Cutting closed eye hooks...why?

[Fish On]

I agree with Sandman. I'm no expert on cut hooks, but I would always prefer a strong split ring. The chain is only as strong is it's weakest link. Buy the best line and change it often, same for leader material, invest in the best swivels and strongest hooks, etc. There is nothing more disappointing than loosing a big fish to failed equipment. I stopped using the non-through wired yozuri's for this reason. Rear hooks kept pulling out. Granted, one could argue that skilled fisherman should be able to land the fish with minimum stress on the gear. I guess I feel like I need every advantage I can get. When I lose a fish to anything but a spit hook I tend to be pretty hard on myself. I also won't hesitate to give myself a kick in the butt if I let him spit the hook. I remember being somewhat of a newbie in the boat at squibby one year and in my excitement in rough water I tightened the drag to move a fish that wouldn't budge. Lost the fish when the hook staightened. I learned a valuable lesson that day and won't make that decision again unless it's do or die like getting spooled or something. Great debate!

[steve]

Cut vmc's are the way to go. If you cut carefully, they won't fail you. Split rings sometimes will.

[Canalman]

I know what all you guys are saying--cause I said the same things, but try it and you will see that they last a lot longer.

[seadogg]

i have to say i can't stand the crummy mustads used on gibbs and some other plugs. i've had the eyes break on me while fighting fish and while dehooking them. I prefer the VMC's, myself. But seriously, what the hell are you guys cutting them with?? maybe i'll give it a try.

[eskimo]

you can cut them with manley pliers, small bolt cutters, end cutters. I use both but out of preference I like the cut VMC's.

[Mr. Sandman]

Braid line and graphite rods and reels with drags that can put mind boggling pressure have put a lot more stress in the system then the old glass rods with mono and reels with fairly lame drags in comparison. We finally got better hooks that hold up and the split rings failed. Now they make hd and triple rings, and non thru wired plugs broke, we buy/make thru wire plugs and the snaps break, they improved snaps and ...what's the next thing?

It seems we are trying to have no weak links in our gear, and then we "cut" the hook eye to fit a plug...seems like we are introducing a weak link. From an engineering standpoint, once you cut that hook, you have weakened the hoop-strength of the eye, integrity of the structure, and caused local deformation and now you can never be sure when it will break. Will it hold? probably...but the old mustad will probably hold as well. I bet there is a reason why VMC does not sell open eye trebles....I wonder if you asked the manufacture is it OK for fishermen to cut their hook and will they guarantee that it will not break. You know you could "cut" one of the main bridge elements as well and it will probably stay up for a while too but I wouldn't want to drive over it in a heavy vehicle.

[JFigliuolo]

Habs contacted VMC about cutting hooks. They did not recomend it... That being said... I cut them when I feel I need to and don't worry about it. The hook will need to be replaced well before any metal fatigue makes it fail. At least in my experience.