Just a warning for ya'll. 2025
MattinOK reply :
Just recently I picked up a pack of VMC 4/0 EWG worm hooks. They were fairly low priced (2.50 for 9) so I thought I'd try a pack; that was a mistake! Don't let their treble hooks fool you. Their worm hooks suck. One of the dullest out of the box hooks I've ever used. Also some of the eyes were not closed! After losing a good sized fish (2-3lber) near the bank because the hook was to dull for a good hookset. Tomorrow I'm going to go see if I can a refund. :'( :'( 
islandbass reply :
Thanks for the heads up. I am a big fan of their trebles and I would have bought such hooks based on their rep with their trebles. Sorry for the bad experience. BTW, were they colored hooks? No matter what, colored hooks are always going to be "duller" than their unpainted brethren. The unclosed eye is IMO inexcuseable.
MattinOK reply :
QuoteThanks for the heads up. I am a big fan of their trebles and I would have bought such hooks based on their rep with their trebles. Sorry for the bad experience. BTW, were they colored hooks? No matter what, colored hooks are always going to be "duller" than their unpainted brethren. The unclosed eye is IMO inexcuseable.
No, they were black nickel like I always buy.
Muddy reply :
I have caught numerous fish this year, trigged weightless beaver craws and Brush Bugs, with those exact same hooks, in black with no issues You just have to set the hook with some power to get it through the plastic, like any other hook.
MattinOK reply :
QuoteI have caught numerous fish this year, trigged weightless beaver craws and Brush Bugs, with those exact same hooks, in black with no issues You just have to set the hook with some power to get it through the plastic, like any other hook.
Hmm... Maybe I just got a bad batch? These were so dull they wouldn't even leave a mark on my fingernail.
Muddy reply :
I prefer the owners, I only use the EWG on thicker plastics now as I like the old school worm hooks better, the VMC's and Owners are the only 2 ewg I use, the Owners are better but the VMC's are not bad.
BTW: you are right about having to close the gap on some of the eyes
ab8aac reply :
thanks for the warning, but I sharpen every hook when I take it out of the package anyway, I flatten the top two sides making a knife edge on the top and to the point that it hangs my thumbnail when I pull it across it, if it slides and most all hooks out of the package do, it isn't sharp.
Primus reply :
VMC hooks are very inconsistent, I've never used their worm hooks but I have bought baits that have their trebles such as Rapala crankbaits. I do the thumbnail test and some are very dull wheras I've has some close to Gamakatsu in sharpness., it's been about 50/50.
burleytog reply :
Quotethanks for the warning, but I sharpen every hook when I take it out of the package anyway, I flatten the top two sides making a knife edge on the top and to the point that it hangs my thumbnail when I pull it across it, if it slides and most all hooks out of the package do, it isn't sharp.
Sounds like you enjoy ruining every hook you buy.
fishinflip415 reply :
Dude it's 2.50 for 9 hooks what do expect. I have personally paid alot more for baits that were pieces of u know what. It's part of fishing. The old saying goes u get what u pay for. 8-)
CWB reply :
QuoteQuotethanks for the warning, but I sharpen every hook when I take it out of the package anyway, I flatten the top two sides making a knife edge on the top and to the point that it hangs my thumbnail when I pull it across it, if it slides and most all hooks out of the package do, it isn't sharp.Sounds like you enjoy ruining every hook you buy.
I wouldn't go that far. I check my hooks also and if they need sharpening, which inevitably some do, I sharpen them. Better than tying on a dull hook. Even the best quality hooks can have their points dulled during processing, packing, and or shipping. Better safe than sorry.
ab8aac reply :
I don't consider it ruining the hook, I have never had a hook right out of the package as sharp as I can make it with a moon stone, and since I have been doing that I have yet to miss a hook set, and on hard baits the second trebble hook will be hooked in them either in the mouth or their side, so I must be doing something right
The_Natural reply :
I agree....I think VMC's stink. The triple grip is quite popular, and this surprises me. Even bargain shoppers can afford Gamakatsu trebles. My insider tip is to buy the bronze Gamakatsu hooks; they are noticeably sharper/stickier than the red or black nickel gammy's. This is because the bronze gammy's are not coated like the black nickel or red hooks. Try the bronze gamakatsu's next time....the bronze makes quite a difference.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteI don't consider it ruining the hook, I have never had a hook right out of the package as sharp as I can make it with a moon stone...
Well, today's high quality hooks are chemically sharpened.
Using a file or stone may destroy the physical integrity of
the hook point. Gamakatsu, X-Point and Owner are incredibly
sharp right out of the package and do NOT need any
modification.
8-)
CWB reply :
QuoteQuoteI don't consider it ruining the hook, I have never had a hook right out of the package as sharp as I can make it with a moon stone...Well, today's high quality hooks are chemically sharpened.
