Since I had so much back and forth response on the last post about hooks, I would like to ask all of you a couple of questions about what you all really want.
1. normal wire or light wire?
2. what color(s) do you prefer?
3. what style?
4. is type of packaging important?
5. in a light wire hook what is the largest
size you would use?
All information will be used, thanks for your time and good luck. Peace Superfly

I use a light wire hook, but it is extra strong. Best of both worlds
I use up to a 5/0
Color doesn't matter prefer good ole nickel

Hook number for reference is 9263E Mustad
these are no longer made. Just burning up my supply while it lasts.
If you can make a hook with these qualities and chemically sharpen them......WOW

red
size 4or6
light wire for beter penatration
gammy octopus

I tryed the vision hooks but the tip bent if it just looked cross-eyed at a rock or log.I know all hooks are going to bend but it seemed like they were bad for it. I'm going back to gammy.

Superfly- Jennie L. Martin of ifish.net had asked me for an opinion about your hooks, for ad space considerations. I am the featured writer on the Tech/Discussion Board on that site. I told her that the only thing I've heard is what I've read in your "Vision Hooks" thread on this BB. I haven't seen them around NW Oregon. If you would like me to test & review them e-mail me at ReelTruth1@aol.com . Also let me know if & when they will be available here. - For feedback to your Q's: I prefer lightwire 1/0's for Steelhead driftfishing down here. When I would do the same for trophy steelies up north I would prefer normal wire 1/0 or 2/0's. For backboucing Springers, normal 4/0. For Fall Kings, normal 5/0. I agree with Smiles that color doesn't matter for the above uses. I do prefer red for 2X strong trebble hooks on some plugs for steelies or springers. On my custom painted blue on one side, chrome on the other Wiggle Warts I think the fish could take the red hook as a bleeding injured baitfish look- don't know, but it sure works great for me. - Smiles, is that 9263E close to the old 92553's? I used to love those. If I could have an assortment of sizes in a chem sharpened version I would be set. - Steve Hanson

Reel
They are similiar but made with a fine wire that is extra strong and the point isn't quite as long. Best material I have ever seen in a hook. The point stays sharp and is ultra fine.

Here is a little Midwest Intervention.

Like to use both. In heavier flows, I like a normal wire hook,but when our water gets low, I like a fine wire that is extra strong. have to use a fine wire if you are going to jack on metalheads with a 12 foot noodle rod and 4 pound test.

At one time, Eagle claw made a style 37 hook. They have since discontinued production. This was a fine wire, fish catchin son of a buck. I cried when they quit making them. I have called on many occasions, and say they need a 10,000 hook minimum order. Nice thing was if the fishing was slow, you could pull cars out of the ditch with them. They were strong, and had a bite that wouldn't quit. Can you tell that I liked them?

I like nickel hooks. Most of the time, we are trying to leave things as small and natural as we can with our fish. Use mostly size 4' and 6's, with 8's on very low flows for steelhead. Only use 2's on chinny's and 1's or bigger when I fish for your brutes. All of the hooks I use now are either Gammy's Octopus or Mustad 92141. In rivers with lots of limestone bedrock (Minnesota, Ontario,Wisconsin) I use the Mustads, because it's nothing to lose 60 or 70 hooks in a day. Use the gammy's over in Michigan on the rivers where there is plenty of gravel.

If you could make a sharp, light wire, extra strong hook, you would have it made.

I will give your hooks a try, if you want another opinion. Maybe they would fit a niche out here for guys fishing bedrock rivers who want to split the difference between gammy's and mustad. There may be a market for these hooks for walleyes, in a fine wire. Lots of walleye fishermen here, who use fine wire hooks to avoid bait damage on crawlers and leeches. Oh well, just my $.02

1. Light wire. 2. Red.
3. Octopus.
4. Long as I can get 100 packs.
5. Sizes 6-2.


Limit your kill, don't kill your limit.

92553 Mustad 1, !/0, 2/0, no color. Get a sharpening stone.

Superfly,
1. light wire for sizes 6 to 2, normal for sizes 1 and up.
2. Black is my first choice, then bronze
3. octopus
4. 25 to 100 pks. least amount of packaging material possible. (less trash)
5. A #1 hook is the biggest I would go in fine wire.

1) Normal for salmon and steelhead, use the light wire for WA's bass, crappie and shad.

2) black in tandem with sandshrimp, herring or 'chovies and red with eggs.

3) beaked, I like black Gamakatsu 2/0's w/sandshrimp and 3/0 red Eagle Claws w/eggs standard for winter-run steelhead. For summer-runs, black and red #1 Gamakatsu, again w/ss and eggs respectively. Herring and 'chovies in fresh and salt, black Gamakatsu in 6/0 down to 2/0, depends on bait size. For bouncing eggs 4/0 or 5/0 red Eagle Claw.

4) No, I consider myself the enviro/anal personality type. I no longer buy stuff w/ excessive packaging. I only buy 25, 50 and 100 hook packs nowadays. The 100 pack Gamy has a cool reusable box.

5) #1

I would like to find a jig hook with a long shank . I like to use bait under a bobber but all I could find is an old nightmare that I tore apart so I had some weight at the bait. With an assortment of good steelhead colors for the head.

Hey, People keep the replies coming, this is all info I will use in the manufacturing process to hopefully develop a hook that at least 70% of you approve of, Maybe who knows, but thanks for the input. Superfly