What is the best punching hook?

Discussions focused on the pursuit of freshwater species
User avatar
Obz
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 689
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 5:37 pm
Location: Superior wisconsin

What is the best punching hook?

Post by Obz » Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:56 am

I've read a bunch of reviews on TW, curious to see what you have to say. I love trokar worm hooks but I have heard the punch hooks fold like a paper clip.

User avatar
Hobie-Wan Kenobi
Pro Angler
Pro Angler
Posts: 3014
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 1:25 pm
Location: Michigan (U.P)
Contact:

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Hobie-Wan Kenobi » Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:47 am

Trokar TK130. Only hook I'll use for flipping. Never bent out or rolled a tip yet. Been using them for about 4 years now.

User avatar
Obz
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 689
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 5:37 pm
Location: Superior wisconsin

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Obz » Mon Oct 24, 2016 9:29 am

Right on. The mustad keepers looked soldered, that would be nice

User avatar
Teal101
TT Moderator
TT Moderator
Posts: 4884
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:59 am
Location: Central Washington
Contact:

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Teal101 » Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:02 am

I use these, have yet to bend em out. Well wxcept that time we lifted a tree up to get a snag out :lol:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Wi ... O5139.html

User avatar
Hobie-Wan Kenobi
Pro Angler
Pro Angler
Posts: 3014
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 1:25 pm
Location: Michigan (U.P)
Contact:

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Hobie-Wan Kenobi » Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:06 am

Teal101 wrote:I use these, have yet to bend em out. Well wxcept that time we lifted a tree up to get a snag out :lol:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Wi ... O5139.html
You don't punch with a straight shank hook? I even regular Texas Rig with a straight shank hook. I use wide gaps for worms only and mainly weightless.

User avatar
Obz
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 689
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 5:37 pm
Location: Superior wisconsin

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Obz » Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:25 pm

Teal101 wrote:I use these, have yet to bend em out. Well wxcept that time we lifted a tree up to get a snag out :lol:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Wi ... O5139.html
Not one bad review on TW, I'll give them a go. Can't have enough wide gap hooks.

fishermun
Angler
Angler
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:32 am

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by fishermun » Tue Nov 29, 2016 1:03 am

ccass wrote:Trokar TK130. Only hook I'll use for flipping. Never bent out or rolled a tip yet. Been using them for about 4 years now.
+1

User avatar
Finnz922
Pro Angler
Pro Angler
Posts: 3034
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:44 pm
Location: Ashland, NE

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Finnz922 » Tue Nov 29, 2016 1:48 am

Not the Gamakatsu :sick: . The damn keeper will come loose and twist your bait.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakats ... -GHSF.html

User avatar
cortman
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 545
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2015 12:17 pm

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by cortman » Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:05 am

Finnz922 wrote:Not the Gamakatsu :sick: . The damn keeper will come loose and twist your bait.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakats ... -GHSF.html
That's interesting, I've had good luck with those hooks so far. I haven't used them a lot though.

soulfisher
Senior Angler
Senior Angler
Posts: 168
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:01 am
Location: Florida

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by soulfisher » Thu Jan 26, 2017 11:10 pm

Finnz922 wrote:Not the Gamakatsu :sick: . The damn keeper will come loose and twist your bait.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakats ... -GHSF.html
These are the best hooks I have found for punching really heavy cover / usually thick hydrilla and you are spot on about the hook keeper failing. I mitigate that by using Jb weld to make a thin boot around the keeper. The jb weld is slicker than the surface of the keeper and thus allows the vegetation to slide over the keeper vice constantly molesting the keeper itself. Kind of like a condom for the keeper section. Wish i didn't have to do this, but the hook is that good that I take the time to armor it up.

User avatar
Finnz922
Pro Angler
Pro Angler
Posts: 3034
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:44 pm
Location: Ashland, NE

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Finnz922 » Fri Jan 27, 2017 1:23 am

soulfisher wrote:
Finnz922 wrote:Not the Gamakatsu :sick: . The damn keeper will come loose and twist your bait.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakats ... -GHSF.html
These are the best hooks I have found for punching really heavy cover / usually thick hydrilla and you are spot on about the hook keeper failing. I mitigate that by using Jb weld to make a thin boot around the keeper. The jb weld is slicker than the surface of the keeper and thus allows the vegetation to slide over the keeper vice constantly molesting the keeper itself. Kind of like a condom for the keeper section. Wish i didn't have to do this, but the hook is that good that I take the time to armor it up.
Good to know. I am a huge Gammy fan, but this hook really pissed me off. I will have to try that.

soulfisher
Senior Angler
Senior Angler
Posts: 168
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:01 am
Location: Florida

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by soulfisher » Fri Jan 27, 2017 3:19 am

Finnz922 wrote:
soulfisher wrote:
Finnz922 wrote:Not the Gamakatsu :sick: . The damn keeper will come loose and twist your bait.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakats ... -GHSF.html
These are the best hooks I have found for punching really heavy cover / usually thick hydrilla and you are spot on about the hook keeper failing. I mitigate that by using Jb weld to make a thin boot around the keeper. The jb weld is slicker than the surface of the keeper and thus allows the vegetation to slide over the keeper vice constantly molesting the keeper itself. Kind of like a condom for the keeper section. Wish i didn't have to do this, but the hook is that good that I take the time to armor it up.
Good to know. I am a huge Gammy fan, but this hook really pissed me off. I will have to try that.
Yeah I would have moved on to another hook as well if someone had not shown me this trick.

Brad in Texas
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 225
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:58 pm

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Brad in Texas » Fri Jan 27, 2017 3:57 am

Sort of odd isn't it, that Gammy makes such a great keeper for the Roboworm Rebarb hooks, a highly effective choice for where these can be used. Then, in another application, they can't seem to get it right.

Maybe someone else adds the bait keeper onto the Gammy hook, come to think of it. Not sure.

Interesting!

Brad

Jnkoepp
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 301
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2017 8:31 pm

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by Jnkoepp » Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:27 pm

Hayabusa FPP followed closely by Owner Jungle

mark poulson
TT Pro Angler
TT Pro Angler
Posts: 2745
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:28 am
Location: NorCal

Re: What is the best punching hook?

Post by mark poulson » Thu Jun 04, 2020 7:17 pm

VMC punching hooks are sharp, and they have a good, reliable keeper. I use an O ring on my baits, 3/8" down onto the nose of the bait, and pass the hook point through the nose and just past the O ring, turn the hook sideways, and pull it out until the keeper is exposed, and then turn it back to engage the O ring. I don't lose baits anymore.

Post Reply