing rigs and re-tying than I ever saved on the price.


Eyez

[JerryA]

EyeZ,
The catalogue only shows these coming in standard bronzed, so I'm wandering if they're the same hooks you bought. The ultra-sharps are $5.19 for 50. This is quite a bit cheaper than the Gamakatsu and Eagle Claws but I'm always leary of cheaper. I agree with you, it's not worth it if they don't work.

[gilly8000]

I'd go with Gamakatsu's every time.

[SUPERTROLLER]

I switched to Owner hooks. I like the cutting edge point they put on their hooks. They're always sharp right out of the package.

[Eyez]

I think I paid like $4.00 for the ones I bought. I've switched to using Owner, VMC and Gamagatsu now. They're more expensive, but I never have to worry about my hooks.


Eyez

[manitobawalleye]

i have used gamakatsu for about 15 years for steelhead, salmon,and walleyes... have tried others but none of the tips seem to withstand the rocks like gama's
pack of 100's $13.45 at hagen's
hagensfish.com or 1-800-541-4586
talking about hooks if anybody knows where i could get 50 packs
of excalibur trebles or 50 packs of decent catfish size circle hooks
i would appreciate the info...
hagen's seems to only want to sell circles in lots of a 1000

[rickn]

With the price of all the equipment we use, it's tough not to use gama hooks.

[woodsdweller]

I hope no one minds my piggybacking this question with a related question I posted before but still need an answer to. I'm wondering about how you all keep your hooks sharp. I bought a South Bend file this summer and tried to sharpen the factory hooks on my cranks. Took way too much time (have a lot of cranks ... I'd rather fish than sharpen!!) and I don't think it worked too well anyway. Have thought about replacing factory with premium hooks such as Gamakatsu or triple grips, which I understand are sharp out of the box, and replacing when they get dull. Will do this if I have to, but wonder if there's a cheaper way. A buddy has a Normark electric sharpener. He's ruined some hooks with it, but the conical point he gets is an improvement in sharpness and a timesaver. So what does everyone think? Would really appreciate knowing how you all handle the hook sharpness issue. Thanks.

[perchjerker]

If you have a dremel or similar tool it works well for touching up hooks. Just use a fine stone and go e a s y.

[FROGMAN]

The Reef Runner crank baits I use come with VMC hooks, and they are sharp right out of the box! When they need re-touching I use a Luhr Jensen hook file. In fact, at any given time in my boat you will find three or four of them laying around, and when vertical jigging I have one of the rubber corded models attached to my shirt for easy access.
Good Luck

Keith Segar
NPAA #260

[woodsdweller]

Thanks for the replies. Was wondering, Perchjerker, what is a dremel? Do you have a particular method for sharpening with one?

I get the sense that no one thinks much of using electric hook sharpeners. When I did a search I found someone who said they had good results with something called a Hook-Hone-R. Don't want to buy one if it won't help hookups as much as hand filing, but I love the idea of getting all those cranks done in a jiffy.