flippin Dan Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 Lately I have straightened several gamakatsu hooks. Some on hang ups but 3 or 4 on fish that pulled off. I am using 4/0 ewg. I am using braided line and a 7 ft mh rod. Has anyone else done this? Do I need different hooks or to lighten my drag or something? I can bend the hooks back to normal with my hand so I just throw them away cause they seem to weak. I am not criticizing a brand cause I do like these hooks. I have straightened a few jigs out trying to learn to fish them and setting the hook into brush piles instead of fish. Are owner hooks any tougher? I have never tried owner. Quote
LuckyHandsINC. Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 If you like gamakatsu try the superline ewg hooks. They are made from thicker wire and are much stronger. I use them for braid and other situations. When I need a stronger hook. Quote
flippin Dan Posted July 15, 2011 Author Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks I will try to find some. I assume superline is for braided type lines. That is probably the info I needed. What about the owners? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 Yep. Use Owner Wide Gap Plus, or try this: Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 Lately I have straightened several gamakatsu hooks. Some on hang ups but 3 or 4 on fish that pulled off. I am using 4/0 ewg. I am using braided line and a 7 ft mh rod. Has anyone else done this? Do I need different hooks or to lighten my drag or something? I can bend the hooks back to normal with my hand so I just throw them away cause they seem to weak. I am not criticizing a brand cause I do like these hooks. I have straightened a few jigs out trying to learn to fish them and setting the hook into brush piles instead of fish. Are owner hooks any tougher? I have never tried owner. To bend a hook on a snag is one thing but with fish it is a different story...must have been some monsters...lol I am guessing here but you most likely used a hook or two that you just straighten from a snag and not only re-bent the hook but most likely dulled it as well. What you need to do is simple make your bait weedless by making sure your hook point is not exposed...this will help keep the snag's from happening in the first place. Most trouble comes when you drag your bait over some sort of cover and you think it's a bite so you set your hook, It takes some time to get used to the feel of different types of cover and structure and even then it is still going to happen from time to time. Keep a fresh hook at the ready and you won't miss any more fish...Well at least it won't be the hooks fault... Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 No, I've bent those hook on fish. It's from using a powerful hook set and braid with no drag. My buddy Burnie has even bent them with 30# fluoro, hence the switch to the heavier hooks. Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 No, I've bent those hook on fish. It's from using a powerful hook set and braid with no drag. My buddy Burnie has even bent them with 30# fluoro, hence the switch to the heavier hooks. Wow, I have used these hooks for some time and caught some pretty nice fish and have only bent one but that was to be blamed on me. I use braid for all of my fishing and have never seen a hook bend with fluoro,...makes me want to rethink about using these hooks. Maybe I just don't put the force into a hookset with braid and M/H rod as you describe but it still makes you think twice about the hooks. Thanx for the info!! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 I wouldn't worry about losing fish, it's just a waste of valuable tournament time if you have to retie after a fish. You should be able to catch a few fish before retying, using 50 lb.+ braid. Quote
Gangley Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 If you want to stay with Gamakatsu, go with the Superline. If you dont mind changing and spending a little more for a better hook, then the Owner Wide Gap and Wide Gap Plus hooks are thicker gauge to begin with and are very hooks. Quote
flippin Dan Posted July 15, 2011 Author Posted July 15, 2011 To bend a hook on a snag is one thing but with fish it is a different story...must have been some monsters...lol I am guessing here but you most likely used a hook or two that you just straighten from a snag and not only re-bent the hook but most likely dulled it as well. What you need to do is simple make your bait weedless by making sure your hook point is not exposed...this will help keep the snag's from happening in the first place. Most trouble comes when you drag your bait over some sort of cover and you think it's a bite so you set your hook, It takes some time to get used to the feel of different types of cover and structure and even then it is still going to happen from time to time. Keep a fresh hook at the ready and you won't miss any more fish...Well at least it won't be the hooks fault... I fish a lot in pretty thick weeds and when I set the hook I am trying to turn the fish to me so I set it hard, maybe too hard. I landed a fish that was less than 3 lbs. and the hook had bent. If I see that one has bent I cut it off so I am sure it was not bent already. A couple of the fish I would guess 6 to 8 lbs. and after about a 10-15 second fight they pull off and the hooks were bent. I think part of it is the braid and the power I try to put in a hookset. My buddy, weighs about 260 and coaches football, set the hook a few weeks ago and a 2 lber flew over the boat and hit the water so he had to turn to that side and reel it back in. I like braid so I will try a heavier gauge wire and possibly the owners. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 The old "lift and seperate" hookset. Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 I fish a lot in pretty thick weeds and when I set the hook I am trying to turn the fish to me so I set it hard, maybe too hard. I landed a fish that was less than 3 lbs. and the hook had bent. If I see that one has bent I cut it off so I am sure it was not bent already. A couple of the fish I would guess 6 to 8 lbs. and after about a 10-15 second fight they pull off and the hooks were bent. I think part of it is the braid and the power I try to put in a hookset. My buddy, weighs about 260 and coaches football, set the hook a few weeks ago and a 2 lber flew over the boat and hit the water so he had to turn to that side and reel it back in. I like braid so I will try a heavier gauge wire and possibly the owners. When I re-read your post I missed the part of being able to bend the hook with your hand, That says there is somthing going on with your hooks because that should not be. I do not know if the hooks today are made of something softer or not but the 4/0 EWG Gama's that I have been using do not bend near that easy. It makes me want to go buy a pack just to see if they are any different than the ones I am currently using, I have had the ones in my tackle bag for some time now. Is the 4/0 the only size you are having an issue with? Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 15, 2011 Super User Posted July 15, 2011 Use Gamakatsu #744 in lieu of #584. Most premium hooks come in 3 wire diameters; light wire, standard wire and heavy wire. Read the manufactures discription, they state the wire type and intended use. Another factor is forged or round wire; forged hooks are flattened round wire at the hook bend to increase the bending strength. Example Gamakatsu #114 jig hook is a light wire forged hook and strong for the wire diameter used. The #604 is a strong standard wire jig hook for example. Owner makes similar hooks and very strong. Mustads premium black nickle hooks are less expensive and good. Your problem could be a bad batch of hooks. When fishing with superbraids; the drag shouldn't be set any heavier than 8 lbs or you will break your rod before straightening out a good hook. I have caught several giant bass (17 to 19lbs) using Gamakatsu #114 5/0 jig hooks and never had a bass straighten out or open up the bend on a jig. I have damaged hooks on rocks, not bass. Tom Quote
flippin Dan Posted July 15, 2011 Author Posted July 15, 2011 I have some 5/0 weighted but have not used them. I have noticed that there is a BIG difference in diameter between the 4 and the 5. I will try to post the # on the package later to let you know what I have. It is possible it was just a bad batch so that was my main reason for asking. My dad and I always used gamkatsu, or as he called them d**n I got you's, and it is kind of a sentimental thing to use them. Reminds me of him every time I tie one on. Quote
ccl113 Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 X3 for superline.. I was having the same problem but mostly with logs and rocks, not fish. I switched to the thicker superline and no problems thus far. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 16, 2011 Super User Posted July 16, 2011 Owner Wide Gap Plus Black Chrome Hooks You'll have to really work at it to bend these and they stay sharp A-Jay http://www.***.com/Owner_Wide_Gap_Plus_Black_Chrome_Hooks/descpage-O5139.html Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 16, 2011 Global Moderator Posted July 16, 2011 I like Gammie superline hooks for almost everything. I've straightened and even broke a couple regular EWG Gammies on hooksets and I'm not a real big guy. I have had not had any problems with the superline hooks though. Quote
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