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Hooks. Help.

Gwyn Jeffs

No Longer a Member
I need a new hook.
Drennan Super Specialist barbel have proved unreliable in the larger sizes, and I dislike the downturned eye.
Starbaits SB1 have points more delicate than a nuns......
Fox S4 Kuro XS have been discontinued.
Korda...well, they're a joke.
Gardner Mugga...maybe. But I dislike the eye of a hook being at the same level as the point.
ESP carp hooks have nothing that appeals.
I've seen a few posts here recommending Korum hooks, anyone care to elaborate?

I am in purgatory at the moment, totally adrift looking for my next favourite.
I don't mind using and paying for carp hooks, but the Wye and the Wye barbel make a mockery of anything substandard.

I need an XS - if you don't fish the Wye you won't understand the power of the fish and conditions - and an XS is preferable even in low water.
 
I don't have any problems with the korum hooks and basically my only barbel fishing is done on the Severn and Wye.

One things for sure...there'll be plenty of suggestions to try out:)
 
What exactly is going wrong? Straightening out? Agreed on the Korda hooks though, stopped using them myself after the point came back folded over after each cast and was destroyed by catching a fish.
 
Type in Teflon coated Matt black wide gape classic boilie carp fishing hooks. On eBay. I have been using the size 8s for years. They are bomb proof. @ £6.49 for 100 you can't go wrong.
 
Nash fang unis are fantastic hooks, strong as anything but a bit pricey. May just have to give Jon's ones a go at that price !

Nick C
 
Hi Gwyn
I had the similar issues with the ssb. I changed to the specimen plus books by drennan. Straight eye, curved point and a good gauge. I use them down to a 14. Well worth a try imo.
 
I'll 2nd John's hooks off of eBay. I bought 200 for the limited amount of carping I do.....reckon they'll see me out.

I would say they're ultimately strong suited to bigger baits and strong gear. But when I'm fishing the wye and Severn I'm not fishing that way.
 
Also have some of the new cryogen hooks no problems with them either!

Told you you'd have plenty of options!
 
Hi Gwyn
I had the similar issues with the ssb. I changed to the specimen plus books by drennan. Straight eye, curved point and a good gauge. I use them down to a 14. Well worth a try imo.



+1 for the Drennan Specimen Plus. I too have used them down to size 14
 
I made the switch from Drennan SS over to Kamasan Barbel Maxx a few years back and have been very happy, never having one fail and I fish some extremely rocky areas of the tidal Trent.
 
For the wye, definitely drennan continental, beaked point stops the rocks blunting the point, second choice for me are, pallatrax, the hook. Both super strong hooks
 
I tried the Korum Xperts but found the points turn over fairly easily so I tried the Drennan Specialist Barbel but had one straighten so they went in the bin.

Now I use Gardner Target Specimen barbless and find them bomb proof in fact I am using the same hook I started the season with! They do have a shallow angle (5 deg.) down turned the eye though (which I don't mind).

I use a size 10 and have had barbel to 16.04 on them.

They are not cheap but for such a vital piece of terminal tackle I am happy spending a little more, shopping around on ebay brings the price down though.
 
Just got some nash fang uni hooks in size 8 as i was looking for a similar hook to the fox arma point hooks I was using before. They are very sharp with a beaked point and straight eye. I still use esp raptor t6 hooks and i use them mostly for meat rigs now in size 6 (nice wide gape)
 
Type in Teflon coated Matt black wide gape classic boilie carp fishing hooks. On eBay. I have been using the size 8s for years. They are bomb proof. @ £6.49 for 100 you can't go wrong.

Thanks for that Jon,they look like an ideal barbel hook,wide gape,beaked point,short shank and micro barbed.Just ordered 10 in a size 10 for a bargain £1.89 delivered.If I don't get on with them I haven't lost much.

I wonder if they're made in the same Japanese factory as some of the much more expensive branded hooks?
 
So many out there, but I've settled on cryogen grippers, Good shout from Jon Frisby that I will try at that price.
 
Have used the Drennan specimen plus hooks for mullet fishing over 20+years and they produce more hook ups than any other make/type of hook that i ever dabbled with.A very good strong hook at a good price!
 
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