The Outdoor Line Forum

Hey guys.

I was wondering if any of you could give me some tips on switching out hooks for my spoons. I have noticed some of the sickle hooks on my spoons have started rusting. I would like to swap them out with stainless steel Mustad 9510 hooks. But I am wondering what size you would recommend.

Most of my spoons are the 3-4 inch variety. I think 2/0 and 3/0 would work just fine but I am a little worried about the "shaker" hook up ratio. I know there's no real good way of avoiding them but I thought that a smaller hook could reduce the amount of damage done on shakers and wild fish.

What do you guys think? Do you think the 2/0 and 3/0 size would be sufficient?

Hey TT,
I'm pretty aggressive about changing hooks.
Far from waiting till they rust, I change them if I lose two fish... I.E. No third strike!
As far As sizes go 3/0 for a 3.5 spoon and 4/0 for a 4.0. Good luck!

Thanks for the info Nelly!

I normally wouldn't wait until they rusted, but these are the spoons from last season and since they've been sitting around for a few months, they're in need of hooks.

I just got some 9510 Mustads so I will be ready for the opener! I may even call out sick for a couple days next week. I mean, you can LITERALLY get L&I for "stress"! Why can't I take advantage of that!?!

What ever happened to sharpening hooks Nelly. Doesn't anyone know how to use a hook file anymore

That's a good point Duck! Point! Get it? .... Sorry...
While I will sharpen bottom fish hooks and a few salmon plug hooks, when it comes to chemically sharpened siwash, octopus or other (Big River etc. ) hooks, you just can't sharpen them with a file and expect to get the same level of penetration.
Further. Once you file into that hook, the rust clock really starts ticking.
We spend too much on this wonderful passion of ours only to lose fish to a 25 cent hook.