Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: PolarBear on March 06, 2011, 10:48:56 PM

Title: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 06, 2011, 10:48:56 PM: Howdy.
A friend of a friend gave me some steelhead jigs to try out and duplicate. I noticed that the jigheads have sickle hooks instead of regular Aberdeen, O'Shaughnessy or Eagle Claw style hooks. I am going to pour up a bunch of jig heads for steelhead for some buddies and was wondering if their is much or any advantage to sickle hooks over the others? These hooks are new to me so I don't know crap about them.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 06, 2011, 11:00:21 PM: I've heard good things about them. Mostly about losing fewer fish from straightened hooks. The design seems to cause the hook to eventually anchor at the bent elbow portion, reducing stress on the hook. A few people I know like them for jigs and spoons. If I remember correctly they are harder to find and cost a little more.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 06, 2011, 11:53:49 PM: If they are rvrfshr hooks trash them. They break at the bends way too easy. :twocents:
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 07, 2011, 12:00:47 AM: They are for river fishing. I have heard that bass and panfish guys like them but my main concern is them straightening out or breaking under the weight of a steelhead. I lost a dandy today with plain old Aberdeen hooks (straightened out). I would like to find something a little more sturdy.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 07, 2011, 12:10:07 AM: Rvrfshr is a brand, they make sickle steelhead/salmon hooks. the jig hooks break at the bends. I have not tried their other hooks.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 07, 2011, 12:25:40 AM: Never hear of that brand, I guess that I have only been buying Gamakatus for so long that I just haven't noticed. The hooks I was looking at are Matzuo.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 07, 2011, 12:33:19 AM: I have been looking at those. I have not been 100% happy with any of the brands I have tried and I tie/fish a lot of jigs. Let us know how you like them. I may be trying some myself.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Rick on March 07, 2011, 09:32:42 AM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on March 07, 2011, 12:10:07 AM
Rvrfshr is a brand, they make sickle steelhead/salmon hooks. the jig hooks break at the bends. I have not tried their other hooks.

RVRFSHR doesn't make the sickle hooks,they buy Matzuo and repackage them.

There have been a lot of complaints about their hooks breaking. I've broken a bunch myself.

The way the sickle bend in the hook works is very good. I never lost many fish to start with,but I've lost even fewer with the sickle style.

The last I'd heard,RVRFSHR was going to stop using the Matzuo hooks,but I'm not sure the switch has taken place yet.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Antlershed on March 07, 2011, 11:13:06 AM: The ones you get from rvrfshr have a much thicker wire than the Matzuos you can buy in the store. I caught a lot of fish this fall on the 5/0 rvrfshr sickle siwash hooks, and never broke one on a fish.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 07, 2011, 01:08:25 PM: I stand corrected.

I have never had one break on a fish but when the hook breaks befor 12lb test it scares me :twocents:
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: fishcrazy on March 07, 2011, 07:05:46 PM: I have heard good stuff about the sickle hooks.

They make a hook for trolling herring that is sapose to be awsome.
would like to find some to try.

Kris
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: mallard79 on March 07, 2011, 08:15:17 PM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on March 07, 2011, 01:08:25 PM
I stand corrected.

I have never had one break on a fish but when the hook breaks befor 12lb test it scares me :twocents:

12lb test :yike: Who uses line that heavy!! :dunno: :chuckle: Drop down to 6 or 8 and stop horsing them poor little trout in and enjoy the fight :P

I have used them and don't notice any difference in them over the gami's. I stay away from jigs tied with eagle claws because we have had way too many straighten out when putting a little pressure on fish....even the wee little humpies :twocents:
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: TheHunt on March 07, 2011, 08:23:03 PM: 12 lb test for salmon and steelhead is about standard. I only have eight rvrfshr jigs. None have broken off yet
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 07, 2011, 10:21:59 PM: Hey mallard bring your 6 or 8 out to the coast this time of year. I'd love to see you get violated. :p :chuckle:
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Antlershed on March 08, 2011, 05:44:24 AM: I like my 50lb braid for everything :o
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: mallard79 on March 08, 2011, 04:33:03 PM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on March 07, 2011, 10:21:59 PM
Hey mallard bring your 6 or 8 out to the coast this time of year. I'd love to see you get violated. :p :chuckle:

Been there done that about 10 years ago. Line held up just fine. Wish I COULD SAY THE SAME ABOUT MY NERVES. :yike: Got a little antsy to get it in and pulled the hook loose. :bash: :bash: Crazy things happen when you see an upper 20's steelhead :drool: :drool: on the end of the line just inches away from your brothers hands. :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Same trip had all our fish stolen out of the truck along with my brand new cooler >:( >:( Oh well $hit happens :dunno:

