Mustard Hooks

[honda900]

It seems that Mustard are losing their way,

I have been using the gama circles as well for quite a few years and they are very good both inshore and offshore. 2/0,3/0,6/0,7/0.

Phil if you get a chance try a couple of the youvenella's chem sharpened you will be really suprised how well they keep their point and strong.

NigelR, it was the big reds that I got a set of freebies, now you mention the name, mate they were terrible, I chucked them in the box with the youvenellas, after I realised what was going on with them, had to dig through whole box to ditch them in the bin.

Regards
Honda

[nigelr]

Yer Honda, I reckon the small red ones are OK, but the big ones, like the gang hooks, are practically blunt out of the pack.
I do like those Mustad Demon finewire circles in the 7/0 and 8/0 sizes though!
Gama all the way for other styles, the Gama 'gangstars' are very sharp if a little soft, ie you have to keep an eye on the 'eyes' opening after a decent fish. Worth the effort though, rare to miss a fish they are that sharp.
Have used the VMC gangs, still do in the larger sizes, though only because unfortunately the 'gangstars' only go as large as 5/0.
Cheers.

[CreelReaper]

Yep, Mustard hooks do not seem to be as good as they once were. I believe that the quality of steel used in Mustard's hooks is no where near as good as it used to be. Much more brittle, unable to hold a sharp edge and seem to rust up fairly quickly. They most probably use a cheaper imported Asian steel of much lesser quality than they used to.
I used to use Eagle Claw as they were a superior hook, stayed sharper and much better value, but it is getting harder to find a supplier of them.

[LBGaddict]

The Japanese make superb fishing gear.........and the Gamas are good value too.
Mustad I've found some patterns are way, way better than others, the smaller (2/0) penetrators, demon circles and big reds are good bream hooks, but my favourite Mustads are the larger (7/0 and 8/0) Demon finewire circles, equal in ability to any more expensive hook of a similar pattern, IMHO.
Well worth giving them a try if you use larger circles.
Cheers.

For light tackle obviously, say <50lb