I've been using the Gammie 4/0 for kings and "big" silvers tha last couple of years. Last fall I was tired of cutting off the wild fish with $.80 worth of hooks in their mouths so I switched to my favorite steelhead style hook, a Mustad 92553 in 4/0. This spring I again used Gammies for Springers, and I can usually get a couple of fish per hook usage before they are screwed up. Well, over the weekend I used my Mustads again because I was out of Gammies. My wife and I caught 8 summer kings (and lost one, on a bent hook) and all eight riggins' (double 4/0's) were shot after one fish. I was really suprised at how "soft" the mustads were as compared to the Gammies. Here's my question: What is a good, "hard" hook that won't bend much (nor break - not too hard) that is affordable in large quantities and I might be able to get a couple uses out of it with proper sharpening? Or should I just use the Gammies, and not try to save a few bucks? Thanks!!!

use gammies, visions, mustads, eagle claw, or whatever.. everyone has different opinions when it comes to hooks and you're not going to get just one answer, personally i use gammies.. but ive tried vision, and i'll be trying mustad soon...

if you're hooks are bending, what lb test are you using, and what type of line.. i ran into problems when my lind had no give to it.. i was using copoly line and when a fish would take off the line would not stretch making my hooks bend/break.

the mustand ultra points are supposed to be somthing like 30% stronger at the point.. you might wnat to pick some of those up to try???

either way.. if you're hooks are bending no matter what brand of hooks you're using to high lb test, your line has no give, or you just got a bad batch..

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Last fall I was tired of cutting off the wild fish with $.80 worth of hooks in their mouths so I switched to my favorite steelhead style hook, a Mustad 92553 in 4/0.
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Do not know if you are using barbless but in the fall when fishing for the nates barbless hooks make the release much easier.

Gami's all the way every day
OK I wish every day

Are you saying that when you hook a wild fish that instead of popping out those BARBLESS hooks with a simple,quick flick,you cut the leader and drop it back in the water???

I must be misunderstanding you.

I don't think there are any truly "bad" hooks out there any more,most are quality hooks,but some lack the sharpness I like right out of the box. I am in your same situation,I don't like losing spendy hooks on dogfish.

I used to use only gammies,but have changed to mustad ultra point's in the 3/0 fine wire.They are almost as sharp as gammies but not quite,a quick shot with a file and there sharper. I like the fine wire cause they don't tear up herring as bad when baiting up,and they penetrate easier.

The largest king I've got on them was a 22lber a couple weeks back and they held up fine,I really had to put the screws to em' trying to turn him when a troller almost cut us off,no problems with them bending.

The cheapest I've found gammies is $.27 ea. in a 100 pack. I get the mustads for $.20 ea. in 25 packs. That's not alot of difference but over the course of a season it adds up and lets me fish a few more times,without the wife gettin' riled up.

I also tried vision and they were not as sharp either,but again a quick shot with the file and your good to go. I tried two 50pks and about half had sharp spots around the eyes that I thought may cut a leader when under pressure.They're not a big company,I think when they grow a bit more they'll work it out. Vision hooks seem to run about 1 size smaller than the other brands,if you try them compare them in size before you buy em'. The vision reps will send you some sample packs if you e-mail them,we'll probably hear from them shortly anyways.

Buy 100 packs of gammies and less beer if need be?????????????????????????.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I'm usually a "gammy" man myself while in the salt, but I've noticed over the years that gammies just love to rust . While fishing from the beach, I have lost fish due to the hook points touching the sand and getting a little scuffed and immediately starting to rust causing a dull tip.

The more I use Owner hooks the more I love them. Only one problem though is that I haven't found them bigger than 2/0 in size? Does Owner manufacture 3/0, 4/0, or 5/0? Does anyone have experience how these hooks hold up in the salt?

BD

Yes owner does make larger hooks,Try a G.I.Joe's
or sportco.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Strike Zone:

Been there done that. Those were the first places I hit. I'll just keep up the search. Thanks anyway though. Are you doing your B-10 trip again this year?

