16 replies to this topic

[Sam]

When you read your fishing publications, watch fishing TV shows and tune in the Bassmaster Classic each pro is hawking their sponsors' newest tackle.

Take hooks, for instance. The new Tokar hooks are being touted as the best hooks ever invented with a price tag to match.

Hank Parker and Kevin VanDam are saying the new Mustads with the the welded security pin is needed to keep the plastics and hollow bodied swim baits from moving down the shank and these new hooks will increrase your hookup-ratio.

Let's say we want to upgrade our hooks for the newest models out this year. So what do you do with our old faitful Gammys, Owners, Mustads, BPS and others that have been serving us well through the years?

Since I use mostly weedless hooks for plastics in the Virginia tidal rivers and lakes I will always continue to retain these weedless styles.

So what would you do with your old hooks, scents, dyes, other tacle other than placing them in a plastic storage box and putting them on a shelf?

The question can be expanded for line, lures, rods and reels, too.

Just wondering.

Thanks for the feedback.

[slonezp]

I use the stuff. I've already purchased it. If I haven't had any bad experiences with it, why stop using it? That lazer sharp hook is only lazer sharp until it gets its first snag in a stump or rock. Then it's just like the rest.

[tomustang]

I don't replace a hook until it breaks

[grimlin]

I don't stock enough hooks in inventory since i pretty much deplete my inventory by the end of the year. So if I wanted to try a new pack of something I can and if they don't work as well as they claim,I just rebuy my owner's hooks that I 90% of the time use.

Same can be said for everything else.

[smalljaw67]

I don't stock enough hooks in inventory since i pretty much deplete my inventory by the end of the year. So if I wanted to try a new pack of something I can and if they don't work as well as they claim,I just rebuy my owner's hooks that I 90% of the time use.

Same can be said for everything else.

Grimlin is the market they are most trying to hit. We all loose and break a fair amount of tackle throughout a season and so it is the hope of the manufacturers and companies that when you stock up that you at least try their product and this also leads to brand loyalty. For example lets say I needed some 3/0 EWG hooks for fishing 3.5" tubes, well after seeing all the commercials I go buy a few packs of my old standby but I do buy 1 pack of Trokar hooks just to try. Now out on the water I tie on a new hook and begin fishing and all of a sudden I get a bite so I set the hook and bring the fish in and then I see that the hook penetrated really well and at the very moment all the commercials and hype for a product kicks in full in your subconcience, you look at the fish and the way it was hooked and think there just may be something to this new hook and just like that a new customer is on board. The downside is it can lead to the loss of customers too, imagine the above scenario but instead of landing the fish it got off and you realize the hook broke? That is a person who will never buy that product again and in this day an age the angler goes home and instantly hits the forums and tells of his bad experience with the product. The truth is most companies set out to make long time customers but sometimes a bad batch of product will get into someones hands and that is why we see some who lovea product while other hate that same product, it all comes down to what kind of experience we had with the product plus how much hype we already have embedded in our brains.

[WookieeJedi]

I break off enough hooks that obsolescence isn't an issue. When I need 'em, I buy 'em. I buy good hooks, because they are like tires, where the rubber meets the road. I don't necessarily get the newest, most expensive ones. I usually get what the newest, most expensive ones were last year, after the price drop-off. One exception to that is with replacement trebles for hardbaits, I get the best ones, because they will be on the lure a lot longer.

[Alpster]

I think you ALL should send those "old", "obsolete" Gammy hooks and "Rapala" lures and all your "Senko" type baits that are out of style to ME. I will make a "Time Capsul" and bury it in my tackle box.

Ronnie

[Jig Man]

I buy by the 1000 on hooks so I rarely run out. My jigs and plastics I make by the 100 and have lots on hand so I pay little attention to what is out there.

[bigbill]

I purchase what ever is on sale, discounted or clearance by as many as i can afford. I use the eagle claw weedless hooks on my senko / BPS sticko worms(BPS last longer). I have many thousands of hooks in stock. I purchase my reels and rods the sameway un less its something special i want.

I'm happy i stocked up on it all because i don't see any deals like i once could find.

And don't replace that dull hook just sharpen it.

[Mountain Angler]

I dont replace things unless it breaks or Ill bu something new if nothing is working but that is not very often at all

[roadwarrior]

Break a hook? Maybe "ever", but it would have been on a hang-up, NEVER on a fish.
I fish a variety of different hooks and always give the highest quality newcomers a try.
Mustad, Gamakatsu, VMC, Stroker, Trokar, Katsuage, X-Point and Owner all come
to mind.

[00 mod]

Break a hook? Maybe "ever", but it would have been on a hang-up, NEVER on a fish.
I fish a variety of different hooks and always give the highest quality newcomers a try.
Mustad, Gamakatsu, VMC, Stroker, Trokar, Katsuage, X-Point and Owner all come
to mind.

I know you also fish moaner hooks! Maybe you should drink a little more coffee to wake up this morning!

Jeff

[roadwarrior]

Stroker by Moaner Hooks: http://www.moanerhoo...e-stroker-hook/

Matt has also designed a custom JIKA rig for me. I'll share a few with you next time
we get together.

p.s. Note, too, that Moaner Hooks are a custom Mustad, one of our fine sponsors!

[00 mod]

Ahh...maybe I nee more coffee!

Jeff

[SirSnookalot]

Break a hook? Maybe "ever", but it would have been on a hang-up, NEVER on a fish.
I fish a variety of different hooks and always give the highest quality newcomers a try.
Mustad, Gamakatsu, VMC, Stroker, Trokar, Katsuage, X-Point and Owner all come
to mind.

Me too, have yet to break any worm or circle hook bass fishing and I usually buy eagle claw, my treble replacements are mustad 3x and vmc 4x. I use pretty much the same size offshore 4/0 & 5/0 circle and J hooks, only once in my entire life have I had a fish break a hook. Not that I saw the fish, but based on almost being spooled with 32# of max drag batten down all the way, this one not a routine run of the mill fish. The ordinary clinch knot and 30 PP weathered the storm just fine as I reeled a half a hook.