Just recently I picked up a pack of VMC 4/0 EWG worm hooks. They were fairly low priced (2.50 for 9) so I thought I'd try a pack; that was a mistake! Don't let their treble hooks fool you. Their worm hooks suck. One of the dullest out of the box hooks I've ever used. Also some of the eyes were not closed! After losing a good sized fish (2-3lber) near the bank because the hook was to dull for a good hookset. Tomorrow I'm going to go see if I can a refund.  :'( :'(

Thanks for the heads up. I am a big fan of their trebles and I would have bought such hooks based on their rep with their trebles. Sorry for the bad experience. BTW, were they colored hooks? No matter what, colored hooks are always going to be "duller" than their unpainted brethren. The unclosed eye is IMO inexcuseable.

Thanks for the heads up. I am a big fan of their trebles and I would have bought such hooks based on their rep with their trebles. Sorry for the bad experience. BTW, were they colored hooks? No matter what, colored hooks are always going to be "duller" than their unpainted brethren. The unclosed eye is IMO inexcuseable.

No, they were black nickel like I always buy.

I have caught numerous fish this year, trigged weightless beaver craws and Brush Bugs, with those exact same hooks, in black with no issues You just have to set the hook with some power to get it through the plastic, like any other hook.

I have caught numerous fish this year, trigged weightless beaver craws and Brush Bugs, with those exact same hooks, in black with no issues You just have to set the hook with some power to get it through the plastic, like any other hook.

Hmm... Maybe I just got a bad batch? These were so dull they wouldn't even leave a mark on my fingernail.

I prefer the owners, I only use the EWG on thicker plastics now as I like the old school worm hooks better, the VMC's and Owners are the only 2 ewg I use, the Owners are better but the VMC's are not bad.

BTW: you are right about having to close the gap on some of the eyes

thanks for the warning, but I sharpen every hook when I take it out of the package anyway, I flatten the top two sides making a knife edge on the top and to the point that it hangs my thumbnail when I pull it across it, if it slides and most all hooks out of the package do, it isn't sharp.

VMC hooks are very inconsistent, I've never used their worm hooks but I have bought baits that have their trebles such as Rapala crankbaits. I do the thumbnail test and some are very dull wheras I've has some close to Gamakatsu in sharpness., it's been about 50/50.

thanks for the warning, but I sharpen every hook when I take it out of the package anyway, I flatten the top two sides making a knife edge on the top and to the point that it hangs my thumbnail when I pull it across it, if it slides and most all hooks out of the package do, it isn't sharp.

Sounds like you enjoy ruining every hook you buy.  

Dude it's 2.50 for 9 hooks what do expect. I have personally paid alot more for baits that were pieces of u know what. It's part of fishing. The old saying goes u get what u pay for.  8-)

thanks for the warning, but I sharpen every hook when I take it out of the package anyway, I flatten the top two sides making a knife edge on the top and to the point that it hangs my thumbnail when I pull it across it, if it slides and most all hooks out of the package do, it isn't sharp.

Sounds like you enjoy ruining every hook you buy.

I wouldn't go that far. I check my hooks also and if they need sharpening, which inevitably some do, I sharpen them. Better than tying on a dull hook. Even the best quality hooks can have their points dulled during processing, packing, and or shipping. Better safe than sorry.

I don't consider it ruining the hook, I have never had a hook right out of the package as sharp as I can make it with a moon stone, and since I have been doing that I have yet to miss a hook set, and on hard baits the second trebble hook will be hooked in them either in the mouth or their side, so I must be doing something right

I agree....I think VMC's stink.  The triple grip is quite popular, and this surprises me.  Even bargain shoppers can afford Gamakatsu trebles.  My insider tip is to buy the bronze Gamakatsu hooks; they are noticeably sharper/stickier than the red or black nickel gammy's.  This is because the bronze gammy's are not coated like the black nickel or red hooks.  Try the bronze gamakatsu's next time....the bronze makes quite a difference.  

I don't consider it ruining the hook, I have never had a hook right out of the package as sharp as I can make it with a moon stone...

Well, today's high quality hooks are chemically sharpened.

Using a file or stone may destroy the physical integrity of

the hook point. Gamakatsu, X-Point and Owner are incredibly

sharp right out of the package and do NOT need any

modification.

8-)

I don't consider it ruining the hook, I have never had a hook right out of the package as sharp as I can make it with a moon stone...

Well, today's high quality hooks are chemically sharpened.

Using a file or stone may destroy the physical integrity of

the hook point. Gamakatsu, X-Point and Owner are incredibly

sharp right out of the package and do NOT need any

modification.

8-)

I have to respectfully disagree on this one. Although you are probably 95% correct, you still get dull hooks from time to time.

I just bought a pack of X-Points and 2 out of the 5 were dull. I sharpened them and they were as good or better than new. I have had similar minor problems with all hook manufacturers. I just sharpen them without a second thought. Not a knock on any manufacturer, just a fact. Always check before tying on.

I cannot comment on the integrity, but I would rather be sure the hook I tie on is sharp, rather than take a chance tying on a dull one.

I'm form the old school days where you had to sharpen every hook.

Even with the strictest Quality Control, you cannot control what happens to the product when it leaves your hand. I work in Manufacturing and cannot tell you how many items have been rejected by the customer (Aerospace and Military) due to damage resulting from improper handling by the carrier. Better safe than sorry type of thing for me.

Exactly how would you sharpen an Owner Cutting Point?

I scratch em along my butt, kills 2 birds with one stone

Course hair hones hooks

Relieves those personal itches  

This kind of post always bothers me, does it ever occur to you to check the sharpness of your hooks before fishing?

In the words of John Wooden  " When opportunity knocks its to late to prepare"

Exactly how would you sharpen an Owner Cutting Point?

IMO these are the best as far as out of package sharpness. But I have done a few. I use a Medium India diemakers stone. As you can see, there is not much to work with due to their innovative design, but it can and has been done.

They are like todays rotors on cars. One fix and thats about it.

Okay...

Long time respected member...but in this case,

I think you are wrong.

-Kent

Tha'ts why I have found this is by far the best forum out there. You exchange thought and ideas and come to your own conclusions.

Remember, Owners are a different breed. I'm talking about dull points, not rolled over or broken off tips.

If you want I'll show you at Pickwick.

There's no way you are getting them sharper than out of the package.  For used hooks that go dull, I just toss them, and get a new hook.  Money's tight, but not that tight.

For me if I am using a cheap hook that is most likely dull, it just means to me pull harder. Nothin like seeing your eagle claw hook straight through the top of the fishes head.

It's funny, the only thread of mine to reach two pages; and it's an argument...  ;D

I'm use to sharpening my kitchen knives so why not hooks. those that know how effortless a well sharpened edge performs will understand this. 8-)

anyways..... for whatever reason I found my recent pack of Gammy's quite dull.

so decided to sharpen em, only took 20 sec or so but a hugedifference

can't wait to test em out