Matzuo Sickle Jig Hooks

[Ogajiga]

I've got a few friends who really like them so I keep a few inventoried. I expect to spend a few evenings per box sorting out the mangled and out bent throwaways and tweaking twisted eyes and repairable off bends. But I just got a box of #2 reds that only netted 900 useable even after substantial tweaks - seems this batch is brittle tempered so many of the twisted eyes snapped off when attempting to straighten. Sorry to seem like a complainer but I thought it would be of value to share product gripes.

[BigTimeBuzzer]

At least you are getting something to work with. I CAN'T EVEN DO/GET THAT!!!! I have looked all over for a 1000 #4 Sickles in gold/bronze/or even black and all I get is the same ol' tune....BACKORDERED!!!! I finally found a 1000 #4 blacks and they ask me almost $60 for them. I didn't need them that bad. I wish someone would start making a jig hook similar to this and take care of the problem once and for all. Nothing makes you pick up the pace, and start making a better product, like a little friendly competition business. AND BESIDES, I HATE GETTING SOMETHING IN THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK ON FOR A HOUR TO USE!!!!!!!

[Ogajiga]

The #2 Sickle reds I just got were back ordered for 6 months so maybe Shorty's got #4 as well. Main problem was twisted eyes so if your mold can take em like that you could probably get by with using em out of the box. Just keep an eye out for bad points and squeeze tight to compress the side bends in the point legs.

[anderson_dc]

Same thing for me. I finally poured some jigs last night using 2/0, 1/0, 1, and 2 red chrome matzuo hooks and i already have my reservations about them. First of all they do look pretty unique with the sickle bend but the wire they are using seems pretty light; maybe more so then an eagle claw 570/575 hook. Many of the eyes i had to straighten as well as some of the throats. It is somewhat difficult to upsize with your hooks because of the configuration of the hook and how it sits in the mold.

IMO i would say they are more suited for panfishing then going up against walleye, pike, bass, etc. I guess i will just have to try some to find out.

[kelly]

I use Matzuo at times manly because cabelas is close and sells them cheap. I have caught a lot of fish with them, including walleye and bass. they do have bad hooks but I like them when I rig weedless with a 2" grub. Or fish a rocky place they still hold fish but I only use 6# test line, always. There is better hooks out there to choose from but for the price and the point on them makes it ok for me to use them at times.

[HookUp]

quote]There is better hooks out there to choose from but for the price and the point on them makes it ok for me to use them at times.

Agree.

But when I fish, I tend to grab the Gammies since when they stick a fish, the fish is stuck.

[toadfrog]

I say stop using all these over priced hooks of poor quality . Just say no . A hook is a hook . If its sharp and has a non tarnish coating ,durable with 1 % or less bad findings in them then its quality.

[Syd Fishious]

There are many better quality jig hooks out there. Gammy and Mustad both make a better hook. I poured 1,000's of Matzuo's and have found many bad hooks in the ones I have recieved from Shorty's. I actually recieved a batch of #4's from Shorty's that were nearly unusable, I had to bend every hook to get them to fit the mold, but my one customer insisted I use them and had to have them the next morning. The current popularity in the area I live is amazing, but a few jig makers have their friends fill local internet forums with how awesome "such and such jig" is and of course, since it is on the interne- it's true. The real truth is, most people don't know that better hooks are out there, just as sharp and better quality control. I still cast them for my customers who request them, but I do not use them myself, I'll stick with my Gamagatsu's all day.

Edited May 22, 2011 by Syd Fishious

[Ogajiga]

After I posted this topic in '07 I started using Sickles in my light freshwater jigs more & more, & they worked OK. Sickles have a cult following especially among crappie jiggers, & I suppose they work fine for that. With heavier stress applications, Sickles seem to be prone to bend outs, and after a few I have kinda given up on em for personal use, except for the heavy wire salt water versions.

"Gammy and Mustad both make a better hook." Agreed, my personal use freshwater & light saltwater jigs now mostly sport Gami 604s and Ultra Point 32833s. For micro trout jigs, I'm comfortable with high value VMCs.

Haven't bought Sickles in years, since I too got stuck with the same probably bad batch of #4s. Was wondering what current Sickle jig hook quality is like, particularly the #4 black chromes?