Bronze and gold jig hooks -- which is best?

[MathMan]

I am getting ready to order some more hooks for jig making. May order a 1000 this time. Something I never considered is the bronze and gold hooks -- for example, Eagle claw 570 and 570. I "think" that the only differece is the finish. But the 570s cost quite a bit more.

Is the gold necessary (helpful)? Worth the extra cost?

Thanks.


Rick Mitchell
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

[MathMan]

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Rick Mitchell
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

[perchjerker]

I have been making jigs for years. Personally I think the only thing the gold hook catches is the fishermen.
I also think the bronze hooks bend a bit easier, allowing you to unsnag it sometimes if you are lucky.

[MathMan]

That was my thought as well PerchJerker. I have always used bronze.

Thanks.

Rick Mitchell
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

[CARP KING]

MathMan
If you have some of each on hand, run the point across your thumb nail. I feel the bronze have a sharper point. Although you should still sharpen them any way.
Dave Hasselberg

[Chad]

I have noticed that most all gold hooks are not sharp. This may have something to do with the gold coloring. I bet it is electostatically applied which means it puts a gold coating on the sharp edges. This takes away the sticky sharp.

[MathMan]

I have not actually seen (held) any of the gold finish hooks -- I have always just bought the boxes of 100. But I am thinking about buying a box of 1000, and noticed that the gold hooks are priced higher. I thought that perhaps the hook is made from a different material. I also thought that since they cost more, that they must be better. But if it is only the finish, I cover most of the hook up with a twister, so that does not matter. Now I learn that they are duller, which makes perfect sense from the post above. Unless someone gets on here soon, I will likely go with the bronze -- a no brainer so far.

Thanks for the information.

Rick Mitchell
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

[Chad]

Here is my thinking. I would almost stay with the box of 100. They should last most the season. with 1000 you run the risk of them getting wet and rusting out before you use them. Not a huge price savings could be a loss if you have any get ruined.

[vern]

i have always hat the gold one's
it seam to me the little gold flash helps.

[TONY ON ICE]

MATH MAN
Don't waste your money on the gold plated hooks.
Like stated in previous posts, the gold plate coats the hook point and barb making it pretty dull and the plating process makes the hooks brittle causing them to snap.
If you're intersted in making jigs fr walleyes and want a bronze fine wire jig hook with a little longer shank, try the Mustad 32751.
They are a bronze, fine wire, extra long shank jig hook and are perfect for using light line for finicky fish.
The Mustad catalog states that these hooks are short shank, extra strong wire jig hooks but it's a misprint .
I live close to Mustads distribution center in Central New York and have shown them this mistake bt they've failed to correct the problem.
I had to bring my hooks into them and shw them the numbers and hooks before they went into the warehouse and pulled some of the same stock to check the contents. You should have seen the managers eyes when he realized that I was telling him the truth.
Still, the catalog is wrong though.
These hooks are a few bucks per 1000 less than the standard 32755 / 32765 bronze or gold jig hooks.

[tbomn]

I have to agree with Chad. I have been doing jigs for a lot of years and have found that the bronze hooks seem to sharpen up better. They also seem to have more give when I get snagged up. I usually use the Eagle Claw lazer sharp, but have also used the Mustad Needle Point aberdeen hooks #32746BR and found these to be great hooks. Mustad also makes a black hook in the same needle point aberdeen.

[Backwater Eddy]

I would agree with TBO and Chad on this. Plated hooks are notoriously dull and bend easily.

Mustad, Gamakatsu, or VMC in various models and sizes would be my first choices for jigs.

I get my jigs made for me by "Scenic Tackle". One of the things that quickly impressed me was the quality of the hook & the durable paint finish’s’ Jeff Beckwith selects for the jigs he produces. As a guide Jeff put his personal experience into the product as well as others input, made for a very good jig line in the end.

There is nothing more basic to fishing then the hook. A cheap hook will turn a potentially good fishable jig into just another chunk of painted lead with a wire sticking out of it. If a guy skimps on quality you loose down the line on time & fish.

Backwater Eddy ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[wycurly]

We build a lot of jigs and send them all over, the only people that seem to realy like the gold hook is the saltwater folks. As far as sharp the gold hook is sharp, however the sharpest hook we have used is Owner. The Eagle Claw L570 Lazer BZ is a good hook also, many of the people that we supply say they would rather have a hook with a little give as opposed to hard and brittle one.