Hook Eye Gaps

[Unk]

Since you want a loop knot , the problem might be solved by doing it the way AJ mentioned when talking about swinghead jigs . He attaches a split ring . Don't know where he gets his split rings or how much they cost though .

[cyclops2]

Simple solution. works Take any treble hook. Cut off the 2 hooks close to the body. Done

Yes I do that .Old lures never die. All their parts are recycled. Including the split rings. The lure trebles com with split rings. I remove all belly trebles.

[fin]

On 2/27/2022 at 4:28 PM, Unk said:

Since you want a loop knot , the problem might be solved by doing it the way AJ mentioned when talking about swinghead jigs . He attaches a split ring . Don't know where he gets his split rings or how much they cost though .

 

I'm not sure which AJ you are talking about, @A-Jay ? but the problem with a split ring and a loop knot is that the line can get cut by the ends of the split ring wire. It can get caught in that gap just like the hook eye gap. You can get around that by using oval split rings, but not with a loop knot.

[A-Jay]

43 minutes ago, fin said:

 

I'm not sure which AJ you are talking about, @A-Jay ? but the problem with a split ring and a loop knot is that the line can get cut by the ends of the split ring wire. It can get caught in that gap just like the hook eye gap. You can get around that by using oval split rings, but not with a loop knot.

I do use oval or pear shaped rings in every line tie application that routinely uses/requires them.

It has also been my experience that with this move,

the inclusion of a loop knot is redundant and offers little in the way of improved action of the presentation above & beyond the aftermarket ring.

A-Jay

On 2/27/2022 at 11:56 AM, fin said:

 

So is the problem the loop knot or the cheap hooks?

 

Do you guys think a loop knot is a bad idea on a tube?

Not sure what hook you're using,

but there are  number of quality products available that  have a fantastic / effective track record

and are very reasonably priced.

Owner & Gamakatsu alone offer enough different models of hooks to cover just about any scenario.

A-Jay

[Bigassbass]

Sounds like you don't want a solution to your problem, you've got lots of excellent answers the first being buy better hooks.

[Unk]

2 hours ago, fin said:

 

 You can get around that by using oval split rings, but not with a loop knot.

Sorry. Meant to suggest using a split ring instead of a loop knot. Guess I need to be more clear sometimes. Just thought the split ring might solve the problem with any gap in the hook eye and not be too expensive.

[fin]

30 minutes ago, Unk said:

Sorry. Meant to suggest using a split ring instead of a loop knot. Guess I need to be more clear sometimes. Just thought the split ring might solve the problem with any gap in the hook eye and not be too expensive.

 

Oh! Yeah, that went right by me. It's also something I hadn't considered - with the split ring, the loop knot is redundant.

[fin]

1 hour ago, Bigassbass said:

Sounds like you don't want a solution to your problem, you've got lots of excellent answers the first being buy better hooks.

 

I don’t think I really owe anyone an explanation, but since several people seem to be unable to understand, I’ll say this: Some people can’t solve all their problems with money, so they look for other solutions. A solution that saves me a dollar, but takes an hour of my time might sound stupid to some, but they don’t know anything about my life.

 

Be thankful for what you have in life, folks, and try to understand that your assumptions about people you don’t know might be incorrect, and the way you live your life isn’t necessarily the way for me to live mine.

[garroyo130]

Even Eagle Claw shouldnt do that ... 

 

 

Still out of budget??

[fin]

13 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

Even Eagle Claw shouldnt do that ... 

 

 

Still out of budget??

 

I think that hook may have been Eagle Claw, because I bought another pack of 4/0 Eagle Claws today, and the gap on some are pretty huge.

[fin]

Eagle Claw 4/0 EWG

[PhishLI]

!

[schplurg]

My opinion is that if it bent the eye at all it was a defective hook regardless of brand.

 

A fish could conceivably shake very hard at the right angle and slip it through the gap I suppose. Maybe the loop knot slid around and was getting nicked up from the gap beforehand. I don't know just guessing.

[fin]

7 hours ago, schplurg said:

A fish could conceivably shake very hard at the right angle and slip it through the gap I suppose.

 

That's what happened, the knot was still intact. I don't think the hook eye bent, that would take a huge amount of force.

 

I got her up to the surface, she shook her head a few times trying to get free, and then dove again, and that's when I felt a little pop. She was hooked good, so maybe the hook was stuck so good it wasn't wiggling at all, so when she changed direction the loop shifted to the other end. I hope she managed to get the hook out.

