E.S.P. Stiff-Rigger hooks......hmmmm!!!

[Gaffer]

After totally disregarding a warning from a good friend, I found out the hard way....they're rubbish!!! :mad:

 

 

After only connecting with the (big!)fish for a moment the hook pulled with hardly and pressure. I was gutted, I never have hook-pulls, but looking at the hook I can see what happened!!!

 

My mate said 'I told you so!'.

 

Anyone else had problems with these hooks?

 

[ 26. September 2002, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: Gaffer ]

[Julian]

Hi Gaffer,

 

Having had excellent early results on the stiff-riggers, I must admit I’m having a few doubts.

 

I too have been having a number of hook pulls, but I’m not sure if this may have something to do with the amount of weed I’m fishing over and the fact that the fish are very finicky takers.

 

I had one bend in exactly the same way as your picture, although luckily for me I managed to bank the fish (21lb+), it was a tough scrap and the fish weeded me a couple of times but I never expected it to bend in that way.

 

Julian

[carpmanchris]

Err, well I can't speak for the stiff riggers, but the sister hook, the T6 has recently given me cause for concern. Can yopu believe that a size 5 T6 bent out on me in OPEN WATER playing a bloody TENCH!!

 

To say I was stunned is an understatement........

 

Faulty batch maybe?

[RobStubbs]

Gaffer,

Are these the new teflon coated versions <can't remember the full name> ? As if so I have heard similar faults reported.

 

If it's the 'ordinary' version then that's a little worrying. That said I have put some serious strain on my hooks without distortion, and that's included getting carp and cats out of far side reed beds. My hooks are quite old so again perhaps there is a duff batch doing the rounds at the moment.

 

Rob.

[Gaffer]

Hi all, these are the standard Siff-Rigger hooks, which I bought a couple of weeks ago to try instead of my favoured E.S.P. Raptor.

 

The pick-up was from open water at about 60 yards and presented with a mash PVA bag full of trout pellets.

 

I tested a few more hooks from the packet and they are pathetic to say the least. I know some top anglers swear by these hooks, so I must have some from a duff batch.

 

If you look closely, the hook point is also rolled over.

[vinni]

i've had no problems with them.

[tj]

Gaffer,

quote:

---

I know some top anglers swear by these hooks, so I must have some from a duff batch.

---

have you considered that some "top" anglers get paid to say how good certain products really are.Half the time they don`t even use them.

It`s been going on for years and loads of people fall for the ads in all the carp/fishing rags.

I`ve fallen for these lines myself on many occasions but have learned to make considered judgements of all tackle.I never buy any of the more expensive tackle until i`ve tried them and I never use anything in the hook/line/ end tackle range if it`s let me down.

It`s a case of "once bitten twice shy"

Yes,there could be a bad batch but do you really want to be playing the fish of a lifetime with that thought in the back of your head.

My advice....try some other product.

[singy]

I've had the teflon coated big Ts open up on me a few times. Love the hooks, great pattern. But there does seem to be a problem with strength.

 

Also Had a T6 open up on me.

 

I'm in a bit of a quandry about hooks at the moment. i've a trip to france in a week and a half. and I recently changed from Big Ts (due to above problems) to an Owner Ayas.

 

Unfortunately I lost 2 fish this weekend due to hookpulls withing seconds of hooking into them.

 

What to do.

 

My favorites used to be Super Specialists, but they started to open up on me since I changed to fishing with braid.

[carpmanchris]

Singy,

 

I wonder if you might have hit the nail on the head there......about the braid. I seem to have suffered worse this year on hook pulls when using braid than I ever did with mono. You would think that the braid would IMPROVE hookholds, but with so many dropped fish and bent out hooks (mostly T6's), maybe there's something going on here with braid?

 

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Chris

[singy]

Hooks do need to be stronger when fishing with braid. There is no stretch and all the pressure is on the hook. I personally thing my lost fish were small fish. Heavy rods, line with no stretch means the smaller fish are bouncing off. So far touch wood the bigger fish have been staying on.

 

As for hooks opening up. I personally think if your hook has penetrated to the bend there is little chance of it opening. It's when it hasn't gone in properly that it can open. I'm going to start hitting my fish a bit harder and see if that makes a difference.

 

Singy