What is the best punching hook?

[Obz]

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.

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

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.

[Obz]

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

[Teal101]

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

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

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

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

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.

[Obz]

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

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]

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

[Finnz922]

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

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

[cortman]

Not the Gamakatsu . 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]

Not the Gamakatsu . 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.

[Finnz922]

Not the Gamakatsu . 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]

Not the Gamakatsu . 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]

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]

Hayabusa FPP followed closely by Owner Jungle

[mark poulson]

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.