Drop Shot Hooks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Late last week I said I would report on my findings of which hook and why. I bought several packs and also opened my eyes and mind up to new ideas. First the 4 hooks that are in question. I settled on these hooks as three of them are the major brands and the other is specifically called a Drop Shot hook.

1. Owner Mosquito Hook Size 4 - $2.29 per 10 pack for $.23 a hook
2. Gamakatsu Drop Shot Hook Size 2 - $1.99 per 6 pack for $.33 a hook
3. Mustad Wide Gap Drop Shot Hook Size 2 - $1.59 per 6 pack for $.26 a hook
4. Skinny Bear Extra Wide Gap Drop Shot Hook Size 2 - $1.99 per 6 pack for $.33 a hook

First Impressions:
1. The Owner has a slight offset from the shank to the hook point. Something you see in a circle hook but something I've never thought was that big of a deal. Surprised that Owner came in as the lowest priced hook. Premium brand and low price.
2. Gamakatsu seemed to be the best looking hook and also the one that I has always used and felt was the best. Great hook point and I expect it to be the winner at the end.
3. The Mustad has the largest bend in the eye and I was excited to see how the rigging was going to go. Not impressed at all with the hook point! It didn't even scratch my finger nail when I ran it across.
4. The Skinny Bear is only slightly wider gaped then the Gamakatsu and appears to be a solid hook but not impressed by the high price per hook for an "off brand." So close to the Gamakatsu I can't help but wonder if they are buying the hook from the same factory?????

Rigging Thoughts:
I rigged all hooks standard, 6lb Sunline Sniper with a Palomar knot and the tag end run back through the eye of the hook to make it stand up better. For testing reasons I used a 1/4oz weight so that when I looked at in the water I saw the same weight. I also used a 4.5" Robo Worm in New Ayu so that I was looking at the same rigging each time.

The Skinny Bear and the Gamakatsu are almost identical and I had to check them twice to make sure I had each hook on the rod that I thought I did. The hooks have the same bend on the eye that allows for good rigging but not great. The Mustad is not impressive and tends to not stand at the required 90 degree to the line. The Owner was the clear winner on rigging. 90 Degree from the line! Stood up great and was clearly the best looking hook of the bunch. I always had thought that a slight bend in eye was required. Once I rigged them all that idea went out the window! The bend that the Skinny Bear and the Gamakatsu has allows for a nice angle from the line but not the true 90 degree that drop shotters are looking for. The Owner was exactly 90 degrees each of the three times I tied it.

Fishing:
I know that this isn't an exact science since I was fishing over a couple of days and tried to give each hook equal time. Also a fisherman never really knows whether each bite is equal. If by luck the fish tends to eat one better then the other it will effect the results. That being said I was amazed by what I found!

I started out by NOT setting the hook and just reeling the reel fast and lifting such as a lot of CA guys do. When you do not set the hook at all the Gamakatsu was the clear winner but for what ever reason I have always done better when setting the hook. So for what I considered the real test I set the hook with a light snap like I always do. For those of you that may read this that are new to 6lb Sunline, this is NOT a solid hook set but rather a quick lift of the rod with a rather loose drag. Don't set the hook like a mad man or you will BREAK the line!!!!!

To my amazement the Owner was so clearly the winner it wasn't even close. I have not lost a single fish that I have fought with the Owner, not one! I will repeat that, not one! I was amazed!!!!!!!!! I have had several times both in the test and also using the Gamakatsu in "real world" use that I have lost fish. Nothing major but it just seemed like the Gamakatsu is a great hook that doesn't seem to always hook up. I wonder about two important things working together, 1-the offset point, 2-NOT having a 90 degree from the line. The Skinny Bear was just to close to the Gamakatsu and didn't separate itself. The Mustad was the clear looser! Bad angle from the line and bad hook up ratio. I lost several fish and missed several others. Several that I got into the boat came right off by taking the pressure off the hook. If the fish would have turned different it would have come off.

Ranking:
1. OWNER!!!!!! I am amazed to say but I have a new drop shot hook!!!!!! (Any body want to buy a bunch of Gamakatsu's???? LOL)
2. Gamakatsu, great hook point but clearly a looser to the Owner when you fish them side by side.
3. Skinny Bear, just way to close to the Gamakatsu. Same price so why?
4. Mustad, was not impressed and would not buy or even use if you gave them to me.

Ross