Which Hook should I buy?

Hello Guys,

I hope everyone is safe and healthy! Well, I bought me a new Jacobsen Pillhead jig, but I haven't poured any jig head yet. I ran out of my #4 and #2 Matzuo hooks, and I'm trying to decide what to buy. I've been looking at various articles and posts about the subject, but I'm still not convinced on what direction to go. From what I gather, the Eagle claw hooks are not very sharp. So I guess the question is "Sickle vs. Aberdeen", and Eagle Claw vs. Mustad", unless you guys know of a different hook maker. Any insight would be helpful.

Thanks,

Barry

Eagle claw is a finer wire and what I have used for years. Eagle Claw lazers were the best but hard to find. Just my 2 centss. Let us know what you come up with.

I have gone through all them since the sickle was introduced. I’m sold on them. The Mustad is what I’m using now. Sharper than eagle claw and since I tip with minnow a lot o like that it has a tiny bit bigger barb. That helps with keeping minnow from sliding off and better hook up’s. There are some good Aberdeen hooks out there but the good ones are quite expensive in my opinion.

I have used the old Sickles for most of my tying the last 15 years, but since they went broke I would go to the Eagle Claw Lil' Nasty I think, but would be open to any hook that shows great sharpness and doesn't dull easy. The old Sickles had issues a few times in their years, but when right they were super sharp and didn't dull! I still have a lot of heads with the old sickle in them so that is what I still use. I do however have some with the Lil' Nasty's in them.

What else I like about the Sickles is the bit or how big the gap between the hook point and the shank, A #6 Sickle gap is same as a Regular bend hook #4 and a #4 Sickle is same as a #2 Regular bend hook! I always thought you loose less fish on a Sickle too!

Skip

Skip

Well, I ended up buying the Mustad 32500's. I found a guy on Ebay that had them by the 1000 count for $49.99 + tax in #2. He only had #4's in 100 count, so I ordered 5 packs of them. That ought to keep me busy for a while. Thanks guys. Sure wish I could find the mother load of Matzuo hooks...….I'll keep my eye out for them.

We all keep our eye out for them,it had some good qualities. I think it goes back to what we get used to using what we have unless its a total washout. Does not happen often but I have a few of those too. Enjoy the hobby and stay safe.

The Eagle Claw Lil Nastys are ok. They're not stick in your nail sharp like the Matzuos were. Haven't gotten my hands on the Mustads yet.

I've tried them all and still have Matzuo's, EC Nasties and regular round bends, Mustad round bends (Old stock) and use them all. As long as they catch fish I don't worry about it.

Having bought 7000 matzuo years back in different sizes, I’m still working my way through them. Have gotten some #8 black chrome sickles and don’t know who made em, but I like em. Guessing I’ll run out and have to go through this myself one day. Good info.

My buddy Sam got me using sickles lately. I am getting use to them. I still like my round bend bronze for winter fishing. I open the bend a bit for top of mouth hook ups ; bending weakens sickle hooks and they will break... I wish I had skeetbums stockpile...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IceNitro

My buddy Sam got me using sickles lately. I am getting use to them. I still like my round bend bronze for winter fishing. I open the bend a bit for top of mouth hook ups ; bending weakens sickle hooks and they will break... I wish I had skeetbums stockpile...

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He needs to put me in his will, just in case he goes before me!:cheers2

Guys, I got the Mustad 32500's in, and I am happy with them. The quality looks good. They are pretty darn sharp, but not as sharp as the Matzuo's. That may be a good thing?? I'll probably pour a bunch of heads tomorrow since I'm off and quarantined.

Barlow's Tackle has Matzuo's in stock.

Matzuo Sickle Jig Hooks Style 9014 Sizes 6 - 2/0 - Barlow'''s Tackle

When it comes to hooks just like everything else everybody has their own opinion.I have tackle- crafted since the 80's
And cannot truthfully tell anybody how many hooks I have bought or presently own.It has to be a seldom used size before I concider buying anything less than a thousand because of the price break.Was and still am fond of Eagle Claw 570 or 575's.Bought Matzuo's sickles when they hit the market several years ago.Used them several years until I eventually realized I did not like their small barbs or their high tensile strength.The small barbs account for lost fish and the high tensile strength does not allow them to bend in a red or chrome black either one.I will continue to use them but they are not my favorite hook.A few years back Eagle Claw came out with the Little Nasty sickle.They do have a slightly better barb than a Matzuo but again a high tensil strength I don't care much for.I have read comments many times about newbies not liking a round bend hook and absolutely having to have a sickle.It's the user's preferance but there are trade offs with none that are"perfect".
All I can say is fishermen have been using round bend hooks a lot longer than sickles.They hook fish just fine.Yes most sickles are real sharp but will not bend at all with their high tensile strength.
SO the question is what is my favorite hook? It's the one in the fishes mouth as I am bringing him in.I use them all with their plusses and minuses.None are perfect.
I left out Mustad's....I use them also .Another good hook.

