Favorite hooks

[danny boy]

Hello,
Good question, I'm a bit old fashioned I suppose but I like the Mustad Vikings (79515 NPBR) and the Mustad "Big Eyes" (90721 NPBR) from size 1 to 4/0 for codling and cod.

Above size 4/0 I like the Sakuma Manta extra up to 8/0, I wish the barb was a bit bigger though.

For small crab baits when your after flatties and coalies then the Mustad Limerick (496 NPBB) is a great little hook that holds the bait well.

I have some friends that are using Koike hooks and they are pleased with them but I have not used them yet, but they may be worth a look.

Regards Ian

i second that mate,i have used vikings for 30 year and never had any problems with them,winter i use 2-0 and 3-0.

[smoothound]

cox and rawle uptide extras.best hooks i've ever used

[Hartlepool codder]

quote 'Above size 4/0 I like the Sakuma Manta extra up to 8/0, I wish the barb was a bit bigger though.'

this is the only problem i have with sakumas the barb is a tad to small for my liking.. i used to use vikings but they are just not the same as they used to be i wont use these hooks any more... and as smoothhound says the cox and rawle uptide extras are cracking hooks and i use these over the rough with big crab baits as they are quite short shanks with a decent gape and quite thick wire these are proper strong hooks for lifting big cod. also when using sakumas over the rough they are that sharp as soon as the point nicks a rock its game over for that hook , where as the cox and rawles can take more stick and the point lasts longer.

[craigf197]

Defo sakuma manta xtra sharp as owt and really strong

[al.thain]

hooks

penell rig - sakuma mantas 2/0 top, 5/0 bottom, top class hooks

[paulthespark]

basically all modern hooks are pretty much the same,the size of the hook really depends on what species you are targeting simple rule of thumb small mouth fish small hooks, big mouth fish big hooks, it;s not rocket science.

[treeboa]

i find less missed bites with circle hooks, just a pain to bait them

[g.ordon]

i find less missed bites with circle hooks, just a pain to bait them

Do you find using circle hooks means less deep hooked fish?

[treeboa]

Do you find using circle hooks means less deep hooked fish?

depends on the fish, flatties seem to be abe to shove anything into their guts though i find more hooked in the mouth, it may be because the points inside the hooks gape it pulls out untill it finds a hold in the mouth, whiting deff less gut hooked for me

[border reiver]

Very good hooks

I've been using these Stonefisher for a while now and think they are a cracking hook, very strong and re-useable. They're bringing a black nickel hook out very shortly and have heard they're very good also.