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Pallatrax Gripz hooks, plus other recs?

S

Steve Lewis

Senior Member
Anyone had any experience with these?

Been tempted in the past, but put off by the price and the fact that they only used to do them down to size 8. Although they're still on the pricier side, I see they're now doing them down to 16. They seem like a good idea and a nice mid-way between barbless and micro-barbed.

The main reason for asking is that the Drennan hooks I always used when I first started fishing (the Specimen and Specialist range) just don't seem to be the same hooks any more - blunt after a few fish (or one snag up in weed/reeds) and the smaller sizes seem to straighten out with relatively little pressure (I had a 14 Super Specialist - which was brand new out of the packet - go beyond re-use after a short tussle with a 2lb perch the other week).

Any other recs for hooks from 10 down to 18 that don't need sharpening every 5 minutes and don't get straightened out by looking at them?
 
I don’t rate the super specialist these days. Fine for light work but not for strength.
Korum hooks I found even worse.
Pallatrax, I have some I think “the one” in 16. Very happy with those. Package is a bit naf but that’s not important really. I like the ESP raptor as well although I believe these aren’t made anymore?
 
Stephen Crowhurst said:
I don’t rate the super specialist these days. Fine for light work but not for strength.
I like the ESP raptor as well although I believe these aren’t made anymore?
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Don't know - I've always skipped past the carp makes (or what I perceived to be the carp makes), although I now realise that's almost certainly wrong given a lot of them seem to do smaller sizes now. Perhaps I should reverse my previous tactic and skip right by the Drennans instead!
 
Gardner Target Specimen (barbless). Not sure of the size range but I only use 10 & 12. Very strong wire, keep their point, never had an issue so I am staying with these. A bit pricey (check Ebay sellers) but you won't be constantly changing them due to turned over points or cursing when a hook straightens.
 
Yep used them, liked the idea of not a barbed hook, had a couple of WA Barbel on them last season...worked fine.
 
Thanks for all the recs - plenty for me to consider.

As a wider and more general point (no pun intended), I'm not being disingenuous when I say hooks (at least the Drennan ones I've mentioned) definitely aren't what they used to be, am I? I certainly never had to consider sharpening them, and they never bent out of shape or straightened with little pressure applied. So what is it? Cheaper metal? Different manufacturing process? Cost cutting? All of the above? (Bear in mind I'm going back 20 years)
 
Super specialist hooks are at the bottom end of the Drennan range and they now reflect that. The specialist barbel goes down to the small sizes and they are definitely more durable and the cost reflects it
 
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I swear by them, strong, Sharp, and do as they say, used them the last 2 yes on the wye with no problemsI've even started using them as my go to carp hook. Don't think you'll be disappointed
 
I've always used drennan super specialist and super spades in the smaller sizes. I stocked up on them years ago so I may have old stock that are very reliable.

I have recently been swerving to pallatrax "the hook" for tench, barbel and carp, really like them.
 
I spose when you think about it the cost of a pack of super specialist hasn’t really increased in 20 years. Material costs have gone up loads though. It would be a sensible assumption that material quality has been reduced to keep the price down and remain competitive.
 
drennan carp method are heavy but are very strong in smaller sizes.

Kamasan b911x also very strong

Korda power also strong
 
Steve Lewis said:
Thanks for all the recs - plenty for me to consider.

As a wider and more general point (no pun intended), I'm not being disingenuous when I say hooks (at least the Drennan ones I've mentioned) definitely aren't what they used to be, am I? I certainly never had to consider sharpening them, and they never bent out of shape or straightened with little pressure applied. So what is it? Cheaper metal? Different manufacturing process? Cost cutting? All of the above? (Bear in mind I'm going back 20 years)
Click to expand...

I was faced with this dilemma last year. Hooks are certainly not what they used to be.
The carp hooks you can discount immediately - not only did the carp companies convince everyone to lose the lead every fish, they convinced the blinkered masses to bun the rig after every fish. And it shows. Although even I have to admit that that is the best sales ploy ever - lose your lead and bin your rig, then buy more from us.

I took a chance on some no-name eBay specials last year for a stupid price. They're Mugga rip-offs. I bought 100 of size 4, 6 and 8 respectively, pretty sure they went a lot smaller too.
300 hooks for less than a tenner if memory serves.
I was expecting the worst. Instead, they outperform Drennan SS Barbel, normal Drennan SS, Sonubaits starpoints, any Korda I've used ( all ) or any carp hook - tried most of them over the years.
The points only turn over on the heaviest snag, never straightened one or had one snap.
I can only liken them to Owner quality, but a fifth of the price. Somehow.

Whether they're still available or not, I have no idea. I wish I'd bought more.

But whatever they are, they beat any branded hook I've used. I only have around 270 left, so I'm ok for approx 9 years ;-)

Just wish I'd bought some smaller ones too, will check my eBay history.
 
I’ve found the Drennan Specimen plus hooks to be very reliable and don’t really use anything else currently. Have had some big fish on the size 12’s and some good fish on the 14’s so very confident with these. The odd one turns over but nothing like the Drennan Barbel hooks did and have never had one open out.

Interested to see any feedback as to how the Gripz in the smaller sizes hold up, also if they’re as ‘shiny’ as other the other Pallatrax hooks were/are?
 
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