Future traditional hooks - stocking up...

[Dave Burr]

One of those Orange packaged hooks, the Guru QM1 is a cracking hook,as is their Kaizen... sadly the QM1 only goes up to a 10 or 12 but it really is sharp and stays in... the downside is I've only seen them pre tied, not loose

https://www.anglingactive.co.uk/guru-qm ... cB#588=599

[Aitch]

Cheers Dave... didn't think they did em loose... muchos grassyarse Sir...

[Barbelbonce]

Odd numbers, that's hardcore piscatorial geekiness Mr Tengisgol! Got me thinking that a 13 or an 11 would definitely fill a niche.

I like Mr T's thinking very much: I use Drennan Barbel Specialist for most of my larger-fish fishing - e.g. size 11 for Tench. Why? - because it is neither a 10 nor a 12. That was my thinking when I first encountered Drennan's odd-numbered sizes and the sole reason for selecting them!
I suppose this may be considered geeky - but not by me. Entirely "normal"!
Mike
p.s. Odd numbers make a helluva difference to one's catch-rate, I've discovered........!

[Olly]

Odd number hooks have been about for years - I have Maruta Kinyru and Kuroshio as well as Owners from the early 90's.
Sizes from 5 (the smallest) 6 - 7 etc - up to 15,(the largest), all spade ends unfortunately. I think that some are now eyed.

[Aitch]

ESP have done em for donkey's years

[NorfolkTinca]

I have found that many of the hooks I favoured years ago were, by today's standard, pretty rubbish. Soft wire, blunt points and easily rusted.

I agree with that. A sharpening stone used to be a standard part of our kit, but not any more.

[Aitch]

I tried some of the Korda ultra sharp ones (kamakura's.?)
Utter rubbish, the least little touch on a stone or left in silt for any length of time and the point either turned over or went blunt... waste of money for bottom baits only really any good on a pop up/wafter, if they were held up off the bottom...

[Dave Burr]

I have found that many of the hooks I favoured years ago were, by today's standard, pretty rubbish. Soft wire, blunt points and easily rusted.

I agree with that. A sharpening stone used to be a standard part of our kit, but not any more.

I've always got a sharpening stone or file with me NT as the Wye can take the edge off your hook in no time. The excellent QM1's will lose their edge but a simple stroke or two can revive them too. I also carry a jewellers eyeglass - but then I do tend to carry a lot of kit I have caught fish on very blunt hooks but carping has taught me that sharp is much better.

[NorfolkTinca]

As a schoolboy, I trawled up a gold-coloured sweetcorn hook. This was quite a rarity back then, and I used it for most of that summer, catching dozens of bream on it. Conversely, and more recently, a brand new out of the packet hook lost me three big tench before I spotted the problem. I changed the hook and the next one stayed on... 7lb. Who knows what I lost?

[BreadFlake]

As a schoolboy, I trawled up a gold-coloured sweetcorn hook. This was quite a rarity back then, and I used it for most of that summer, catching dozens of bream on it. Conversely, and more recently, a brand new out of the packet hook lost me three big tench before I spotted the problem. I changed the hook and the next one stayed on... 7lb. Who knows what I lost?

Drennan do the sort: https://www.matchmansupplies.co.uk/bran ... eyed-hooks