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Posts: 110
Location: North Canton, Ohio 44720 | I need to order some replacement hooks and would like to get some opinions on their favorite hook. I have used the Mustad 35656BR 2X before in 2/0 and 3/0 and before I order some more I wanted to get opinions on some others. I would like to get some black hooks that I see are out now but I can't find them in the Mustad size. I need them for jerkbaits and topwater lures.
Thanks, Mike. |
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| If you are replacing hooks on topwaters and jerkbaits, go bigger...Use 6's and 7's.
I use the Eagle Claw 774's and the Mustad 3551's on almost everything and the smallest hooks I will use are the 4's. I put a size bigger and many times two sizes bigger hooks on almost all my baits. |
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| I agree with Guest that bigger hooks are the way to go. I never use anything smaller than 5/0 except on small twitch baits, Spring Dawgs, etc. Even 5/0 doesn't get used much. I go through a ton of 6/0-7/0 every summer and use a lot of 8/0 in the fall. It depends on what you're throwing, though. If you're throwing a lot of small stuff then the smaller hooks can be OK. Also, that hook you're using is a round bend. I stay away from round bend hooks, they are so open I don't believe they hold as well.
Mustad 3551 - I use a lot of these. They're available all the way up to 8/0 and they sharpen very well. The lighter wire can open up a little on a fish, which makes me a little nervous, but I've never lost a fish to an opened hook that I know of.
VMC 9617BZ - This hook is probably tied for 1st place in my boat. It's sharp right out of the box and it's STRONG. It costs a bit more but it's a dynamite hook.
Eagle Claw 774 - Also a good hook, but I have a hard time finding them bigger than 5/0. It's strong and has a striaight point - I don't like the Eagle Claws with the beak point.
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Posts: 110
Location: North Canton, Ohio 44720 | Thanks for the info!
Mike. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | I like the 3551 hooks myself but like the 5/0 as long as the hook extends out away from the lure. IMO if you need to extend the hooks points out away from the lure that is the only reason to go with a bigger hook. IMO you get a better hook up with a 5/0 vs a 7/0 on average. If you use a crappy 5/0 or 7/0 you are in trouble with catching a trophy and the hooks go straight on you. Quality will boat fish and crap losses fish IMO and I think many here agree. I have heard horror stories of lures that use crap split rings and hooks losing 50"plus fish all the time. Not a good thing if that was your only 50" plus fish you ever hooked into. I for one don't want to be the guy who makes a lure with crap that lost you or your 10 year old son or daughter a fish of a life time.....
JMHO
James
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Posts: 86
| The SHARPEST factory hook, and so far, the best hooks I've found are VMC 4650BN, and the short shank 4651BN. They are X-strong Black Nickle priemium permid cut points. They are strong and sticky. They run alittle small though. 4/0 is a good all around size.
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Posts: 110
Location: North Canton, Ohio 44720 | Thanks everyone for thir input. I am going to go with the VMC 4650's and 4651's. I believe this will suit me the best.
I saw a lot of references for the Mustad 3551 hooks. I have seen these hooks straightened out (up to the 5/0 size- the 7/0 are no problem))many times and fish have been lost because of the thinner wire. I honestly would advise to switch to something else. Thats my opinion, but based on what I have seen I will never use them again.
Again, thanks everyone,
Mike. |
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