Sickle hooks are so sharp, BUT....

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Originally Posted by Tiger

I use number two sickle hooks and love them. Normally don't lose many fish, unless the fish aren't eating the jig. If that is the case no hook will solve the problem. If you start losing fish, and the ones you do catch are hooked in the lips, you know they just aren't real aggressive.

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Or your color is close enough to get bit but a slight change could make a difference. Black/chartreuse might need to be white/chartreuse or black/pink for instance.

I have been pouring with them since they first came out and won't use anything else. That being said, I have found 2 problems on the Matzuo. On #2 and smaller the point is to close to the shank of the hook ( when using them ) I use pliers to bend the point up just a bit. Also you have to check them on the barb. I have had batches where the barb was so small the minnow would slide right off before you could get it in the water yet when that hook Burt's in the roof of his mouth I loose very few fish. I have since gone to the EagleClaw LilNasty sickle hook and they are even sharper. I'm voting to small a hook for your problem.

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Originally Posted by mb4850

On our annual trip to Grenada I changed all my rigs to sickle hooks and also my brother used them exclusively. We fished for 9 days straight and came to the conclusion that we missed more fish than we ever have after 22 years of fishing. I missed a lot of fish at the net and the ones I landed would fall off the hooks in my kayak. I didn't piece it all together until a few days ago. I had missed some more fish and was trolling along so being an engineer I pulled out one of my hooks and began studying it. I noticed the large curve on the tip of the hook and determined in my mind that as you set the hook the point doesn't sink into the flesh but pulls out. Has anyone else come to this conclusion or is it just me? I would love to hear your opinion.

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Just opposite of my experiences.

I cant remember where I bought the sickle hooks I used for making a batch of hair jigs but only problem I had with them was that the hook was actually breaking.

Sickle hooks work great on your fingers. Gotta be good.

Where was the hook breaking?? where you had it in the vise?? I've reefed down with kevlar thread and never broken one.

There was a bad batch of hooks in size 4's that were either just boxed up or not QA'd. I sent a 1000 back for replacement - Not sure what the hook sellers did with them as they wouldn't take them back you had to deal right with matzuo.

I've got some #6 black chrome sickles and I caught a bunch of bass and trout on it and no problems

#4 size is what was breaking on me, now that you mention it, I'm not certain that it was not breaking where I'd had them in vice, got me thinking now.

some batches I got were very soft and would bend out on larger crappie . don't know much about the big versions folks use though because I typically use number 6 sickles and some number 8

I only use regular bend hooks when the particular jig isn't one of mine or isn't available in a sickle. I have gotten some that had a smaller barb but I have had so much better hook ups with sickles that I use only them. I pour my own and was so impressed with them that when I ordered hooks I bought 7000 in various sizes. No going back for me.

Never had a problem with them and I use #4 or #6. If I used a a bigger hook I would stay hung up all the time. Some lake the fish just have softer mouths and you can't put the in fast.

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