Hook patterns gone for ever?

[Dave Burr]

Crushing barbs works well on Drennan, Kamasan etc. For a long time Partridge hooks where very much in vogue in the game fishing world and I got asked to tie thousands, however the nature of their tempering meant that often when crushing barbs (prevalent with the increase interest in C&R) the barb or worse entire point would often shear off! I've always found the major brand Japanese hooks superb.

I and many others found that too. Those horrible deep cut barbs were poor for hooking fish as you needed a Landrover to pull them home and, they proved to be a weak spot, especially if you crushed them down a bit. There are countless modern hooks that are far, far better than those we used in the 70's. Give me a curved shank any day for that majority of my fishing.

[JAA]

Crushing barbs works well on Drennan, Kamasan etc. For a long time Partridge hooks where very much in vogue in the game fishing world and I got asked to tie thousands, however the nature of their tempering meant that often when crushing barbs (prevalent with the increase interest in C&R) the barb or worse entire point would often shear off! I've always found the major brand Japanese hooks superb.

I used to find the same - on some hooks crushing the barbs broke the hook, but that was worth the hassle back in the day. Now there are pleny of good barbless patterns that are sensible designed and well tempered. That said, there are many hooks that are complete pants even so and I tried 'Korum Xpert Specialist Hooks' and 'Drennan Wide Gape Specialists', both utter rubbish, the points furled over on small crucians.

I've gone back to Kamasan Animals.

[Olly]

Now that is a gook hook! I think I have used them for almost everything, from roach/dace/chub even grayling when trotting to barbel/chub/bream when ledgering/feeder fishing.


I have found over the years hook consistency is not always good! One batch excellent - - the next one rubbish. This has applied to many different makers in 60 years!

I got hold of some Maruta Kinryu, Kuroshio and Owner hooks about 30 years ago. Very dependable hooks from size 5 up to size 14 and very sharp. Just one problem they are all spade ends which limit their use - some of the modern way of tying rigs being rather awkward!

[JAA]

I admit if I find a good hook, I buy a few packs and hope they see me out...

[Coral Maestro]

Crushing barbs works well on Drennan, Kamasan etc. For a long time Partridge hooks where very much in vogue in the game fishing world and I got asked to tie thousands, however the nature of their tempering meant that often when crushing barbs (prevalent with the increase interest in C&R) the barb or worse entire point would often shear off! I've always found the major brand Japanese hooks superb.

I used to find the same - on some hooks crushing the barbs broke the hook, but that was worth the hassle back in the day. Now there are pleny of good barbless patterns that are sensible designed and well tempered. That said, there are many hooks that are complete pants even so and I tried 'Korum Xpert Specialist Hooks' and 'Drennan Wide Gape Specialists', both utter rubbish, the points furled over on small crucians.

I've gone back to Kamasan Animals.

I tried Drennan Wide Gape Specialist hooks for the first time recently. I had one open out on me while playing a carp on the River Vezere, the first time that's happened for a few years. I'm surprised because I've found Drennan to be one of the better hook manufacturers. I'll be sticking with Drennan Barbel hooks in future which I've found to be reliable but a bit heavier in the wire.

[Coral Maestro]

Crushing barbs works well on Drennan, Kamasan etc. For a long time Partridge hooks where very much in vogue in the game fishing world and I got asked to tie thousands, however the nature of their tempering meant that often when crushing barbs (prevalent with the increase interest in C&R) the barb or worse entire point would often shear off! I've always found the major brand Japanese hooks superb.

I and many others found that too. Those horrible deep cut barbs were poor for hooking fish as you needed a Landrover to pull them home and, they proved to be a weak spot, especially if you crushed them down a bit. There are countless modern hooks that are far, far better than those we used in the 70's. Give me a curved shank any day for that majority of my fishing.

Sealey Speedbarbs (remember them?) were the same. Sharp hooks but the barb was cut too deep so they occasionally broke at the barb. It's a shame because I thought the shape made them very secure while playing fish.

[JAA]

Crushing barbs works well on Drennan, Kamasan etc. For a long time Partridge hooks where very much in vogue in the game fishing world and I got asked to tie thousands, however the nature of their tempering meant that often when crushing barbs (prevalent with the increase interest in C&R) the barb or worse entire point would often shear off! I've always found the major brand Japanese hooks superb.

I and many others found that too. Those horrible deep cut barbs were poor for hooking fish as you needed a Landrover to pull them home and, they proved to be a weak spot, especially if you crushed them down a bit. There are countless modern hooks that are far, far better than those we used in the 70's. Give me a curved shank any day for that majority of my fishing.

Sealey Speedbarbs (remember them?) were the same. Sharp hooks but the barb was cut too deep so they occasionally broke at the barb. It's a shame because I thought the shape made them very secure while playing fish.

I don't recall those tbh but they look interesting.

I skipped straight from JH's to ESP G4 Raptors, despite the silly name they seem really good (I still use them). T4's as well. Honourable mention for Mustard Carp-X1s and X4's as well, although I'd prefer them not to be quite so shiny.

Very sorry to see S3's bite the dust a bit back, due to (allegedly) a toys/pram related incident.
In the larger sizes they are still around as Owner Carp-TAFF CT5.

[Banksy]

Bobcotackle have both Banksy

https://www.bobcotackle.co.uk/search.ph ... submitter=

https://www.bobcotackle.co.uk/shop/kama ... k-to-nylon

Just a heads-up for anyone else looking for the B611 (bottom link above).
The blurb says that that they are in stock, and the description refers to barbless hooks.
But if you click on the image of the packet, they are barbed hooks.

I am now he proud owner of three packets of size 14 B611 barbed hooks, which I shall never use.

I'm hoping the seller will exchange them for me, but have a sneaky feeling they are out of stock of barbless.

A final update on this post,
Bobco have apologised for the mix-up, and are sending me three packets of the barbless B611, telling me to keep the barbed hooks I have received.


So if anyone on here likes the B611 BARBED hook in size 14 ...

[Olly]

I too have ESP Raptors T6 in by bag!

[Coral Maestro]

Crushing barbs works well on Drennan, Kamasan etc. For a long time Partridge hooks where very much in vogue in the game fishing world and I got asked to tie thousands, however the nature of their tempering meant that often when crushing barbs (prevalent with the increase interest in C&R) the barb or worse entire point would often shear off! I've always found the major brand Japanese hooks superb.

I and many others found that too. Those horrible deep cut barbs were poor for hooking fish as you needed a Landrover to pull them home and, they proved to be a weak spot, especially if you crushed them down a bit. There are countless modern hooks that are far, far better than those we used in the 70's. Give me a curved shank any day for that majority of my fishing.

Sealey Speedbarbs (remember them?) were the same. Sharp hooks but the barb was cut too deep so they occasionally broke at the barb. It's a shame because I thought the shape made them very secure while playing fish.

I don't recall those tbh but they look interesting.

I skipped straight from JH's to ESP G4 Raptors, despite the silly name they seem really good (I still use them). T4's as well. Honourable mention for Mustard Carp-X1s and X4's as well, although I'd prefer them not to be quite so shiny.

Very sorry to see S3's bite the dust a bit back, due to (allegedly) a toys/pram related incident.
In the larger sizes they are still around as Owner Carp-TAFF CT5.

Nowadays I'm on ESP Cryogen Stiff Riggers for carp and Kamasan B980 and 983 for smaller specimen fish. Drennan Barbel hooks are my choice on the French rivers for Barbel, Chub and Carp. The average French river in my neck of the woods is a snag pit so you need strong hooks.