Right,a moan about spade end hooks...

[sam vimes]

I think Chris must have forgotton to mention the browning hooks. I can't think of the names of them but no doubt if he sees this Chris will name them for you. He put me on to the micro barbed versions but there may well be barbless in the same, or similar hooks made by browning.

I've just had a quick nosey and they do make the beast spade dend hook in barbless also, there are some on ebay.

The barbless versions of the spade end hooks are a fairly new addition to the range. I've yet to try them. Quite happy with the barbed Sphere Match and Sphere Beast hooks though.

 

[108831]

Never even knew Browning sold hooks and dont have a clue where would sell any anywhere near me,odd really as Browning were based around five minute drive from me in Sundon Park(a suberb of north Luton)and an old adversary and ABC matchman Terry Freeman used to run it....

 

[tigger]

Just click browning sphere hooks into ebay search and you'll see quite a few barbed and barbless. There's 15 in a pack, so half again as in drennans

 

[108831]

I am again having issues with spade end hooks,these days companies only sell down to 20's(the wonders of commercial carp venues),the trouble is a 20 is more like an 18,it really is a pain in the jacksy....

 

[john step]

I am again having issues with spade end hooks,these days companies only sell down to 20's(the wonders of commercial carp venues),the trouble is a 20 is more like an 18,it really is a pain in the jacksy....

I have found the same numerical size of hook can vary even within the same brand. IE Kamasan.
My go to small hooks for maggot etc are Kamasan B520s .
The 18 is smaller than some Maver and Tubertini 18s.
The B520 20 is small.
They go down to a 26
There is however no where I fish that I cannot use a micro barb. It may be Kamasan do a barbless version in needed?

 

[sam vimes]

I am again having issues with spade end hooks,these days companies only sell down to 20's(the wonders of commercial carp venues),the trouble is a 20 is more like an 18,it really is a pain in the jacksy....

Many Drennan (and Kamasan) hooks are still made down to a size 22. Some of the lighter patterns go down to 24s. Whether shops actually stock as small is another matter entirely.

 

[theartist]

Without going too off topic Alan do you think you are getting a little obsessed with those roach there lol A big one is guaranteed to show up eventually, they have a habit of doing that

 

[rayner]

I know exactly what you mean Alan, there's no wonder everyone is carp minded it's very close to the only tackle on the shelves in shops.
Tubertini 1m Opaco are the hooks I use for squat, pinkie and bread punch, they have a longe shank and are fine wire.
Tubertini's are down to 24s in some styles the one I mentioned go down to 24s if they are too light for what you require check their offerings.
The size I use is 19s.

 

[108831]

Without going too off topic Alan do you think you are getting a little obsessed with those roach there lol A big one is guaranteed to show up eventually, they have a habit of doing that

Obsessed me,never......?,but when I fish certain pegs and have them visit me I do like to try for them...However my problem at the moment is i'm running out of my stock of hooks and need to find a replacement pattern I can rely on,everything I try at the moment is poor,I know you like B520's too...

 

[rayner]

Tie an eyed as a spade could be another option.

 

[108831]

I'm too much of a perfectionist for that Gary,my personal belief is that spade end hooks are superior for presentation with small baits,maggot,casters,hemp,tares,wheat etc,but the tackle companies have lost the plot,Drennan carbon chub hooks,the best maggot and caster hooks for quality fish ever made imo were discontinued and replaced by absolute rubbish imv,the Drennan wide gape is a perfectly good hook,with a shit spade,a fraction bigger and they would be fine,poor design work,obviously by people who don't fish with them...

 

[rayner]

Are super spades not available now, they had an oversize spade.

 

[sam vimes]

Drennan wide gape is a perfectly good hook,with a shit spade,a fraction bigger and they would be fine,poor design work,obviously by people who don't fish with them...

Try the Wide Gape Match. I've been using them for several years now. I'm rather prone to using heavier lines than most would. An overly small spade is invariably an issue with heavier lines. However, I've never had a problem with these hooks. The only caveat than might be necessary to mention is that I can't recall using them in less than an 18.

 

[108831]

Yes,they are,Ian uses em,I fiind they are slightly heavy in the wire(awkward cuss aint I),don't particularly want an oversize spade,just one that does what it's supposed to....

 

[108831]

Try the Wide Gape Match. I've been using them for several years now. I'm rather prone to using heavier lines than most would. An overly small spade is invariably an issue with heavier lines. However, I've never had a problem with these hooks. The only caveat than might be necessary to mention is that I can't recall using them in less than an 18.

I really want to use 18's and 20's,with lines up to 0.14mm,but normally 0.12mm,catching decent fish on em without opening up,,do you know I used to use a Mustad crystal bend hook 31381,I used them from 22's to 12's,never had em open up,or had a problem with the spade,if they went on to chemical sharpening with those i'd still be using them today....

 

[silvers]

Alan,

With mention of the wide gape, I presume that you’re talking about barbed hooks now?
The drennan carbon feeder is the Same wire gauge and appears to be same strength as the wide gape (I made the Reverse deduction during a conversation with the same people (you, chris) last year.)
they definitely do a 22 in that ... albeit that the hook shape is an acquired taste For some!

it’s my go to hook for all chub fishing, although I find it a bit heavy for roach unless they’re really having it.

 

[sam vimes]

I really want to use 18's and 20's,with lines up to 0.14mm,but normally 0.12mm,catching decent fish on em without opening up

I've used 18 Wide Gape Match with lines up to 0.17mm without a problem. The only time I've managed to open one up has been when pulling for a break when snagged. I've had carp to 20lb, double figure barbel and tench over 6lb on them. Until the last six months or so, almost all of the fish I've reported in the HDYGO thread have been on Wide Gape Match. The only reason I've started using anything else is because the biggest size is a 14.

do you know I used to use a Mustad crystal bend hook 31381,I used them from 22's to 12's,never had em open up,or had a problem with the spade,if they went on to chemical sharpening with those i'd still be using them today....

I doubt I've used a Mustad hook since the 80s. They just aren't available locally and I don't know the patterns or numbering at all.

 

[theartist]

Obsessed me,never......?,but when I fish certain pegs and have them visit me I do like to try for them...However my problem at the moment is i'm running out of my stock of hooks and need to find a replacement pattern I can rely on,everything I try at the moment is poor,I know you like B520's too...

I'm actually on B510s, I swear by them and the combo with the 0.125mm line(Shimano Silk Shock) I use is a match made in heaven for the way I fish, the only time they open up is on snags and the amount of times I've bent them back and landed big fish afterwards is too much to be lucky. Saves me a fortune when fishing snaggy urban rivers, they don't always bend mind and will lose a few like any other hook but rarely lose any fish on them, took me ages to find a combo that feels just right

I'll go size 18 Super Specialist with 0.145mm for barbel in summer and notice the difference straight away with the lack of finesse, saying that though the roach don't care, they''ll still slip up on that line/hook if it's amongst feed and they are taking mid water. This time of year the B510s do the job so well- when I say this time of year I mean post Xmas - Like I'm getting out on the river before then, as if!

 

[john step]

Have you tried B611s and B911s. Both go down to small sizes.

 

[108831]

The 911's have tiny,flimsy spades that I've had snap off,probably a bad batch,but....