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Hooks for the wealthy

Chris Ponsford, my take on Korum hooks differs rather from yours, maybe its because I ain't sponsored by the company, maybe I've just been unlucky?

I don't use the S5 pattern as I've never felt the need for a curve shank hook but unless the barb size has been reduced, I don't think anyone should use them either, hideously large does not even come close.

The S3, intially when I started using this pattern, I absolutely loved them, grossly over-sized in relation to what is stated on the packet though.
Many anglers had them gape while using balanced tackle, Korum though rightly tried to improve this issue BUT now the bloody thing just snap on the bend.

Perhaps John Walsh should try producing hooks for his market place, UK specialist anglers, as if I were to go river carping in France and I felt the need to use a curved shank pattern, I like most others would be inclined to go to a carp tackle manufacturer, Korda, Gardner, ESP.... the list is endless

Though for barbel, chub and tench when I want a lighter gauged hook, I now have to go barbless to find a suitable hook, now using Guru wide gape hooks, so far very successfully.....
No 5lb chub or 4lb barbel swimming around with the tip of my Guru hook in its gob, shame the same can't be said of Korum S3 hooks.
And if a 5lb 14oz Power Reflo hook link tied to a size 14 S3 ain't balanced what is???:confused:
 
OK ,Colin less of the aggression ,Chris or Pons is fine.

You plainly have a gripe with me and Korum,sorry you have had problems,and sorry I dont share them,several years of guiding folk and no such problems for me or customers ,S3 or S5.

The hooks are designed for the UK marketplace and are very successful be it specialists or match,and provided are used with balanced tackle rarely give problems.

Lee Edwards ,EX Wye Champ and a Prestons sponsored angler caught 316lb of Chub in 5 hrs on a 14 S3 to 4lb Korum line,then came out filming with us catching loads of chub again,then the following day caught a dozen barbel on the feeder to 9lb on 14 again to 4lb korum ,using 50gram feeder and 13 ft 8 inch Dutch Feedermaster.

I think all top match anglers can teach us a trick or two about balanced tackle and how to use it.

Pons
 
Hi Chris, so does the korum s3 have limitations, ie using 12lb line on a very weedy Hants Avon or would it be ok, it looks a good hook but have heard a few who doubt its reliability / strength, cheers, looking at using a size 8
 
Chris Thomson said:
Hi Chris, so does the korum s3 have limitations, ie using 12lb line on a very weedy Hants Avon or would it be ok, it looks a good hook but have heard a few who doubt its reliability / strength, cheers, looking at using a size 8
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Hi Chris,
I think in that circumstance of 12lb line and weed the S5 may be a better bet,but it does depend what size you are using ,the S3s are still pretty strong hooks and I often use them down the weedy,narrow Ouse for the big girls.

Dunc Charman uses them everywhere,(S3s) including the Loddon,and when I joined him recently there can attest to the fact it is weedy and snaggy.

He also plays his fish hard,often near snags and has had them out to nearly 17lb as well as River Carp to 27lb.
His choice is usually a size 8 ,to a braid hooklink.

Regards,
Pons
 
Chris Ponsford said:
OK ,Colin less of the aggression ,Chris or Pons is fine.

You plainly have a gripe with me and Korum,sorry you have had problems,and sorry I dont share them,several years of guiding folk and no such problems for me or customers ,S3 or S5.

The hooks are designed for the UK marketplace and are very successful be it specialists or match,and provided are used with balanced tackle rarely give problems.

Lee Edwards ,EX Wye Champ and a Prestons sponsored angler caught 316lb of Chub in 5 hrs on a 14 S3 to 4lb Korum line,then came out filming with us catching loads of chub again,then the following day caught a dozen barbel on the feeder to 9lb on 14 again to 4lb korum ,using 50gram feeder and 13 ft 8 inch Dutch Feedermaster.

I think all top match anglers can teach us a trick or two about balanced tackle and how to use it.

Pons
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Pons, I have no gripe with you the reason for using your surname was to save any confusion as there was another Chris involved in this thread.

Korum, yes I do have a gripe, as I have found their products very inconsistent regards quality.

I've taken carp on floaters to upper 20's using a size 12 and 14 S3 hook, then gaped them on 4 - 5lb tench, guess I'm just very unlucky.:rolleyes:
All seems a bit strange having hooks snapping in the middle of the bend not even gaping but under a max pressure of 5lb 14oz, hmm and that's ignoring my sh*t knot tying.:eek:

Guess I might as well go back to using Drennan Carbon Specimen hooks when I want a barbed pattern and Guru when barbless are fine.:rolleyes:

Just out of curiosity if there were no issues regards S3's gaping, then why did Korum try increasing the hook's strength??:confused:
 
June/July time but IMO they went from soft to brittle.

I still find it hard believe a size 14 hook can break with less than 6lb of pressure exerted on it, especially when the marked size is so subjectively understated as if compared to many other hooks it'd be a size 10.

All 'in my opinion' but my opinion is right, ermm, in my opinion....:D
 
Hi Colin,
I personally have not had problems,probably been lucky and all my gear is off the shelf,often later than the shops have had it,except in the case of protype or testing samples.
Personally was not aware of changes made to them,but suspect there might have been the odd dodgy batch that might have caused problems.

Just on the subject,my preferance has always been for the barbless variety,as in the S5 and S3 they seem sharper,and keep the point better.

Pons
 
Personally my main problem with korum hooks has been where the eye has been joins to the shank there's a sharp little nobble which cuts into the hooklength when using the knotless knot. Maybe I just got a faulty batch but where's the quality control? :confused:
 
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had a look at the Gamakatsu g point wide gapes today , they look fine but are quite strong, size 6 looks spot on and very sharp too, anyone use 'em?
 
I lose track of all the Yamahonsukizakikawa hooks that I have and use, but am certain that I have the one you mention, in 12s, 10s and 8s and use for them chub (with the occasional barbel falling successfully foul of bread or cheese).
 
Paul Boote said:
I lose track of all the Yamahonsukizakikawa hooks that I have and use, but am certain that I have the one you mention, in 12s, 10s and 8s and use for them chub (with the occasional barbel falling successfully foul of bread or cheese).
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Wow :eek: Haven't head of those before Paul. Please send detailed instructions where I can obtain several dozen packets in each size :D:D:D

Cheers, Dave.
 
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