BD

I used to fish the barbless Gammies in the salt, but they kept rusting out too quickly or I couldn't keep them sharp enough. Also, I have had Gammies bend/break more on larger fish. I went back to Mustads 92553SX. Stainless is stronger than nickel plate, stay sharp and don't rust. Since I rarely (and I mean blue moon) fish with bait, I use 5/0 tied closely together year around in the salt. As far as Owner hooks, they are pricey.... I have problems keeping them sharp too. Hope this helps!

Downriggin'

Thanks and keep 'em coming! I'm using 25lb green maxima (what else is there?) and I don't use barbless unless I have to.

Bobber down,
Yes,I'll be staying @ Ft.Stevens on the Oregon side and runnin out of hammond.I will be there from 8-17 thru 8-25.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Snit,

For a mainline, I have been using 20# Izorline Plus with great results. I never have broken off a fish from the mainline- ever! As far as leaders, I use 20# maxima for spoons and 50# flouro or better for hootchies/flies.

As far as barbless hooks, nothing catches more fish than barbless (IMHO). It is just easier to hook'em....

Downriggin'

...Not to mention that from the Straits all the way down to south Puget sound, barbless hooks are REQUIRED by law! Plus, using a de-hooker and barbless hooks together makes releasing the wild fish relatively unharmed pretty easy.

It seems that alot of people don't realize,that barbless hooks are the law for all species in area's 5-13. Not just salmon anymore. It's a good idea to read the new regs every year,it's cheaper than any ticket!

Last year I was fishing the Astoria area where barbed hooks were allowed. I assumed that just cutting the leader near the hook(s) was less traumatic on a "wild" fish than trying to corral them against the boat/net then trying to pry open the mouth and insert the pliers/hook remover, but maybe I need to get the hook(s) out of all fish???

Last year I was fishing the Astoria area where barbed hooks were allowed. I assumed that just cutting the leader near the hook(s) was less traumatic on a "wild" fish than trying to corral them against the boat/net then trying to pry open the mouth and insert the pliers/hook remover, but maybe I need to get the hook(s) out of all fish???

I am not going to get into the best hook discusion but I think any time you start running hooks that big you will see an increase in breakage and bending.The law of physics is against the hook when you think about it.I believe that the chances of pulling on the end of the hook increases putting an incredable amount of force at the bend.Just my expieriance with bigger siwash in the spring.

I save money lots of different ways,but not on hooks.

Gammies or Owner cutting point.

Hey Bobber D, Try www.ownerhooks.com/

snit,

With the de-hooking device there is no need to "Corral or net the fish" and certainly no need to pry the fishes mouth open? (I've never seen a salmon that could attempt to breath with it's mouth clamped shut) Just slide the cuphook down the line, give a little jerk, and the barbless hook pops right out! WDFW website has descriptions of the de-hooker and how to effectively use it. Hey, why not do everything we can to help a "wild" fish survive?

Give the Visions a shot. They seem to work excellent for me in the salt..and in the rivers..and in the lakes.

Hi:

Boy something is really wrong here.........Mustad 93352, and you are having problems bending, wow, you must be using very heavy leaders and line.....need to get real....start having fun instead of being a "meat fishererson", go with light rods and lines and leaders. A 4/0 Mustad will take lot's of pressure....NEVER had any problems with them........

Have a good day!!!!!

"The worse day sport fishing, is still better than better than the best day working!

Drifter WA, as I said before, hook-92553 and line-25lb maxima. I don't know what hook number you're using but maybe I should try it???? If you would read my question I was after opinions on other 4/0 hooks. As for your comment about "getting real", I didn't ask your opinion about how to land a salmon (19 out of 20 in the last 6 days) in the Columbia. The kings that I'm catching just tear up the bait and 100 yard runs in fast current are very common. I like to catch fish- not loose them, and my Mustads are only lasting for one fight. So take your noodle rod, #4 hook, and 8lb stren and enjoy the fight!!! Thanks for the opinions from the other guys!!! I'll try the visions and owners.

