Straightening hooks!

biggun · #1 12-28-2007, 03:46 PM

I am new to Pike fishing but have done plenty off lure fishing for Perch and was not too Sure if my chain was being pulled or not when my mate told me this.
He says I should straighten out the hooks on my new lures and then bend them back again to weaken them slightly!
The theory is that when fishing with heavy braid, if you hook the bottom or any other snag you should be able to straighten out the hook and not loose your expensive lure but it will still take a extraordinary fish to straighten them.

Has anyone else done this or been told this?

It makes sense to me but I'm still not too sure!

Fishing Forum Admin · #2 12-28-2007, 04:08 PM

Never done that myself

fishypaul · #3 12-28-2007, 05:10 PM

i have heard of this,but in my book the one thing that i need to be 100% strong and reliable is the hook,

Noel · #4 12-29-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishypaul

i have heard of this,but in my book the one thing that i need to be 100% strong and reliable is the hook,

Absolutely. Couldn't agree more.

I've never heard of anyone doing this. Sounds crazy to me. Worry about hooking and holding fish, not snags.

If anyone is that worried about losing lures then don't lure fish!

Greenheart · #5 12-29-2007, 01:42 PM

I wonder if anyone markets split rings with a specific breaking strain. Then you could use ones that give out before your line breaks & still not lose your lure. Definately would'nt reccomend weakening hooks as you would really curse if you lose the fish of a lifetime..... Anyone know if anyone makes split rings with a set breaking strain?

Muzzer · #6 12-29-2007, 04:00 PM

Try here http://www.river2sea.com.au/categories.asp?cID=387 It is an Australian site, but it shows they exist.

biggun · #7 12-29-2007, 04:54 PM

The point my mate was trying to make to me was that the hook would still take about 50lb to straighten and would give out before his 60lb line.
How many fresh water fish over here can pull back with 50lb force?

It is a good point about the split ring Ian but would seem the same theory to me!

Greenheart · #8 12-29-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggun

The point my mate was trying to make to me was that the hook would still take about 50lb to straighten and would give out before his 60lb line.
How many fresh water fish over here can pull back with 50lb force?

It is a good point about the split ring Ian but would seem the same theory to me!

I mean the split rings that attach the hooks to the lure. If they were rated at about 5-10lb below the line strength it would be a much more exact science than trying to guess when a damaged hook would break. Having lost a rapala, three wire traces & a couple of shads last weekend I know how expensive it can be....

Certhia · #9 12-29-2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenheart

I mean the split rings that attach the hooks to the lure. If they were rated at about 5-10lb below the line strength it would be a much more exact science than trying to guess when a damaged hook would break.

ERRR, I seem to have lost my identity - I THOUGHT I had logged in as Vagabond, but my better half seems to have taken over the forum

Never mind, we both fished the same way - so will speak for both of us.

When fishing for mahseer in India earlier this year, we were advised by an experienced mahseer fisherman to replace all split rings on our shads (that's the big ones with the extra treble) with STRONGER rings, as he had lost a couple of big fish through his split rings undergoing elongation, followed by a thorough and permanent split......we followed his advice, but unfortunately didn't contact any of the giants to test the theory - 16 lb was the best we could do.

When fishing for pike, if you use 80 lb Proplus braid, lures are rarely lost, as most snags will break off - or in the case of sunken trees, the hooks will straighten out. Really strong braid will give you confidence to chuck lures near snags. We have been fishing in mangrove swamps recently for barramundi, and its definitely a case of "Who dares, wins"

biggun · #10 12-29-2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenheart

I mean the split rings that attach the hooks to the lure. If they were rated at about 5-10lb below the line strength it would be a much more exact science than trying to guess when a damaged hook would break. Having lost a rapala, three wire traces & a couple of shads last weekend I know how expensive it can be....

I will suggest this to him. I'm sure he hasn't thought of that!

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