Eagle Claw 500 Lil Nasty Jig Hook Review

[smalljaw67]

There was a lot of questions about these when the came out, I got a few to try, some of them were used as just regular jig heads and other I tied hair jigs with and I used both a mushroom head as well as a round head and a walleye head. I was done with my testing in mid December but I sent a lot of jigs out to friends to try and I wanted to wait until I got feedback from everyone I made jigs for before I wrote my review. The first thing I can say is these are as sticky sharp as the Matzuo hooks if not sharper and the wire seems to be stronger. I can also tell you that out of 250 hooks, I didn't get a single bad one, with Matzuo I'd have roughly anywhere from 10 to 35 bad ones out of that amount of hooks, the QC has gotten better for them but Eagle Claw has much better but you will pay a little more but still far from expensive. I'm sold on these, what really is impressive is the hook points stay good even after being snagged, it says something about the tempering process, I didn't have any break but it was harder to bend them out, the Matzuo sickles were a little easier to bend but that is how Aberdeen hooks are supposed to be, they are designed to bend straight to free from snags and then bend back without breaking. These will bend out but as I said, they are stronger, now I have only used  the Black Platinum finished hooks, the other finishes I can't tell you about but if you're looking for a stick sharp jig hook for tubes or grubs I'd suggest you give these a shot, I'm very happy I tried them and being that my first 250 were so good I went and ordered a thousand in size 1, size 2, 1/0, and 2/0, I know that for all my personal stuff I just found my hook and hopefully they keep making them.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

 

Comparing anything to Matzuo doesn't make a strong statement. There are so many other options,

I am surprized you settled for Eagle Claw.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Great review... Think I'm going to pick these up...

[cadman]

Hey smalljaw67 great review. I too am sold on Eagle Claw as they have upped their game the last couple of years. For those that don't pour, Mustad was the bread and butter hook for many years, and since Eagle Claw (EC) retooled several years ago, they have come on strong and hard. Look at your Trokar hooks. With that said, Mustad has had some quality issues and everyone knows about Matzuo quality issues. I'm glad you tested these out. Another EC will be a bread and butter hook.  Also EC's are made in the USA.

[Mr_Scrogg]

What's the p/n for those EC for the swinging football heads?? Saw them at Zeiners the other day, forgot the p/n

[smalljaw67]

Hmm...

 

Comparing anything to Matzuo doesn't make a strong statement. There are so many other options,

I am surprized you settled for Eagle Claw.

 

RW, Eagle claw came out with a new line of jig hooks about 3 or 4 years ago originally called the black pearl series but then changed it to black platinum series. These aren't your standard bronze Eagle Claw hook, these are actually premium needle point hooks that are as good as, if not batter than, the Mustad hooks I use to use all the time. The Matzuo hooks lacked good QC but when dealing with a small size 1 or 2 hook, the sickle hook is tough to beat and really sticky sharp, they penetrate as well as my 5318 Owner super needle points and that is no lie. The sickle bend is what makes the hook, when you hook a fish on one the only way it gets off is if the line or the hook breaks, the new Eagle Claw Lil nasty seems to use stronger wire and since I haven't had any Matzuo hooks break while fighting fish, I doubt the Eagle Claw would. I do favor Owner hooks for the most part but I buy those in smaller quantities but when you need a hook for a mushroom or tube jig in a small light wire hook, these Eagle Claw 500BP hooks are for real, no joke.

[Bluebasser86]

I've also been using the Eagle Claw Lil' Nasties for my mushroom style heads. I bought a 1,000 pack and have gone through about half of it with zero unusable hooks so far. I've had similar experience as smalljaw, they're a strong little hook that holds a point very well, even if you do have to bend them, and they're extremely sticky sharp. I had an aversion to their hooks for a long time because they were the bottom of the barrel hooks, cheap and not an option for anything except panfish. Since they revamped their lineup of hooks though, they've sprung to the front of the pack for my jig pouring needs. When I tried their hook with my bladed jigs, I was amazed how sharp and strong their hooks have become. With the exception of a few Owners that I buy just when I have to have the very best, I use nothing but Eagle Claws now. 

[roadwarrior]

Okay, between the two of you I'm sold!

It's great to learn something new.

 

 

 

[Tim Kelly]

Since Clayton's recommendation I've been using size 2 black Lil Nasty hooks for my ned rig heads. Got to say I'm very impressed. The hook point, being turned in slightly doesn't get damaged  as easily as a normal aberdeen hook, the hooks are super strong too, but most importantly the way they bury themselves in the fish's mouths is ridiculous. They are actually sometimes a bit too difficult to get out. Almost impossible to lose a fish unless the line snaps.

[Crankenstein Crony]

I just saw the lil nasty hooks for the first time a couple days ago. I wanted to try them out in some of my molds but was nervous because they are Eagle Claw hooks. Never been impressed with their stuff. After reading this review and some of the comments I'm defenitely going to try them out!

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, Crankenstein Crony said:

I just saw the lil nasty hooks for the first time a couple days ago. I wanted to try them out in some of my molds but was nervous because they are Eagle Claw hooks. Never been impressed with their stuff. After reading this review and some of the comments I'm defenitely going to try them out!

I was about the same way. Never used them for anything but catfish and crappie, fish I wouldn't be heartbroken over losing a few. Since they redid their lineup though, I use their hooks for everything from Ned rigs, shakyheads, swing jigs, bladed jigs, wacky rigs, replacement crankbait hooks, jigs, just about everything really. They're strong, sharp, and very affordable, there has been no downside to the switch and I'm 100% confident in their products now. 

[Crankenstein Crony]

I have always preferred Gami's but they are so expensive and personally I don't think they are so much better they deserve the higher price. So I normally use Mustad. But with the last few batches of football and swim jigs I've made, the Mustads have been rusting. I did try some Trokar hooks in my football jigs. I was really excited about those. But I ultimately gave up on ever trying anything from EC after using those. I had problems with the points rolling after catching a couple fish or dragging them over rocks and other structure on the bottom. But with all the positive comments here, Im definitely going to give them another shot. 

[Tim Kelly]

Gami's are definitely a step up, even on the new EC hooks, but they are significantly more expensive. You need to pick and choose what's best for which application really. I like EC Lil Nasty hooks for ned heads, their standard jig hooks are perfectly adequate for most small jig applications, but the difference between the EC fine wire straight shank flipping hook and the Gami light cover straight shank is worth paying to me. It's a much sharper better quality hook for that job. Mustads are a good middle ground hook.

[DoDFire]

I have always poured and used the Matzuo sickle in #1 for my hair jigs and love them. We have also caught several 15 pound stripers with a #1 and six pound line in the winter while chasing smallmouth and the Matzuo always held up and no bent hooks but the hand full out of 100 that are trash ain't no fun especially when you pour it and paint and don't catch it till you start to tie. Thanks for the review, I'll be ordering some EC to try on my next pour. 

[Tim Kelly]

I always found the Matzuo sickles to be weak and prone to snapping at the sharp angle bend. Gave up on them a long time ago. The lil nasty's do the same job, but better, for me.