Andy the design of the hooks is different. The siwashes are designed to place the force from the fishing line in line with the hook shank. When you use octapus hooks the pressure is applied to the eyelet which is not designed to hold as much pressure. The eyelet is there so you can tie the egg loop knot on the shank with out the line slipping off the shank. This is the main reason we tie the egg loop on the drift gear setup (the shank is getting the force.) My uncle use to tie his octapus hooks on with a clinch knot and he would lose fish breaking the eyelet off the shank on fish. It might be cheaper to set up your gear that way but it could cost you when you least expect it.
Tight Lines

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Marty
Steelheader.net marty@steelheader.net