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Would agree that EC do no seem very sharp. Not a fan of little nasty either. Like black chrome for my own use. We also troll with minnows mostly and like the little larger barb as hook set is not a problem. We need a new jig company that does all we want. Have not tried Mustad but looks like I need to as I use several thousand a year with donations.

Since Black Chrome was mentioned I will add my 2 cents on that part too. The one I sure don't want is the bronze hooks, they rust easier than Black Chrome for sure, but in truth you should never put a wet hook back in your box! Black Chrome is my first choice, but I do also like the Gold hooks too! I do not like the Red as the Red comes off leaving just a Gold hook, lol!

Skip

Hey,
We had some discussion on likes/dislikes of different hooks and looks like now it's hook color preferences.I concidered not voicing my opinion but have since changed my mind.An Eagle Claw 570 is a bronze hook whereas a 570R is the same hook with a red coating added.Sorry Skip it is not gold plated then died a red color.In the past Eagle Claw also offered it in chartreuse or orange but no longer do.The EC that is gold plated gold plated is the 575.
As far as my preferences the 570 bronze is the workhorse,economically priced of the 3.I have used a lot of 570R's but in the last few years color quality control at EC is very lacking in that the consistant bright red hook can be just that or run the gammit of colors including dark red to reddish brown.
If you want to see a 570R without color put it in a glass jar with some acetone overnight.....you will not see any gold plating.Through the years I have let my stock of 575's deplete without restocking as it is my very least favorite of the 3.Recently a friend wanted some maribou trout jigs on #6's so I relinquished and bought some to use for his request.The gold platting makes the 575 a hook that will bend much less.Not a benefit to me.
As far as 570 bronze rusting faster than a sickle there is a simple explaination...The sickle is a much higher tensil strength (harder) hook so of course it will rust less.
Many years ago the Flambeau company came out with a proprietary line of tackle boxes with a rust inhibitor rated for 5 years.It's called Zerust and I can vouch for not a speck of any rusty 570's in any Zerust boxes.
The reason I am disappointed in the high tensil sickles(Eagle Claw,Matzuo,and Mustad) is because of the radical shape of the hook the companies are required to produce the hook with high tensil steel.Why do I dislike that?In a nutshell if you bury a high tensil hook into wood beyond the depth your jig pole can reach you probably will not get it back.The sickle will not bend.Either your line or hook will break instead of bending and coming loose as a 570(or 570R) will.This opinion is not comming from a bade in the woods as I have and still do(with a bit of an attitude)use them.On a road runner moving through the water they will hook the fish but rely on you to maintain line tension or take a good chance on getting off because of the small barb....Believe it or not there was a period of several years where the only hook I would fish was a sickle.I have and still am evolving in my preferences.
I appologize for this being so long-winded.
One more tidbit is if you are shopping for jig storage online concider an outfit called Scheels.They have been the low price leader the last few times I needed more boxes.
Ok I promise this is it-Hook storage for an addicted Tackle-Crafter...There's many options but I use repurposed plastic nut containers.They require a good washing to get rid of the salt from the nuts.Usually a colored lid with clear bottom .One size hook and one type per container.I Tackle-Craft in an outside shed without heating or cooling.In the nut containers they are humidity controlled and sealed.It has worked for me.Only thing is you gotta like eating nuts...

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This is a useless thread now as we have destroyed it, sorry about that.
Last statement, try a Matuzo and some others, the Red comes off to leave a Gold hook. I can't tell you much about Eagle Claw hooks as I don't care for them generally. I will use the lil' Nasty just because it's sharp and a sickle. Other than that, I don't care for any of their hooks that I have used. I was a Gamakatsu guy when I was a bass guy and if they were not so high cost is what I would choose now for jigs. So enough of this hook talk as I really don't care enough to continue.

Skip