smalljaw Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Well it is official, most of my hooks will now be Eagle Claw. Don't laugh if you haven't seen or used the black platinum or black pearl line of hooks because they are sharp, strong, and priced reasonably. I was using the EL111BP for a finesse football jig and it was great, I couldn't believe it was an Eagle Claw hook, then I got a few hundered 2798 60 degree flat eye hooks and was blown away at the quality. But now, the old 570 and 730 have been added to the black platinum line, so most of the hook style we use in our molds are now available in the Eagle Claw black platinum line. The reason is simple, the Mustad quality I've come to depend on hasn't been the same as years past, Gamakatsu and Owner have a lot of styles that work but they are way over priced for the hype, I will continue to use those brands but not on my personal lures, and as far as spinnerbaits go, I really liked the Mustad 32608 but when they jacked the price up on the black nickel model I went the way of VMC 7250 black nickel and found a great hook. I am going to try the EL255BP which is the old Eagle Claw extra long shank spinnerbait hook but redone with the new needle point and black platinum fishish. Once I try all these hooks I will let you know my experience with them and tell you how they hold up and if they maintain their sharpness, I have already used the 111BP for quite awhile and it is a great hook that not only has held up great but has also maintained its point, something I didn't expect from any hook on a jig that is draged over rocks for a season. So, if you have a few extra dollars and want to try a great hook at a fantastic price check out the black platinum line, and let us know how they are. I think everyone here has a mold that uses those 570's or 730's, and if you look at Captain Hooks website, you'll see the E570 and the E730 but keep looking and then you see the EL570BP and the other ones. I'm not working for them or affiliated in anyway, times are tough and we all like our tackle to be the best it can be and because of money being tight I saw some Eagle Claw hooks I don't ever remembered seeing and I took a chance and what I found is one great hook at a great price and I don't feel like my lures are sacrificing any quality whatsoever and that is the most important part. The best part is you are getting these hooks without sacrificing quality as I said but you are getting a deal that isn't on sale but at its normal price. If you need hooks and need to save a few bucks try them, you won't be sorry, I'm just really,really happy I found an alternative that is just as good as my Mustads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Smalljaw, I never disliked Eagled Claw hooks even back in the day. The only thing I never liked was that majority of all of their hooks were bronze and they rusted plain and simple. I too am so far very happy with the sharpness and new finish on the EC's. I am using the EL111BP, I have used already (1500) L97BP wacky hooks and guys have commented on how sharp they are. So I too am very happy with their quality so far. I have been thinking about trying their spinnerbait hook as well. I am curious to see that hook. With all said and done I think Eagle Claw is on the road to success with their new line and I hope they keep expanding it along with keeping good quality. Plus it's Made In The U.S.A..............Go Eagle Claw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I did a test pour with the EL111BP's 3/0 I got. Easy pour. My son likes the wide gap in tube jigs and he goes through a lot of them. While havn't thrown them the hooks are sticky sharp, and the black nickle looks great. Do you know if the 4/0 will fit the Tube-TX mold? When the 111 4/0's come in, plan to try some EL2831, EL2798, and EL786BP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) I did a test pour with the EL111BP's 3/0 I got. Easy pour. My son likes the wide gap in tube jigs and he goes through a lot of them. While havn't thrown them the hooks are sticky sharp, and the black nickle looks great. Do you know if the 4/0 will fit the Tube-TX mold? When the 111 4/0's come in, plan to try some EL2831, EL2798, and EL786BP. Fuzzy, The 4/0 will fit on the 1/4 oz and up Do-It Tube-TX mold. The eyelet on the mold could be a bit bigger in diameter, which can be done easily with a center punch and a drill. Also you might have to bend the hook eye a little, so the hook shank aligns more in the center of the mold. PM me your e-mail and after I come back from work today I will send you some pics with the hook in it. Picture is worth a thousand words. Edited January 23, 2012 by cadman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Fuzzy, The 4/0 will fit on the 1/4 oz and up Do-It Tube-TX mold. The eyelet on the mold could be a bit bigger in diameter, which can be done easily with a center punch and a drill. Also you might have to bend the hook eye a little, so the hook shank aligns more in the center of the mold. PM me your e-mail and after I come back from work today I will send you some pics with the hook in it. Picture is worth a thousand words. You have a PM. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Smalljaw, I never disliked Eagled Claw hooks even back in the day. The only thing I never liked was that majority of all of their hooks were bronze and they rusted plain and simple. I too am so far very happy with the sharpness and new finish on the EC's. I am using the EL111BP, I have used already (1500) L97BP wacky hooks and guys have commented on how sharp they are. So I too am very happy with their quality so far. I have been thinking about trying their spinnerbait hook as well. I am curious to see that hook. With all said and done I think Eagle Claw is on the road to success with their new line and I hope they keep expanding it along with keeping good quality. Plus it's Made In The U.S.A..............Go Eagle Claw. The rusting part is what got me away from them cadman, a lot of people didn't realize it but I heard of those claiming they were weak and would bend out easily or break but I'm willing to bet it was