Drifter WA, as I said before, hook-92553 and line-25lb maxima. I don't know what hook number you're using but maybe I should try it???? If you would read my question I was after opinions on other 4/0 hooks. As for your comment about "getting real", I didn't ask your opinion about how to land a salmon (19 out of 20 in the last 6 days) in the Columbia. The kings that I'm catching just tear up the bait and 100 yard runs in fast current are very common. I like to catch fish- not loose them, and my Mustads are only lasting for one fight. So take your noodle rod, #4 hook, and 8lb stren and enjoy the fight!!! Thanks for the opinions from the other guys!!! I'll try the visions and owners.

snit do you not know how to use a computer?, STOP POSTING THE SAME FREAKIN MESSAGE TWICE OR ELSE!

Sorry about the dupes'. I just hit "back" and then I get "reload" and it re-posts. Yes, I do know how to "use" a computer but the recent replies makes me want to "use" it elsewhere. Go catch something and chill out!!!

Snit...If you think Gammies are to much,you won't like the Owners either,they cost even more! They are a very sharp hook,but the cheapest I've found em' was $17.99 for 40 hooks,that's $.45 ea and that was in 3/0.

The Vision's are a good hook for the money. The problem I have with them is the bigger the hook,2/0 or bigger the worse the eye looks ( ragged, uneven edges )that look like they'll fray your line. I haven't seen every box of Vision's,but the 8-10 boxes I opened were all the same. Even if you throw away half the hooks in the box,there still cheaper than Gammies or Owners.

You'll have to forgive some of the other posts...everyone here is usually in a better mood. It's funny...with all the fishing opportunities available right now,you'd think they'd be in a better mood.

Or else what? You'll get your panties in a bunch?

Snit:

Enjoy your fishing, doesn't matter if you use Vision, Gammies, Owner, Mustad, Eagle Claw or some other brand, just have a tough time believing that 4/0 are "breaking" with 25# line.

Don't see any of the major hook brands going out of business........

"Worse day sport fishing, STILL better than the best day working"

FishinSinsation , only 4 people on this board are authorized to use the term "or else " and glad to say your NOT one of them so chill out a little. Snit--- I apoligize for some of the foolishness.

HBP and Jerry G. thanks for the "help" 15 or 20 years ago I had a box of a 100 Mustads 92553's with ragged eyes. My uncle (the cheapest guy ever) had some clear glue that we placed on the eyes. After it dried (very quickly) we then poked a toothpick through the eye to clean it out and I didn't have a problem with those hooks after that. I think that my time is worth more now, so I doubt that I will apply this process to the Vision hooks, but I'd like to try them anyways. For the record, I never said that I was "breaking" 4/0's, they were bending!!! Here's to BIG kings!!!!

id second the visions, i have only used #2 hooks, they are sharp and when i set the hook i have never lost a fish to a vision hook, only the breaking of "gamakatsu line i was using" that stuff jus cant hold up under no conditions..

I lost a lot of Springer hookups to the Owner cutting points on the Wind (not salt I know). As soon as a switched back to Gammies, I landed the last 8 I hooked. I think the Owner cutters are great when you can get them in the jaw, but it cuts through any soft tissues (tounge, lips, etc...). Just my $0.02...

Wow! I didn't know that springers even had lips! :p

Unfortunately, on the Wind river, I've seen probably all brands of hooks tear through soft tissue. (i.e. the fish's ass, belly, back etc...)

wow!! i didnt even know springers had a ass..

Gawldarn! You mean that little hole ain't the bung?

Ok, that was funny.

Suck up the costs and stick with the quality of gammies or owner. Hope this helps!

For salmon and big baits, I've went strictly to VMC "straight point" salmon-steelhead hooks, and found a considerable difference in hook-up ratios. With every other hook the point curves inward toward the bait- typical curved hook style. When you have a big chunk of herring or eggs, this means the hook point is lying right down on the bait. We all want fish that just chomp right down on the bait, crushing the hook and submerging the hook point itself. Unfortunately, they usually just pick it up first and move with it. A straight point hook is right there out of the bait and already stuck into some flesh and a good hook set finishes the job.

I only use gammies and owners for all of my jigs, spinners, drift flies, and nonbaited lures, but the vmc's make me feel more confident when I'm bait fishing, and they are cheaper, too.