Now that the VMC redline hooks have been out for a couple years is anyone using them a lot? Have they turned into your default hook that you pick up over an Owner or Gami? They’re stupid expensive but it it worth it for you? 

They're not bad but they are not my first choice. Ryugi Infini has become my go to for an EWG. I still have a bunch of Gami's that will get used eventually. I also still use several specific hooks from Owner. The Ryugi's are cheaper when I order them from Japan, around $2.50 a pack and to me it's a better hook. 

I use them.  I use the standard VMC hooks a lot too though.

I have gone to BKK. I still have some Redline weedless wacky hooks I will use eventually.

I like them but they are still a bit expensive for me. Generally speaking I prefer owner or gamakatsu almost all of the time. If I happen to see these on sale though I probably wouldn't turn them down.

I use their light wire finesse neko/dropshot hook.  It's one of the few available in a 6.  The fused eye is incredibly nice for drop shots because if my hook gets screwed up fighting a fish it's way more likely that I can get it straightened out.

24 minutes ago, Big Swimbait said:

I have gone to BKK. I still have some Redline weedless wacky hooks I will use eventually.

I got some for free with an Omnia order. The EWGs I got were 3/0 so I haven’t used them much (4/0 is the size I use 90% of the time) But the flipping hooks seem very nice. I’ll have to put in more time with them. 

The gamakatsu is still my standard for an EWG, offset round, and flipping hook.  They are my treble hook choice as well. I picked up some redline weedless wacky/neko hooks and they are very nice.  I just added some gamakatsu neko hooks (not weedless) to my last order and they are 1/6 the price.  I’ll deal with them being not weedless I think and break them off when I get snagged at that price.  

3 hours ago, FishTank said:

They're not bad but they are not my first choice. Ryugi Infini has become my go to for an EWG. I still have a bunch of Gami's that will get used eventually. I also still use several specific hooks from Owner. The Ryugi's are cheaper when I order them from Japan, around $2.50 a pack and to me it's a better hook. 

Is that Infini hook almost like a g-finesse hybrid? 

13 minutes ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

Is that Infini hook almost like a g-finesse hybrid? 

They are slightly similar.  The Infini is a fuzz shorter in length but wider. The point on the Infini has a little different angle. Both are coated and sharp. I like the G Finesse hybrid for regular and thinner worms and the Infini for Senkos and for creature baits like the Dolive Beaver. 

 

Big difference is the cost $5 for 4 or $2.50 from Japan for 6.

 

1 minute ago, FishTank said:

They are slightly similar.  The Infini is a fuzz shorter in length but wider. The point on the Infini has a little different angle. Both are coated and sharp. I like the G Finesse hybrid for regular and thinner worms and the Infini for Senkos and for creature baits like the Dolive Beaver. 

 

Thanks!

P.S how strong isthe wire on the Infini compared to the hybrid? From what I can see they look about the same but I’m not quite sure. 

8 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

P.S how strong isthe wire on the Infini compared to the hybrid? From what I can see they look about the same but I’m not quite sure. 

It has a slightly heavier wire. The hybrid has a little more flex to it but not much. I haven't bent either one of them out.

IMO all the reputable brands hooks have good to great penetration and materials nowadays, so the primary way to choose hooks is shape and design. In that respect I have never like VMC hook shapes and designs, any I've bought end up collecting dust cause they are just off. While the redlines look to have some shapes that are actually good(with others that are usual VMC), looking at the price of these hooks I see no reason to get them over others, especially when you can get hooks with excellent design for half the price or less. 

 

In regards to the Infini, its an excellent hook(probably my most used hook overall) but be aware that it has an enormous gap and the point is not angled slightly inward like most EWGs, so if you like to use narrower plastics it is basically impossible to line up the bait correctly. But paired with thicker baits its designed to be used with, its the best EWG there is, it will hook your fish almost no matter what. I've gotten some of the weirdest hook placements since starting to use this hook because it just hooks them even if you screw up the hookset technique or timing badly.

I’ve been really liking owner twistlocks. I haven’t tried their flipping hooks yet though. I’ve got a bunch of Mustad grip pins that I’m still working through. 

I tried their redline straight shank flipping hooks and wasn’t impressed at all. Bend one out right away setting the hook. I haven’t found a better flipper than Trokars. 

I had some weedless Neko Redlines I bought from Academy on clearence that I hadn't used, but I let my son used one Saturday for his wacky rig in a little kayak tournament. All 3 fish he caught with it were barely hooked, and he lost a few more. I chalked it up to him being an inexperienced, 11 year old using them. Then I tried one this morning on a wacky rig also. I had 3 bites, got 3 solid hooksets, and all 3 came off. Don't think I'll be using them anymore.