Tope hooks

[marshpike]

I'm looking to make up some trace's for Tope but my local tackle shop doesn't have any hooks that I think would be tough enough, can anyone recommend a hook type and size or even better forward me a link.

[bigkev]

You will find that every angler has their own personal preference here, but you wont go far wrong with Varivas Big mouth extra's. Get them in size 6/0 and 8/0
Veals do them, at Veals.co.uk

Wait for all the other replies to come and make your mind up from there. I favour the Varivas as they come particularly sharp, and are usually a slightly finer wire than the equivalent O Shaughnessys

FWIW

Kev

[JOHN1]

i use mustad 79515BR. 6/0

very sharp never had a problem with them.
big fish don't always need big hooks.
had a 55lb tope on a 2/0 Aberdeen last year.
38lb on baited feathers this year.

[marshpike]

Cheers for the advice, on order.

[MAC]

Snap John,

Use the same 6/0 pattern myself. I like the fact that the are fairly fine and bronzed. If you can't extract a hook, then the bronzed pattern should rust away quickly.

Kev

[Mr_Green]

Mustad semi circle big game 6/0.... lovely hook...always gets them in the scissors

[dezzer]

my favourite is a cox & rawle 8/0 meat hook very sharp and strong,a close second as big kev said the varivas big mouth xtra 8/0,although this hook is slightly smaller than most 8/0 hooks ,also use the steel mustad stainless o shaughnessy 8/0 no 34007 and for bigger fish the mustad bronzed o shaughnessy no 3406 8/0-14/0 although these are not as sharp as normal,but a little file does the trick,all can be got from veals,regards dezzer.............

[marshpike]

Doh!! A few more on order...........

I have heard good reviews regarding the semi circle hooks, do these help towards the fish hooking its self??

[Neil]

I went from using O'Shaughnessy pattern to VMC Sport Circle 3X's in 8/0 size from http://www.uk-hooks.com. No need to strike, just wait for the second run and tighten up. Always lip/corner hooked - easy to remove. Sometimes getting a J shaped hook out was difficult.

[marshpike]

You will find that every angler has their own personal preference here, but you wont go far wrong with Varivas Big mouth extra's. Get them in size 6/0 and 8/0
Veals do them, at Veals.co.uk

Wait for all the other replies to come and make your mind up from there. I favour the Varivas as they come particularly sharp, and are usually a slightly finer wire than the equivalent O Shaughnessys

FWIW

Kev

Veals don't mess about when they say next day delivery, excellent service. I used to get all my terminal tackle off them about 20 years ago when I was shore fishing, good to see them still going strong.

[dbrock]

cox & rawle 8/0 meat hook and the odd time ive used them in 10/0 some of the tope this year are getting very big