 

 

 

 

[Jigfishn10]

10 hours ago, fin said:

Eagle Claw 4/0 EWG

So, what do you think you should do? If you plan on using the loop knot, then you need to fill that gap up some how? I suggested adding a "dummy" knot to fill the gap, my next suggestion is may be thicker line? 17 lb mono? Maybe?  

 

BTW: Be careful when trying to use pliers or a vice on the hook eye, they tend to break under compression.

[cyclops2]

 There is a simple way to bend a SOFT wire into a tightly closed loop.  Then do the heat treating   You Tube has guys makin beautiful hook eyes from SOFT coiled Bailing Wire Then Flame Harding them.   

 Cheap stupid places try to bend hardened steel to save a step and money. They suck.

Those hooks are terrible. Whoever made them. 

I admit it.  My Eagle Claw hooks are probably + 40 years old in a resealable bag.  

I went to the Eagle Claw site.  They had almost nothing about Gold Hooks.  They are my best lures to catch live bait. 

 

Could be the result of Covid loss of excellent help & cheapest people they could find For such a simple job  ?

 

 

[fin]

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

So, what do you think you should do?

 

No more loop knots for hooks is the simplest solution. The loop knot was just a whim anyway, seemed like a good idea, but as @WRB pointed out, it's kind of pointless.

 

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I suggested adding a "dummy" knot to fill the gap, my next suggestion is may be thicker line? 17 lb mono?

 

I didn't understand what you were talking about at first, but I get it now. That's a pretty good solution.

 

4 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

BTW: Be careful when trying to use pliers or a vice on the hook eye, they tend to break under compression.

 

Yeah, I've broken hooks before by trying to bend them, and I understand about the treated metal, but I'm only bending them a few thousandths of an inch. I think that's a better risk than leaving the gap there. 

 

I might also switch to a Palomar. I don't know, I've been given a lot of options here and learned a thing or two. The problem is solved, but it's no one single solution. I hope maybe someone else may learn from my mistake.

[EWREX]

switch to a palomar knot or check out the VMC ringed wide gap hook. seth feider raves about them when he's fliping and pitching

 

[fin]

7 minutes ago, EWREX said:

switch to a palomar knot or check out the VMC ringed wide gap hook. seth feider raves about them when he's fliping and pitching

 

 

Yeah, I was looking at that when @MN Fisher posted a link to their page. Nice, but almost a dollar each. I'm paying about 27 cents each. Yeah yeah, you get what you pay for. I know.

[Deleted account]

On 2/27/2022 at 2:15 PM, Jigfishn10 said:

Tie a clinch knot:

Cut the main line leaving the clinch knot and slide over to the gap:

Now tie your main line on and go fishing.

Another thing I thought I invented. I use 10 lb mono and a palomar though.

[cyclops2]

A SNAP or some type of split ring works very well. I use the Trilene with the 2 wraps around the side OPPOSITE the ends in the ring.  Works extremely well. The ring sharp ends always wind up rubbing against the molded wire loop of the lure 

The Trilene knot is snugged up tightly on the ring.  My 6# braided even locks into the ring tightly.

[EWREX]

8 minutes ago, fin said:

 

Yeah, I was looking at that when @MN Fisher posted a link to their page. Nice, but almost a dollar each. I'm paying about 27 cents each. Yeah yeah, you get what you pay for. I know.

 

another option is the VMC ike approved wide gap that has a resin seal on the eye. 5 pack for 2.49

 

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, EWREX said:

 

another option is the VMC ike approved wide gap that has a resin seal on the eye. 5 pack for 2.49

 

Or for less money - the EWGs that I use... 11 for $4.99 - that's $0.45 each

https://www.rapala.com/vmc/hooks/bass/7311-fastgrip-wide-gap-worm-hook/7311+Fastgrip+Wide+Gap+Worm+Hook.html?cgid=vmc-hooks-bass&taglist=VMC|Hooks|Bass

[fin]

40 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Or for less money - the EWGs that I use... 11 for $4.99 - that's $0.45 each

https://www.rapala.com/vmc/hooks/bass/7311-fastgrip-wide-gap-worm-hook/7311+Fastgrip+Wide+Gap+Worm+Hook.html?cgid=vmc-hooks-bass&taglist=VMC|Hooks|Bass

 

That's not a bad price, and it looks like they reduced the amount of bend on the neck, which is good, because they used to tear up a worm when you try to change.

 

I had to do a double-take on that picture - 3 barbs? lol

[Aaron_H]

Those H2O ones I posted are only 20 cents per hook, if you can make peace with the heavier wire. I have no issues with penetration throwing them on a medium power rod.