Ive been using Korda and Nash hooks for years and most recently the kamakura’s. After the weekend where my pal introduced me to the ESP trigger hammers which seemed incredibly sharp, i want to explore other options.

My main choice of pattern when fishing on the deck has been a wide gape with a beaked point, but I’m open to trying other patterns from other brands. Zig fishing I use Nash claws.

What do you use and why? Standard or extra strength wire gauges?

In reply to Post #1
I’m a huge fan of the poleposition hooks.
Strong hook with a thick gauge and sharp enough straight of of the package.

Continental muggas for all my fishing and I've used these for the last 5 years.

I’ve dabbled with various pre-sharpened hooks such as the Jason Hayward ones. Every time I’ve gone back to Kamakuras. Why? They are so widely available that I needn’t worry about ordering them online in advance. They’ll be in pretty much any shop up and down the country. They’re fragile but I’ve become accustomed to that and am accordingly careful and particular. As for patterns, the most common Korda patterns are covered so there’s something for most rigs. My preferred pattern are Choddys in size 6 at the moment for fluorocarbon / stiff rigs, specifically Chods and D Rigs.

In reply to Post #1
If you're happy with the hooks you've been using and it's sharpness that's of interest, why not learn to sharpen the ones you like?

I agree re ESP hooks being sharp but at the same time I had issues with more than 3/4 out of the packet being burred and needing touch up before being used. I contacted the shop I bought them from and they found the same in the 2 packs they checked off the shelf.

EDIT, I only tend to use 3 patterns,

curve hook, Korda Krank, are sharp and stay sharp for multiple captures, normal gauge as don't fish snags

long shank, at present Ace Razor as I bought in bulk and have lots, probably look at the Korda when I run out

floater, presently experimenting after running out of Fox Series S1. ESP, binned off, burred in packs, last year been trying Nash Claw and Korda Mixer, been impressed by both, but the Mixa though a lighter gauge hook is more like my S1's which I like.

The wide gape claw from Nash is the best wide gape I've ever used, really strong and stays sharp longer than the esp's which are terrible and Kamakura.

I use two hooks - Gardner Muggas and Fox Stiff Rig (beaked). That’s it.

I swore by Mugga hooks for years but last year had a few hook pulls and tried Korda Kranks and loved them. I now use the Krank X for most of my fishing needs and not let me down.

In reply to Post #3
Also Conti Muggas for over a decade (prefer a straight point for lakes) in sizes 8-2 depending on the situation . . .never let me down and easy to sharpen / hone as required. Only other hooks I use are the Korda floater hooks and Krank X for barbel

Tbh most hooks these days seem V sharp, to me anyrate.
I've tried and used an awful lot over the years, Angling iron are V good, but I've been using korda spinners for a while now with pop ups, I find the the points are turned over on nearly every fish though, not that it bothers me, they are V sharp.
Bottom baits, I use the angling iron wide gape or esp claw.

In reply to Post #1
Esp chod hammers size 6 are the ones for hinges. Think ive lost 2 fish in 5 years on them. They aren't as sharp in the bigger sizes but they are a thicker gauge.

Carpers essentials elite hooks, vanadium steel so very tough, very sharp out of the packet and don’t turn over easily as vanadium steel is very hard.
Quite a few patterns to choose from and very competitively priced, I’ve been using them for several years now.

Korum Xpert Specimen size 6, caught loads over the years on these, sharpen just fine and pretty strong. Was £1.55 a packet now up to £2, outrageous!
For extra strength it's Atomic Gunsmoke Sabre's size 6.

Esp trigg hammers are excellent as are the slammer..
I also use avid choddies for bottom bait fishing with stiff materials, most avid stuff is junk but those choddies are very sharp and very strong.
I've also been a big fan of fox ssc over the years.

In reply to Post #5
Quote: long shank, at present Ace Razor as I bought in bulk and have lots, probably look at the Korda when I run out

I’d swerve the Korda long shanks tbh, the gape is quite narrow. When the old ESP long shanks disappeared, I went onto ACE Razorpoint LS and since I ran out of those, moved onto the Angling Iron ones. I’ve used the Bank Tackle Specialist long shanks too and they are also excellent (not the classic range). I strongly believe that all the above hooks I’ve mentioned are in fact identical and am really happy using any of them, so tend to use the Bank ones now as forever ordering rig bits from them anyway 😁

My favourite hooks are: Atomic Sabre in a 4 or 2 for bottom baits and wafters on a Combi-Multi, or Bank Tackle Specialist wide gapes in a 4 or 2 if it’s more gravelly/stoney.
If I want to use a snowman, tend to use Angling Iron or Bank Tackle specialist long shanks in a 4, as per my previous post.

In reply to Post #15
Thanks for the feedback mate, interesting 🤔I'm sure someone else said the Bank Tackle ones are good too, food for thought when I run out, which may be a while!

For hand sharpened- ib hooks are brilliant and decent value if you buy the packs of 25

In reply to Post #17
I bet you’re one of those that fills their trolly with big roll.

In reply to Post #19
😂 Do you know what mate, I'm the worst for procrastinating over something and then it's gone, the Mrs is always ribbing me for it 🙁
Sometimes I annoy her so much she says just bloody get it, you know you'll regret it, those hooks being a example...and now I use mainly Kranks 😀

Muggas hand sharpened by Jason Haywood

I won’t use anything else these days

In reply to Post #5
Ive got a jag hook sharpening kit and I do occasionally sharpen hooks when I don’t use kamakura’s with a stroke of Elliot Grays Z2 and then a dab of kamacote. Double up on the rust protection.

So it’s not about sharpening hooks, more about if I’m missing out on other brands to try.

Noted re: ESP burred hooks. Interesting feedback to be aware of 👍

I thought I would give the Bank Tackle hand sharpened hooks a try and I'm glad I did, nicely sharpened but not stupidly so with too much material removed, in fact I thought they were comparable to JH hooks in that respect. I'm a long time user of Trig hammers both regular and the XT version.

In reply to Post #23
Quote: Bank Tackle hand sharpened hooks

The look remarkably like the old J Precision jobbies, before they released the Advanced range. Wonder if they've done a deal with JP?

In reply to Post #24
Quote: The look remarkably like the old J Precision jobbies, before they released the Advanced range. Wonder if they've done a deal with JP?

Quite possibly as they sell some with the blobs on.

I've never had any issues with esp hooks from the packet. There chod hammers are probably my favourite stiff rig/chod hook although I also use the old Ace Razor stiff rig hooks as I too bulk bought when they went bust.
For bottom baits I think the korda straight point hooks are as near perfect as you can get, I use them with a esp kicker. If anyone from esp are reading this topic, make the shank on your Slammer hooks 2 to 3mm longer, they would also be perfect then.