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Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:06 am
by Craigthor
Looking to upgrade the hooks and rings on my Lucky Craft Flash Minnow Tr85SP after have a few fish tweak some hooks. Current stock hooks are a size 7 per LC so probably have to go to a size 6. Also considering some barbless trebles as I typically catch and release trout as my only target.

Current hook thoughts:

Maturo Grabber

VMC 7552B - Haven’t been able to find these in stock

Open to other ideas you guys may have.

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:43 pm
by poisonokie
You can always pinch the barbs back down yourself so don't let that be a limiting factor.

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:02 pm
by Dalleinf
I prefer Owner/Cultiva to any other brand - hook thickness x1-x3 depends on the size of your target. I use Owner ST21 for smaller trout, ST36 for large trout. ST41+ for atlantic salmon. The ST21 will often bend during a fight with a bigger specimen but it has never lost me a fish. I just bring spares...
Second for me is VanFook. I especially like the VanFook single hooks, which I buy from amazon jp.
VMC, Gamakatsu, Decoy etc. just seem less sharp to me but it is purely personal preference. VMC has gotten better in recent years. If you are targeting really big fish, I would suggest not pressing down barbs as it may affect hook strength and risk of hook breakage/bend during fight but for “usual” trout it doesn’t really matter IMO (and the slight bulb on the hook may still work a bit like a barb).

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:21 pm
by poisonokie
I agree. I prefer Owner, too. I think Decoy is almost on par with them. I'd like to know what brand Evergreen uses, because those things are just ridiculously sharp, even after a lot of fish. It almost feels like there's a microscopic drop of super glue right on the point. The only problem I've ever had with any of them was a rolled point on one side of a frog hook out of the package. I pretty much got it straightened out, but it wasn't quite up to par with the other side.

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:54 pm
by Craigthor
Dalleinf wrote:
Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:02 pm
I prefer Owner/Cultiva to any other brand - hook thickness x1-x3 depends on the size of your target. I use Owner ST21 for smaller trout, ST36 for large trout. ST41+ for atlantic salmon. The ST21 will often bend during a fight with a bigger specimen but it has never lost me a fish. I just bring spares...
Second for me is VanFook. I especially like the VanFook single hooks, which I buy from amazon jp.
VMC, Gamakatsu, Decoy etc. just seem less sharp to me but it is purely personal preference. VMC has gotten better in recent years. If you are targeting really big fish, I would suggest not pressing down barbs as it may affect hook strength and risk of hook breakage/bend during fight but for “usual” trout it doesn’t really matter IMO (and the slight bulb on the hook may still work a bit like a barb).
Thanks, I use a lot of C’Ultiva hooks for spoons, still interested in barbless options and if anyone has used them.

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:25 pm
by Dalleinf
I have have used Owners - same type, you can get them all as barbless - and VanFook in Barbless and still do. Especially for salmon where it is mandatory in my waters. They work like a charm.

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 5:12 pm
by Craigthor
Dalleinf wrote:
Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:25 pm
I have have used Owners - same type, you can get them all as barbless - and VanFook in Barbless and still do. Especially for salmon where it is mandatory in my waters. They work like a charm.
I’ll have to try and find some online.

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 8:00 pm
by Dalleinf
Owner barbless:
Stbl-1.56bc (for the smaller, lighter option)
Stbl-31tn
Stbl-36bc
Stbl-41tn
Doubt you will need thicker hooks for trout...

VanFook barbless:
DT-38BL-B (“the mountain stream trout hook”)
They probably do other versions as well...

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:06 am
by Craigthor
Dalleinf wrote:
Mon Jun 17, 2019 8:00 pm
Owner barbless:
Stbl-1.56bc (for the smaller, lighter option)
Stbl-31tn
Stbl-36bc
Stbl-41tn
Doubt you will need thicker hooks for trout...

VanFook barbless:
DT-38BL-B (“the mountain stream trout hook”)
They probably do other versions as well...
Thanks, was able to find the VanFook in stock so going to try those out.

Re: Looking to upgrade hooks and rings LC FM Tr85SP.

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:45 am
by Dalleinf
I think you will like them.
If looking for single hooks for spoons, I really like the VanFook SP41 thick shank, which also comes in barbless versions (Eg SP41BL) and there are bulk “service” packages... The SP31 - thinner hook - should also be great, but I havent tried them.
Single hooks for minnows are ME**.