Hook and rod debates on here lately. I'll add my 2 cents worth.

Hooks:

I haven't even read the recent Vision hook threads. But I was told of some complaints about certain batches by some guys and others saying they've never had problems with them. The swivels were said to be great. Joe knows I tell it like I see it, and usually appreciates it. Anyway, I've used a lot of Vision hooks and never broke any of them. I have found a few in a large box of them that were not needle sharp, but those are in the small minority and easily sharpened - making them a good value for the price. As for the many Vision swivels I've used I broke 2 of their snapswivels at the flap catch. But they were really small size 12's that I got for summer steelie's in low water. I broke 1 on a large silver in medium water flow and 1 on a snag. I think the 12 lb. leaders should have broken first; but I also should have used size 10 or 8's in those conditions; and I've never had a prob with those bigger Vision swivels. As for other brand hooks in the last few months, I have broken 1 Gamigatsu 3/0 at the bend while fighting a fall chinook (usually use 4/0 or 5/0, but it shouldn't have broken), and I bent out 1 mustad that cost me a flotilla fish at the net without pulling overly hard on it. No hook failures with Owners or Visions (or the few Eagle Laser sharps I had left and used). The best hook in my opinion is unquestionably the Owner hooks - they are great, but expensive.

Rods:

I agree with Joe about the Rainshadow and All Star Elite rods. The blanks are really consistently well built and have a very sensative high modulous - better than the Loomis GL2's or like priced Lami's, and in the ball park with the GL3's. If you spend a little more than the factory Lamiglass and All Star rods you can get the great Rainshadow blanks excellently custom built by TH Custom Rods. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I'd recommend the Lami Titanium rod or the Loomis GL3 over their IMX - you'd have a hard time recognizing a sensativity difference, but the GL3's are more durable than the mega priced HMX's. ... The last 6 rods I've bought are 2 All Stars, 1 Buzz Ramsey IM7 new 'Lightning' version, and 3 TH Customs with Rainshadow blanks. The last 2 were the recent TH custom sized 9'6" rated for 8 to 17 lb. line - 1 casting and 1 spinning. I got them to use for mid-Feb. to mid-April large nate C&R fishing, May/June combo of spring 'nooks and summer steelies when in a river at the same time, and likewise when the fall salmon and winter steelies overlap for a few weeks. If I had to choose one all-around river rod, these would be it! Light and sensative enough for low water steelheading, yet plenty strong to land large Kings using 15 lb. UG leader. They are a bit light for backbouncing much weight or for fighting large 'nooks in in places such as snaggy Tillamook tidewater. Just like the modern chemcially sharpened hooks, the rods today are a big improvement in recent years - IMHO.

RT - Ooops, rambled out 3 cents worth again.