due to the rusting process. Anyway, besides the 111s I got the 2798s and was so happy I began to look and I was happy with what I saw and I may be mistaken, but I don't remember seeing all these styles in the EL-BP line, maybe I just didn't notice. But now that they make that EL-BP line in just about every style of hook I use I figured I'd go "all in" and use Eagle Claws as my primary hook, they are that good and I am thrilled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 It was always my impression that the EC570's would bend out before the Mustad 746. Maybe I should rig up a weight and see if it is true? These new hooks from EC show allot of promise. I thought they were headed for trouble with the Trokar line. Trokars might be great hooks, but the price was too great even to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) I don't make tackle for sale, only for me. But I hate losing fish on a weak hook that opens before it can penetrate. I went away from Owner's small EWG hooks for that reason. I fish Mustad's Mega Lite fine wire EWG hooks for most of my T rig plastics. The hooks are strong, and sharp, and have a big enough gap for fat plastics like Fat Ikas. They are also expensive. Does Eagle Claw offer a comparable lite wire EWG hook? Edited January 23, 2012 by mark poulson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I don't make tackle for sale, only for me. But I hate losing fish on a weak hook that opens before it can penetrate. I went away from Owner's small EWG hooks for that reason. I fish Mustad's Mega Lite fine wire EWG hooks for most of my T rig plastics. The hooks are strong, and sharp, and have a big enough gap for fat plastics like Fat Ikas. They are also expensive. Does Eagle Claw offer a comparable lite wire EWG hook? Mark, I really don't know. I can tell you that I already use the Laser Sharp EWG worm hooks and I would call the wire medium but that is 3/0 and 4/0 sizes. EC gets a bad rap mostly because they are inexpensive but just try a pack of the Laser Sharp EWG worm hooks and see how you like them, I've been using them for about 3 years now and I'm glad it doesn't cost me 30 bucks to replace my worm hooks anymore and I sacrifice nothing it terms of performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EironBreaker Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I just received a box of EC 4/0 2798s from Shorty's over the weekend. Wow! The quality is super! I dumped the box on the table and sorted through a bunch and they look great. They are a quality looking hook with a very sharp point. I've poured about 50 and they look no different from Mustads. I bought them because of the price and the good remarks from the folks here on TU. I think I'll start to convert over but I'll fish with them through the spring before I completely pull the trigger. Has anyone compared the Mustad 32796 to the 570BPs? Will the 570BP cover the heavy wire flipping hook with the same looks and quality? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I just received a box of EC 4/0 2798s from Shorty's over the weekend. Wow! The quality is super! I dumped the box on the table and sorted through a bunch and they look great. They are a quality looking hook with a very sharp point. I've poured about 50 and they look no different from Mustads. I bought them because of the price and the good remarks from the folks here on TU. I think I'll start to convert over but I'll fish with them through the spring before I completely pull the trigger. Has anyone compared the Mustad 32796 to the 570BPs? Will the 570BP cover the heavy wire flipping hook with the same looks and quality? I think you might mean the Mustad 32786 and the 730BP or the new, well I consider it new, EL786BP. These are all 60 degree flipping hooks and based off of how good the 2798 and the 111 are I'm going to guess the 786, which is a direct comparison to the Mustad 32786, is going to be a good hook and I will be trying them. Right now I have a ton of 32786 Mustads and as I get low I'll replace them with the Eagle Claws as long as this Black Platinum line is still going. I agree that we can only compare sharpness, looks, and price right now and it'll be awhile, at least for me, before they get a real world test but I already have fished the 111 and it is a killer hook so if the rest are the same it is a win for all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EironBreaker Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 LOL, yes I knew they were the in-line type eye but just didn't remember it! Looked on Captain Hook's and found the comparable 32796 Mustad. It is the EL2706. Might have to give them a try! Looks like I'll be making an order with Captain Hook's to try out a smaller number of EC hooks on a test run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 I received my small order of 111's 4/0's I did get some EL2798 flateyes, and some samples including EL570BP and EL3052 90 degree jig hooks. The EL2831 's are on back order. First the EL570BP vs EL3052 size 2/0. The 1st thing you notice is the 3052 needle point vs the larger barb on the 570. The finger pull test indicated the 3052 was more resistant to bending. This was then confirmed with wire diameter measuring with callipers. 570 = 0.036", 3052 = 0.039" A mustad 746 = 0.039" . The 3052 is about $4/100 savings over the Mustad 746, I'll probably switch once I use up the mustads. EL2798 vs M32798. EL2798 = 0.046" M32798 = 0.049" The eagle claw seems to be slightly weaker. The dropped forged part of the hook (curved part) seems more pronounced on the mustad. On these, will have to make up some jigs to see if I notice a difference before buying more of the EC. I'll post a comparison on the 831's when I get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Received the Eagle Claw EL2831 3/0 hooks today. It is the same physical size as the mustad 32831 3/0. Measuring wire diameter, I am getting 0.001" larger for the EC. I couldn't detect any difference in pull test with my fingers. With a savings of more than $6/100, highly likely to replace the mustads once they are gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
