Hi team,

 

I needed a lightly weighted hook with a twist lock for toads because the owners I'd been using were either unweighted or too heavily weighted.  I happened to be in the local store and saw them, so grabbed a pack without really looking closely.  They are really long for a given size.  A 5/0 is too long to put into a toad as the bend is behind the legs.  Even if it did work, the gap is not an EWG 5/0 so there isn't much hook beyond the rubber.  I've looked at my keitechs and its similar.  Either the hook bend is in the thin tail of the plastic or the gap isn't enough for the plastic.  I guess a 6" sluggo would work or maybe a 7" worm if you wanted to swim it.  Anyone else use them and have a good use for them?

 

spark-shad or Mag draft shad?

I recently bought them for toads, but haven’t used them yet. Their length is longer, the 4/0 looks to be the best size. The gap is not optimal, but a lot better than the Owners. I looked at the Gamakatsus and their gap is better, but you can go lighter with the VMC. I hope they’ll be the happy medium.

1 hour ago, 5/0 said:

I recently bought them for toads, but haven’t used them yet. Their length is longer, the 4/0 looks to be the best size. The gap is not optimal, but a lot better than the Owners. I looked at the Gamakatsus and their gap is better, but you can go lighter with the VMC. I hope they’ll be the happy medium.

i like the owners in a 5/0 screw lock for toads because the extra ewg gap, but I didn’t have one in a eighth ounce.

 

i don’t think a 4/0 Vmc will have enough gap for a toad. The 5/0 have maybe a quarter inch clearance which isn’t enough for me. 

I like 3/0 and 4/0 3/32nd oz. VMC Drop Dead Hooks with Yum Dingers - gives them a little added weight on the fall ... I just cast out and let the 5" and 6" Yum Dingers fall to the bottom , lift and reel a few feet and let it fall back to the bottom and sit for 20 seconds ... Reel back in and repeat .

I've been considering the VMC drop dead hook and I appreciate this review.

Think I'll pass and find something else.

I use this VMC weighted hook now. Works great on flukes. And the screw lock tends to hold lure longer than anything else I have found.

 

The only issue I have had, and its not just with these hooks, but I use straight braid and sometimes it can get caught in the gap. So before I use them I put all the hooks on the workbench and close up the gap with a little bit of epoxy. Sure makes things easier and less trouble on the water later on.

 

I also bend the screw lock tighter on the hook eye. I might try some epoxy on that as well next time because if the lure is not all the way on, sometimes the line can get tangled with the screw lock and costs me time on the water I could be catching fish.