Three strikes...I'm out.

[bassmaster]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

maybe it's just the breaks... using braid, drag not set too tight... maybe smart fish.

you never said magnums so i thought the regular long a

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by bassmaster

you never said magnums so i thought the regular long a

Yeah, your right. I am going to change out all my magnums to 3/0 VMC's and my darters to 4/0 VMC's they currently have 3/0 Mustads and I've been missing allot of fish.

[Pete_G]

Speaking of hooks, there's sharp, and then there's "sticky" sharp.

For example, if you don't sharpen VMC's when they come out of the box, many times they aren't sharp. Certainly the same goes for Mustads.

Get a good hook hone and keep it handy. I have one I keep on me when I'm on the water and one that stays near my plugs at home. Bigger fish have really tough mouths.

Owners and most Gamas come out perfectly sharp, but it's tough to put a point back on them after something happens to them.

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Speaking of hooks, there's sharp, and then there's "sticky" sharp.

How do you tell a hook is "stickey sharp" I try to hang it on my finger nail. Is that sharp enough?

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

How do you tell a hook is "stickey sharp" I try to hang it on my finger nail. Is that sharp enough?

Digging into your fingernail is good, or if it instantly grabs skin when you lightly pull it across your palm. You can sometimes tell a point isn't sharp by running your finger with the hook point. You can literally feel that the point is rounded or has a bump on it that should be filed down. Some VMC's come out of the box with a point that is literally rounded over and pointing 90 degrees from where it should be.

I don't have time right now but I'll try and find a good "how to sharpen hooks" link if I get a chance. There's definitely a right way and a wrong way.

[JFigliuolo]

http://www.luhrjensen.com/techreport...Sharpening.pdf

[steelhead]

Sticky sharp is good. I began changing out all my plug's hooks to 4X VMC's three weeks ago after having three plugs with straightend hooks come reeling in in an hour and a half! Had been using 3x... Definately go to the 3x split rings. Don't ask.... :-( Then there's always those dang knots!!!! Big Bass change your perspective on your equipment pretty quickly! It's such a helpless feeling to feel one get down in the rubble and rub/torque you off!

[LeCounts1099]

Once again Pete G. is right on Point-- (pun intended!)-- sharp is all relative... and a very temporary stage for any hook anyway! It's all about field touch- ups, frequently!! (Only if you're serious about sticking big Bass!) A simple small- sized file (my pref.) sits front & center in my wader inside pouch at all times, at easy reach in any conditions! You'd be surprised at what even a schoolie or two will do to a "perfect" hook point! I ALWAYS check-- after every fish or three if lazy, depending!

But really: if you want sharp & strong plug hooks (& what Cow- Hunter doesn't??) ... Forget Mustads, & 99% of factory plug hooks! (& split rings!) Don't like to make France any more $ myself... but VMC (esp. 6X, 4X otherwise) is the way to go!! (unless you can afford/ justify the superb-- but $1.50 per!!-- Gama or Owner 4X Trebles!). I've done the field- testing ahead of most (2+ yrs. now), & trust me: Mustads are less sharp (no matter what is done to them), lose their edge/ point quicker, and are WAY weaker & more inconsistent, than are VMC 4X and 6X! Had bent & open trebles on plugs of all sizes frequently when a Mustad guy... not one yet w/ VMC! (couple of slight/ partail bends at most-- no failures!)

Don't check & sharpen plug hooks after every fish or two? Then simply don't lament lost cow hook- ups or losses! They're tough enough to stick using plugs/ trebles, to begin with! (Much different chore, than with an Eel & a single Gama.!)