Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Mr. Sandman · 01-09-2005, 02:26 PM

Which cabela's cat?..I am looking at the 04 master catalog and don't see much VMC....Also there was not anything VMC on the website recenty either (but I did order some 6X via the phone)

Most "live bait" hooks I have used (like the gami's) are very heavy (thick wire) ... too thick IMO but I have not see these.

For the last few years I have moved to owner circles for eels ...they have a teflon or some kind of blackish non-stick like coating and they don't rot out so fast, (they will rust but not overnight), they are *very* sharp, and I have never broken or straightened one. The wire is thinner but they are very rigid and penatrates the jaw without problems. It took me a few fish before I got use to them but I am a convert now. lip/jaw hooked fish 95+% of the time even on a dead stick rod. You can get them in both bent and straight eye. I like straight and attach with a palamar knot. As I have tried the snell on the bent eye and didn't improve my hooks anymore or less. Some Cap'ts swear by snelling and show you a circle in a bucket trick but for me it made no difference.
http://www.ownerhooks.com/pages/prod...irclehooks.htm

(cabelas sells them)

For 20 years before that the only hook I used (for eels) was that 92553s in stainless (mustad)... Great hook, strong but if you were not really "on" your bait you will gut hook a lot of fish.

I agree with bernzy...***for the money*** VMC is the best hook, their hooks offer the best value and are very strong and sharp and can be purchased in bulk easily...you just need to swap them out frequently if you don't like rust. But there is something to be said for changing hooks out frequently instead of buying one that "lasts forever".

if money is no object when buying hooks...take a look at owner. (it is a b*tch to find them in bulk packs of more then 6) I just got these new stinger st66 treblebs...wow that is one strong (and sharp) hook. I plan to put them on all my HD trolling plugs. I got some in all their siizes...the 5/0 could be used to look for bodies in the bottom of the bay.

01-09-2005, 02:26 PM	#5
Mr. Sandman Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 7,649	Which cabela's cat?..I am looking at the 04 master catalog and don't see much VMC....Also there was not anything VMC on the website recenty either (but I did order some 6X via the phone) Most "live bait" hooks I have used (like the gami's) are very heavy (thick wire) ... too thick IMO but I have not see these. For the last few years I have moved to owner circles for eels ...they have a teflon or some kind of blackish non-stick like coating and they don't rot out so fast, (they will rust but not overnight), they are very sharp, and I have never broken or straightened one. The wire is thinner but they are very rigid and penatrates the jaw without problems. It took me a few fish before I got use to them but I am a convert now. lip/jaw hooked fish 95+% of the time even on a dead stick rod. You can get them in both bent and straight eye. I like straight and attach with a palamar knot. As I have tried the snell on the bent eye and didn't improve my hooks anymore or less. Some Cap'ts swear by snelling and show you a circle in a bucket trick but for me it made no difference. http://www.ownerhooks.com/pages/prod...irclehooks.htm (cabelas sells them) For 20 years before that the only hook I used (for eels) was that 92553s in stainless (mustad)... Great hook, strong but if you were not really "on" your bait you will gut hook a lot of fish. I agree with bernzy...*for the money* VMC is the best hook, their hooks offer the best value and are very strong and sharp and can be purchased in bulk easily...you just need to swap them out frequently if you don't like rust. But there is something to be said for changing hooks out frequently instead of buying one that "lasts forever". if money is no object when buying hooks...take a look at owner. (it is a b*tch to find them in bulk packs of more then 6) I just got these new stinger st66 treblebs...wow that is one strong (and sharp) hook. I plan to put them on all my HD trolling plugs. I got some in all their siizes...the 5/0 could be used to look for bodies in the bottom of the bay.