Hook Eye Woes

[hawgenvy]

When I broke off upon setting the hook on a huge bass during a tournament two weeks ago it broke my heart. It was 50 lb braid tied to a 6-0 Gama EWG hook. The knot itself was intact but the tiny loop below the knot was severed, probably cut by the gap area in the hook eye. On another occasion when I broke off inspection revealed that the knot and the tiny loop below it were intact -- the knot must have slipped through the gap. I have taken to leaving an old knot on the eye when I retie to protect the line from the gap.  Trying to push closed the gap with pliers might help, but there could still be a rough edge.   So, I wonder if any of you guys know of a good quality hook brand that has a smoothly welded or protected eye gap. I have had the most problems with big 6-0 EWG worm hooks. Thanks, fellow bassers!

[Wbeadlescomb]

Mustad grip pin trokar vmc etc

[hawgenvy]

I'll look into those wbeadlescomb. Thank you!

[Kevin22]

VMC IKE approved! I love them! 

[Wbeadlescomb]

I will throw this out there I broke a vmc flipping hook today on a really big gar. I snapped that joker clean in two.but in that hooks defense it has been on the same flipping stick for quite awhile and had caught 100's of fish in heavy cover not counting the times I hung it aND bent it back with my leatherman. I was mainly seeing how well it would hold up.I reached in my box and grabbed another vmc and rerigged

[hawgenvy]

24 minutes ago, Kevin22 said:

VMC IKE approved! I love them! 

Yeah, I had looked at those on TW, and now glad to have Kevin22's endorsement -- and Ike's! I'll order some. Thanks!

But I'm surprised they don't weld closed those dastardly metal hook eyes or machine them differenly.

6 minutes ago, Wbeadlescomb said:

I will throw this out there I broke a vmc flipping hook today on a really big gar. I snapped that joker clean in two.but in that hooks defense it has been on the same flipping stick for quite awhile and had caught 100's of fish in heavy cover not counting the times I hung it aND bent it back with my leatherman. I was mainly seeing how well it would hold up.I reached in my box and grabbed another vmc and rerigged

Well, I guess no hook is perfect.

[Bluebasser86]

I like the VMC HD flipping hooks, but I've broke 2 of them at the hook bend on a hook set. I still have some I'll use until they're gone for fun fishing, but when it's tournament time I'm using Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover flipping hooks. 

[IDUTBass]

I also like the Strike King Hack attack hooks. Out of the few I've tried they are my favorite so far. 

[Kevin22]

11 hours ago, hawgenvy said:

Yeah, I had looked at those on TW, and now glad to have Kevin22's endorsement -- and Ike's! I'll order some. Thanks!

But I'm surprised they don't weld closed those dastardly metal hook eyes or machine them differenly.

Well, I guess no hook is perfect.

The VMC have epoxy over the gap in the eye. I use the 5/0 VMC ike EWG and they are a great hook. Have not used the flippin hook so don't know about that. When I run out of my other sizes of EWG and worm hooks I will switch them over to the VMC as well. 

[Mike L]

I use the Trokar TK 130 flippin hooks and have never had that problem. 

 

Mike 

[Fishin' Fool]

12 hours ago, hawgenvy said:

When I broke off upon setting the hook on a huge bass during a tournament two weeks ago it broke my heart. It was 50 lb braid tied to a 6-0 Gama EWG hook. The knot itself was intact but the tiny loop below the knot was severed, probably cut by the gap area in the hook eye. On another occasion when I broke off inspection revealed that the knot and the tiny loop below it were intact -- the knot must have slipped through the gap. I have taken to leaving an old knot on the eye when I retie to protect the line from the gap.  Trying to push closed the gap with pliers might help, but there could still be a rough edge.   So, I wonder if any of you guys know of a good quality hook brand that has a smoothly welded or protected eye gap. I have had the most problems with big 6-0 EWG worm hooks. Thanks, fellow bassers!

Somebody posted a tip recently and said when they cut off the old line they keep a small tag of the old knot and push it near that gap. I don't know if I'm describing that correctly but it sounded good.

[hawgenvy]

Thanks, guys! I'm going to try the VMCs for EWGs. Ordered some already. For flipping I'm happy with snelling my Strike King Hack Attack flipping hooks which do, in fact, have a sealed eye. I like the Trokars, too, which I have never broke off of (yet). Tight lines!

[hawgenvy]

The VMC "Ike Approved" Heavy Duty Wide Gap Hook in 6-0 seems pretty good. I have caught a few 3 to 4 pounders so far with no issues. Hook eye is sealed beautifully with tough epoxy and keeps the knot out of harms way. Nice!

I hope we see more brands, esp for big EWG hooks, going to a welded or otherwise sealed design for the hook eyes. We already see that helpful trend in the flipping hooks.