Thought it would be fun and educational to combine our success with Steelhead hooks to see if there is one brand, color and style that is used more than others. My favorite hooks are Gamakatsu Octopus in Black and Red.

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Tight Lines & Wet Nets!
Scott

I agree, they are even better after a quick sharpening. I never run them without doing it.
Has anyone else noticed when tying 8lb leaders on size 1 & 1/0 gamis , some will not hold a bait loop. They will always break at the hook eye. Must have burs???
Tight lines and sharp hooks to all.
Rivernut

VMC cone-cut straight points in red. Cheaper and not as brittle as Gamakatsu's, however difficult to find.

Gamies are great for everything except drifting. You can't sharpen them. If you don't have the hands to sharpen hook, then use them. But if you have the skill to make hooks sharp, then use the cheap eagle claw, vmc, or mustand.

Like gammies too, but recently bought some Owners cutting point and this are nice hooks too.

I will go for the gammies too, black or gold are my favorite. keep em sharp.

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I use Mustad 92553. Only takes < 10 seconds to sharpen them with a hook hone. The areas I fish tend to be a little snaggy and $0.07/hook is the right price.

Gammies, never had one break and need minimul sharpening. Size 1 & 1/0 red octopus.

It's gammi in red & black,size 4 to 1/0 for
steelhead.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I,ve seen the light. I used to swear by Gami's now I swear at them. For half the money I've been switched to Daiichi bleeding bait hooks in red ever since last summer. They are a thinner diameter hook but they are just as strong as a Gami and are sharper out of the box.

Hey IHOOKEM where do you find the dihatchi hooks you are talkin about. I would like to try them. thankx

Shawn, Sportco in Fife has them in the single pack but they're priced to high. I buy mine from Hagens (www.hagensfish.com or 1-800-541-4586)out of Mitchell, SD. They run about $14.00 for a size 2 100 pack. I switched last late spring when summer run steelie fishin on the Cowlitz. I had a better hook-up ratio after I switched. On the down side I have bent some when snagged on the bottem, but I have'nt straightend any on fish.

Personnally I like VMC conecut straight point. Color doesn't seem to make much difference for me but I'll take red if I can find it. Gammie's have a great reputation but to me they're too expensive, too thick, and have a curved point. I much prefer a hook with a thin diameter and a straight, knife-like point.


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MSB

Yup, the gammies are the sharpest thing out of the box but they don't straighten out on rocks and don't sharpen as well. I go with the VMC open-eye Siwash on my gear. It has a much wider gap, a longer thinner point, will bend off of rocks, sharpens nicely with a hook file and is magnitudes cheaper. Also, the gammies only come in that hideously bright stainless steel (a problem for summer fish), and the VMC's come in a more subtle bronze color.

VMC Vanadium.... Gammies....
Vision... They are all good hooks.

Quick note on Vision:
The hooks are great, if you get a whole set without any defects. Twice I have purchased small packs that have had several defective hooks (obviously bent, eye that wasn't even half-way closed, etc...)

maybe I was unlucky...

Vision hooks are my best bet they are stronger then gamies and I like the green color inthe winter and the black or red in the summer.

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work is for people who dont know how to fish

Gammies are great hooks, but at an average of $2.49 for a 6 or 8 pack...OUCH!!! For the money (less than 1/2 the price of Gammy), VISION is a helluva good hook. I've been using them for a while now with no problems and they are super sharp too because they are chemically sharpened just like Gammies.

Price no factor, I like the cerise Gammy octopus hook. But price is almost aways a factor, and I agree with Saukit about the Visions. - RT

On our limestone bedrock rivers, you can't beat a mustad 92141. Breaks your heart to use a gammy, make one drift, get a bedrock hookup with the point of your hook, and cut it off. At least the mustads can be sharpened. A $5 hook file goes a long way.