What happened? I hear they were awesome.

I believe they were bought out by paycheck baits and turned into bubs punching hook. Not the company of course, but these hooks specifically.

I believe they were bought out by paycheck baits and turned into bubs punching hook. Not the company of course, but these hooks specifically.

 

I'm not 100% clear on all the details but as best I remember this is pretty close to what took place. I'm not a fan of straight shanks for flipping/punching myself but I will say these were the best of all the different hooks I tried.

Paycheck baits punching hook = RI BMF

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paycheck baits punching hook = RI BMF

 

 

 

 

 

 

True.  As is the Gamakatsu Heavy Cover worm and Superline Heavy Cover worm.  The RI came about from modifying a Gamakatsu straight shank worm to begin with.  Aaron Martens is actually the person that "created" the hook.  The Paycheck hook is a Gamakatsu with a different keeper.