Using a file or stone may destroy the physical integrity of
the hook point. Gamakatsu, X-Point and Owner are incredibly
sharp right out of the package and do NOT need any
modification.
8-)
I have to respectfully disagree on this one. Although you are probably 95% correct, you still get dull hooks from time to time.
I just bought a pack of X-Points and 2 out of the 5 were dull. I sharpened them and they were as good or better than new. I have had similar minor problems with all hook manufacturers. I just sharpen them without a second thought. Not a knock on any manufacturer, just a fact. Always check before tying on.
I cannot comment on the integrity, but I would rather be sure the hook I tie on is sharp, rather than take a chance tying on a dull one.
I'm form the old school days where you had to sharpen every hook.
Even with the strictest Quality Control, you cannot control what happens to the product when it leaves your hand. I work in Manufacturing and cannot tell you how many items have been rejected by the customer (Aerospace and Military) due to damage resulting from improper handling by the carrier. Better safe than sorry type of thing for me.
J Francho reply :
Exactly how would you sharpen an Owner Cutting Point?
Muddy reply :
I scratch em along my butt, kills 2 birds with one stone
Course hair hones hooks
Relieves those personal itches
whittler reply :
This kind of post always bothers me, does it ever occur to you to check the sharpness of your hooks before fishing?
In the words of John Wooden " When opportunity knocks its to late to prepare"
CWB reply :
QuoteExactly how would you sharpen an Owner Cutting Point?
IMO these are the best as far as out of package sharpness. But I have done a few. I use a Medium India diemakers stone. As you can see, there is not much to work with due to their innovative design, but it can and has been done.
They are like todays rotors on cars. One fix and thats about it.
roadwarrior reply :
Okay...
Long time respected member...but in this case,
I think you are wrong.
-Kent
CWB reply :
Tha'ts why I have found this is by far the best forum out there. You exchange thought and ideas and come to your own conclusions.
Remember, Owners are a different breed. I'm talking about dull points, not rolled over or broken off tips.
If you want I'll show you at Pickwick.
J Francho reply :
There's no way you are getting them sharper than out of the package. For used hooks that go dull, I just toss them, and get a new hook. Money's tight, but not that tight.
dmac14 reply :
For me if I am using a cheap hook that is most likely dull, it just means to me pull harder. Nothin like seeing your eagle claw hook straight through the top of the fishes head.
MattinOK reply :
It's funny, the only thread of mine to reach two pages; and it's an argument... ;D
Jake... reply :
I'm use to sharpening my kitchen knives so why not hooks. those that know how effortless a well sharpened edge performs will understand this. 8-)
anyways..... for whatever reason I found my recent pack of Gammy's quite dull.
so decided to sharpen em, only took 20 sec or so but a hugedifference
can't wait to test em out
bilgerat reply :
Yeah OK, I'm going to pay top dollar for a premium hook and if it's not sharp enough out of the pack I'm going to toss it without putting a point on it myself. Cut me a break. You must be the same guys who buy $20 razor blades.
Send me all of your hooks and I'll properly dispose of them for you.... :
I'm going to go throw away all of my old Buck knives now because there's no way I could ever get the edge to them they had when they were new.
The Rooster reply :
I believe he said for used hooks that go dull he just tosses them, not new out of the package.
Me, I buy them and use them straight out of the package, but before I buy them sometimes I'll test them using a fingernail. Easy to do, the packages are not sealed.
Also hooks (as well as knives) laying around will go dull because of oxidation, even with no usage at all. So before I use one I will again test it. If it's dull I choose another but there's times when I get down to the nitty gritty and only have a few left so then if it needs sharpened then I'll hit it with the stone because in that case I'm out on the boat and have to use what I have available. For the record, I buy Gamakatsu hooks. It's very rare that I ever have to sharpen one, usually it's due to me using it and scraping a rock or getting it snagged that it needs sharpened again.
RoLo reply :
Right out of the package, nearly a hundred percent of the Gamakatsu and Owner hooks are dangerously sharp.
However, if the hook-point becomes damaged or dull with use, there is no hook in the world that cannot be sharpened.
Even the cut-edge point swaged by Owner can be quickly triangulated. Although it will no longer
have the cutting edge configuration, it will be far superior to a cut-edge point that is dull or damaged.
Being a tool & die maker, I have diamond files, ruby-impregnated files, wet stones and hand grinders.
But none of that stuff is necessary, in fact, a simple tool like the Diamond Edge Hook File sold by Bass Pro
can quickly rough out the point. Granted, it will not be as good as new, but much better than dull or damaged.
All that said, I personally chuck my dull and damaged hooks
Roger
looking4structure reply :
I have many H20 xpress crankbaits from Academy and the hooks are VMC and i haven't had any problem with their trebles.Normally ill switch the hooks to a Mustad Tripple Grip #4 or #6 but i leave the VMC on.
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