I'll keep using the sickles til they fail on me. :twocents:
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 08, 2011, 06:46:56 PM: I think that fish gets bigger everytime I hear that story. :p :chuckle:
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Ironhead on March 08, 2011, 07:49:43 PM: If your using 6 lb test on fish 20+ you might as well give em the wood shampoo cause your gonna kill any fish that is played that long. That is the idea of using bigger line this time of year, so you can get the fish in qick and released with out playing them until they are dead.
I have broken one sickle hook from Rvrfsr on a 10 lb brat. Other than that one hook I have had good luck with them.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Bone_Collector on March 08, 2011, 08:27:04 PM: I use Matzo sickle hooks and I love them. I go through about 3,500 to 4,000 hooks a year when it comes to steelhead fishing and with all brands of hooks you are going to get some bad ones but I have been really happy with the preformance of the hooks. I have not tried the larger size hooks but the 8's, 6's, and 4's have held up great!

Bones
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 08, 2011, 08:51:32 PM: 3500 to 4000? Hot damn!!! I would die if I had to tie that many leaders! You a guide or something?
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Bone_Collector on March 08, 2011, 08:58:34 PM: Yes I am a guide and no I dont tie my own leaders. I am pretty sure that if I tied my own leaders every time someone lost one I would probably start cryin! ;)

Bones
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 12, 2011, 12:40:45 AM: Thanks for the input folks! I'm going to order a few and give them a try the next time I order more worm plastic.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 12, 2011, 01:10:20 AM: Polarbear,
I take it you pour worms. I'd love to pick your brain!
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 12, 2011, 01:16:23 AM: Pick away at what's left of it! I have been pouring worms since I was in High School (almost 30 years).
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 12, 2011, 01:34:28 AM: I'm gonna get started pouring pretty soon and I want to get some soft worms. What kind of plastic do you use? Hardner? Softener? Ever tried the super soft? Do you use a lee plastic pot or a stove and pot. Any expierence with aluminum molds? 2 piece handpour molds? How long does it take you to pour say 50 or 100?

I think that'll do for now but I have many many more. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 12, 2011, 02:22:45 AM: I use plastic from either MF or Lurecraft. My favorite is Lurecraft's 556 formula, it has "maximum flexibility". They have a fairly new line of "green" plastic that I am going to try. It does not have the chemical Phthalate which is know to cause health problems as well as more of a plastic smell. Lurecraft plastics also have a heat stabilizer so they won't burn as easily or discolor. If I am making worms for steelheading or finesse bass fishing I will add a little softener to the plastic but it really isn't necessary. Hardener is for saltwater baits but I hardly ever use it. I have not tried the super soft. As far as pouring, I am old school with the burners and pans, no production pots for me. I prefer the flexible silicone molds over metal mainly because they seem to disperse heat better and allow the worm to set up faster and more consistently. I use just the open one piece molds. It is pretty simple to make your own by copying your favorite mass produced worm. I made some Kalin's grub rip off molds that worked really well until I lost them. I need to make a new set. I designed a couple of molds back in the day and still have some. As far as how long to pour 50-100 worms depends on how many colors, size how many molds you have lined up and how detailed you want them. It really depends n the person and how familiar you are with the process. I made around 75 3" 3 color grubs last weekend at about 8 per minute. I'm making a batch of grubs tomorrow along with some jig heads. I'll try to remember to take some pics of the stuff. Feel free to axe anything else you might have questions on worm stuff.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 12, 2011, 04:25:23 PM: Thanks polar bear! I'm gonna hit you with a pm in the next couple days. 8)
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 26, 2011, 02:06:19 PM: Bought a couple hundred 1/0 Matsuo sickle jig hooks and poured half of them up today. Gonna give them a try and see how they work. They seem to be sturdy enough. I'll find out soon enough. Thanks for the input folks!
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: TheHunt on March 27, 2011, 04:56:38 PM: The sickle jig hooks are suppose to provide a bigger bite area.
Title: Re: Sickle hooks?
Post by: PolarBear on March 27, 2011, 05:09:03 PM: So far I like the configuration of them a lot better than regular 570 Aberdeen's plus they are a lot sharper. The pin holes in my hands will attest to that. Poured up some steelie and bass jigs and gave a few to my buddy to try out on the Skookumchuck today. Can't wait to see how they worked.