matzuo sickle octopus hooks

[kevinpa]

just wanted an opinion on these hooks,i fish mainly minnows, crawlers and leeches when I`m not trolling harnesses or cranks,when I troll harnesses I use 2 trebles, should I buy size 2 and 4,or 4 and 6`s for live bait that I use,I heard nothing but good things about these hooks and 100 of them for $7,is really reasonable,thanks guys

[rabbit]

Did you mean Matzuo??? They are great! I use the single #1 red on top and VMC trebles 6&4 on the end...Or, just 2 singles. Depends what body of water and where I'm at on that body of water. They really drive through the eyes beak and hold good...You'll like 'em....C'mon soft water. More snow this morning here in da U.P....Paul

[rabbit]

Did you mean Matzuo??? They are great! I use the single #1 red on top and VMC trebles 6&4 on the end...Or, just 2 singles. Depends what body of water and where I'm at on that body of water. They really drive through the eyes beak and hold good...You'll like 'em....C'mon soft water. More snow this morning here in da U.P....Paul

[rabbit]

Did you mean Matzuo??? They are great! I use the single #1 red on top and VMC trebles 6&4 on the end...Or, just 2 singles. Depends what body of water and where I'm at on that body of water. They really drive through the eyes beak and hold good...You'll like 'em....C'mon soft water. More snow this morning here in da U.P....Paul

[bob why]

They are great hooks. I use them as replacements on my cranks and spoons and a size 6 as a trailer on my harnesses. Where did you find 100 for $7?

[kevinpa]

stamininc.com out of Minn, great selection

[no1son]

I use Gamakatsu Octopus circle hooks for all my bait fishing anymore, from sunfish to catfish. I like the turned up eye, makes snelling the hook on easier. I keep sizes 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1 for panfish and walleyes and 2/0 and 3/0 for catfish (those sizes also work with shiners and suckers for muskies, pike and bass - some guys go up as high as 10/0 for the jumbo baits they use for really big cats and muskies).

Make sure to match your hook to the bait size rather than the fish, since the hook needs enough free gap space when it turns for the hangnail to be exposed well enough to catch. Too little and you will miss strikes due to the hangnail being covered. It seems to me that I need to run at least one size larger with the circle hooks than with the regular Octopus hooks for the same size minnow. You can't bury the point on these or there is nothing exposed to grab when the hook turns in the side of the fish's mouth.

My biggest problem is that if I have been waiting for a while and then get a strike, I get all excited and "set the hook" like I was trained to do 40 years ago. That pulls the hook right out of the fish's mouth. No fish! The fish hooks itself on this type of hook usually on the first run; you just lift the rod to tighten the line. Once you have a hookup you can they set the hook better. So I also tend to use a little smaller bait so the fish gets it all in its mouth on the first pass.

[Shadbuster UL]

I like the Owner Mutu Light circle hooks. They are much stronger than Gamakatsu and a little stronger than the Matzuo. I got tired of hooks breaking and I decided to try them all to find the strongest.

[Doc Johnson]

Many of the Pro's on the walleye trails use the Sickle Octopus hooks on crawler harnesses and live bait rigging. I know this because they come to me to get them when needed. Most use nothing smaller than size 2 on the harnesses. When you hook your walleyes this year look at which hook is in their mouth - the one closest to the beads or the lower one. Bet you that it is the one closest to the beads and the other is hanging outside their mouth at least 85% of the time. If you need any more information on this question go to www.dancingloons.com and click on Fish Tales and go the article that was published in the Walleye In-Sider titled "The Livebait Crankbait"

For those of you reading this post, don't confuse Sickle hooks with Circle hooks. They are 2 different things.

Doc Johnson
Matzuo America Pro Staff Director
NPAA #15

[Shadbuster UL]

What are the differences between Sickle hooks and Circle hooks. They look very similiar. Do you have to set the hook with a sickle hook? Thanks.

[Doc Johnson]

The best way for you to see what a Sickle hook looks like is to look in your Cabela's catalog. They are in the hook section or go to Cabela's on line if you don't have a catalog. Sickle hooks do require a hook set. Because of the unique bends in the hook, and with a needle point, fish do not come off.

Circle hooks require no hook set. Let me know if you understand after viewing the pictures. If not let me know and I will send you a sample of a Sickle hook and an a Circle hook.

Doc Johnson
Matzuo Pro Staff Director
NPAA #15

[Shadbuster UL]

Thanks for the info. I did get them confused with a circle hook.

[Doc Johnson]

I feared that it might be the case. Thanks for your inquiry.

Doc Johnson
Matzuo Pro Staff Director
NPAA #15