The idea is that even if the fish engulfs the hook the point doesn?t pierce the fish till it turns or you strike, catching the fish in the scissors or front lip and most fish seem to hook them selves, I have used them on the beach and managed to get more fish out with them and up to now they've been cleanly hooked in the scissors, I have noticed that there making trout flies with them, how the purist game lads will take to them is debatable because it takes away the skill of knowing exactly the right time to lift into the fish.