The best barbel hooks?

[cal_sutt]

When fishing for barbel I've tried hooks in sizes ranging from 8 to 14, I've used only a few different kinds, those being Kamasan animal, animal barbed and the specimen micro barbs, as well as middy match meat, corn and maggot hooks. The match hooks were ****, didn't really rate them as my local tackle shop didn't have anything bigger than 14, plus they kept bending outwards. The same happened with the Kamasan specimen micro barbed. The animal barbed hooks were okay too but they never seemed to stay tied on, same with the barbless and I prefer to fish barbed as they give a much better.hookhold. I've got a pack of Kamasan Barbel Maxx hooks that I'm using tomorrow, I'm hoping they'll be good considering they're labelled as barbel hooks... What does everyone else use? What would you say is the best?

 

[binka]

Korda barbless wide gape PTFE coated for me... not sure if the coating makes a difference but a very strong hook especially for pellets on the hair, a bit big for their given size so drop down a size from your desired if buying online.

I've also used their new curved shank hooks too and they've been very good so far.

Drennan Super Specimen are also a good hook in my experience, I did use Korum banded hooks for a long time with some good fish taken on them but now tie my own having had a spate of hooks straightening on me a couple of months ago.

 

[barbelboi]

I use various depending on conditions, etc. but if I could only use one it would be either the Drennan Super Specialist Barbel hook or the Gardiner Covert wide gape talon tip.................

 

[Judas Priest]

Cal you say the animals never seem to stay tied on, if that's the case I'd seriously consider learning some reliable knots as it's NOT the hooks problem.

To answer your question. In my opinion there's not one hook or pattern or make that will cover all aspects of fishing.
I use Raptor T6 for meat in sizes 2 & 4, animals in size 12-14 for corn or bunches of maggots, fine wire for bread fishing, Owners in various sizes and colours, Drennan Specialist for single lobworm, and so on and so forth.

 

[Titus]

I use hook shaped ones, imo there is a lot of poop talked about hooks, so long as the wire gauge is not too fine and the barb is not cut too deep as it always was with hooks before the 70s you should be fine.
I usually buy my hooks from the remnants bin in the tackle shop or failing that I buy Drennan SS's, you won't go wrong with them.

 

[hunters moon]

cal, hooks can be a very hotly debated subject, in time you will find hooks
that you have total confidence in and that at the end of the day is what its all about, as far as yours truly is concerned I use owner hooks for about 80% of my barbell fishing and for the rest-20% I use e. s. p t6 raptor's or drennan
continental boilie hooks, the owner hooks are the 5311 ssw or if I'm fishing next to snag's then it's the ct4.
cal I wish you tight lines.


....I have fished through fishless days that I remember happily without regret.
....Roderick haig-brown.

 

[barbelbuster]

No argument for me Drennan Super Specialist Barbel, teflon coated available from 4 to 14

 

[geoffmaynard]

Whatever make you use, check the point regularly as most barbel fishing is on hard bottom; hooks, esp chemically sharpened ones blunt easily. Most barbel rigs work on a self-hooking principle (by design or accidental) and blunt hooks are probably responsible for a massive amount of blank sessions. imo of course

 

[symonh2000]

I generally use the regular Drennan Super specialists.

Never had a problem with them, hardly ever loose a fish and they are fairly cheap at around £1.30 per pack.

I landed a 11Lb 8oz barbel on a size 14

 

[cattyfatty]

Korum Xpert Power Hooks, Microbarbed or Barbless £1.30 for 10 size 16 to 6. or Korum Xpert Specimen Hooks, Microbarbed or Barbless same price.
solid hooks , well priced, never failed yet on us.

 

[geoffmaynard]

I always use coated hooks whenever possible to mask the taste of the metal.

 

[Titus]

I always use coated hooks whenever possible to mask the taste of the metal.

By the time they can taste it it's too late.

 

[geoffmaynard]

By the time they can taste it it's too late.

Disagree mate. They can probably taste it from several inches away, perhaps further - don't confuse our taste sense with that of a fish. To them it's like a bad smell in the water.

 

[Titus]

That is a very debatable point. They may be aware of a change in the chemistry of the water, they may even be aware of a small change due to electrolysis but whether they can discern that over the food signals given out by the bait is wide open for debate, one could even argue that contrary to it being like a bad taste they could find it attractive and home in on it.
I can remember having a similar conversation with Fred Crouch where I postulated your argument and he took my position; but then Fred was known for being a bit contrary.

 

[symonh2000]

How do you know that the teflon doesn't have a bad taste to fish?

I would argue that fish come across more metal in their daily lives than they do teflon.

 

[geoffmaynard]

How do you know that the teflon doesn't have a bad taste to fish?

I would argue that fish come across more metal in their daily lives than they do teflon.

Empirical evidence (of my own experience) suggests that when floater fishing for carp, the carp are more likely to reject a bait which has an uncoated hook. Teflon might be as you suggest unpalatable too, but to a far less degree than bare metal. Put a coin in your mouth then lick a teflon coated frying pan. The latter has far less 'metallic' tang.

 

[barbelboi]

I’ll take your word Geoff - I didn’t get where I am today by licking coins and frying pans...............

 

[geoffmaynard]

Try Windows Jerry

 

[symonh2000]

Empirical evidence (of my own experience) suggests that when floater fishing for carp, the carp are more likely to reject a bait which has an uncoated hook. Teflon might be as you suggest unpalatable too, but to a far less degree than bare metal. Put a coin in your mouth then lick a teflon coated frying pan. The latter has far less 'metallic' tang.

The thing with floater fishing might not be just down to the taste of the metal.

With floater fishing the fish can see the hook more easily, shiny uncoated metal has to be more visible than the dull finish on a teflon coated one.

 

[Titus]

You cant have it both ways Geoff, one post you are saying:-

don't confuse our taste sense with that of a fish. To them it's like a bad smell in the water.

Then a couple of posts later you are guilty anthropomorphism when you say.

Teflon might be as you suggest unpalatable too, but to a far less degree than bare metal. Put a coin in your mouth then lick a teflon coated frying pan. The latter has far less 'metallic' tang.

Tbh I'm only playing Devils advocate but there are plenty of folks who will disagree with you, I'm thinking in particular of those deluded souls who deliberately remove the coatings on their hooks with an over priced diamond file because they mistakenly believe they can produce a better point on a hook than a manufacturer who is using chemical etching to produce his points.