Best super strong barbless eyed hooks?

[Worms]

Cheaper and closer to you!

https://blackcountrybaits.stores.buegle.com/product.php/1648883/

[Dales]

Hi Ken

 

A guide put me on to some decent hooks many years ago and I have noticed that a few of the european anglers that I have come across in those parts also use them.

 

Gamakatsu Iseama Twist Eyed Hooks, any chance the name rings a bell?

 

Not sure if they are available over here, but if the name rings a bell it might be worth trying a google search. I have seen them on sale in a number of tackle shops in Thailand but not often in the smaller sizes, as you know they are fond of using sea tackle.

 

If I remember rightly I only paid about 65p for packs of ten and they do come in 6, 8, 10 and I have used them for various Carp species including the style of fishing you mention.

 

Might be worth a search on google or ebay as a few international sellers may have them.

[Ken L]

Unfortunately, I used the last of the ones I had so don't have the packet but they do look very similar to what I was using. Much stronger than the Maruto's I took with me or any of the local hooks I tried.

It's quite likely that I'll be able to track down some Gamakatsu's over there but it would be nice to have a super strong option that is designed from the ground up to be barbless.

[Worms]

http://www.fly-fishing-tackle.co.uk/acatalog/owner_carp_hooks.html

[Phone]

Ken,

 

I can certainly vouch for Owner hooks.

 

Phone

[Si...]

Definitely go for Owner hooks, I used them out in Thailand a few years back and not one failed or straightened in the slightest

[Phone]

All,

 

OHH - and the Gamakatsu Iseama is NOT available in English speaking countries (according to Gamakatsu).

 

Phone

Just got this answer from customer service.

[Ken L]

Well, I took several hooks with me but ended up not having any difficulty tracking down the Gamakatsu Iseama Twist Hooks. I've stocked up on a few packs of Gamakatsus for barbel and carp fishing but fished yesterday with side 8 barbless hooks sold by i-carp. The hooks worked brilliantly with the first fish (a Siamese carp of about 20lb) hooked within five minutes. I ended up with eight Siamese carp to 30lb, a Julien's golden price carp (a new species for me), a Mekong catfish of 40lb and a half dozen or so striped catfish.

I lost two due to like breaks but didn,'t have a hook so much as bent out of shape.

 

The fist line break was a Mekong (I wasn't expecting to hook them on tiny bits of breadflake) which abraided my 20lb hooklink on it's pads.

Lesson learned and upping to 60lb leader didn't seem to make a difference.

The second failure was at a knot (my fault) and happend when a big fish took the bait on the drop. I still had the rod pointing directly at the bait and it did it's best to pull the rod from my hand. With no shock absorber, something had to give.

 

I plan to try the predator lake tomorrow so bigger hooks will be needed.

 

One thing to note about the i-carp hooks is that I also ordered them in size 6 and they are a totally different pattern. Looks like it might be a lucky dip with whatever is left over from a big brand order.

[Ken L]

Didn't end up on the predator lake the day following my last session. Wasn't feeling quite right, so i had another session on the top lake. Landed 10 Siamese carp to 40lb, a Mekong, my first catla, a rohu and about a dozen sawai.

Saturday was inteded to be a non-fishing day anyway, but it was just as well because I fell victim to a fever and bad guts.

Fished the other lake today. Bigger hooks (about a UK size two) and fish baits to a heavy mono leader. Caught pacu, a bunch of red tail catfish (to 53lb) and an arapaima.

Learned a couple of very interesting lessons that may or may not be common knowledge among Thailand regulars.

I'll not post them on the open forum but if anyone is interested, drop me a PM.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Ken L

[Dales]

Sounds like you caught a some nice fish, the Julians certainly are amazing looking fish.