[CANOEandFISH]

First post... please help me out if you can.


Looking hard for "Extra Wide Gap" Jig Hooks in 2/0 and 3/0 sizes.

I found the Mustad 37188 hooks which apparently only come up to 1/0 in size. At least, that's what Barlow's shows on their website.

Thanks for your help!

[stankdog]

How bout Mustad 91768, Barlow's has those 1/0-5/0

[hawnjigs]

Haven't seen any 90* wide gaps available besides the 37188s which samples I got appeared to be poor quality Mustad "classic". If just for your own use you can bend standard "J" or Sickle hooks into wide gaps pretty easily. By putting the new bend into the straight shank just on the eye side of the existing J bend the strength shouldn't be significantly affected. Further bending of the already curved "J" will almost certainly weaken the bend out resistance of the hook. This suggestion is the result of my own experimentation, and not the qualified advice from hook mfgs.

[CANOEandFISH]

The Mustad 91768 has a 28-degree shank, not a 90-degree.

I might could bend the hook shank to 90-degrees, but not sure if it would be too short, or too long.

Everything depends on the mold.

Thanks

[hawnjigs]

Suggest not counting on angled hook eye legs aka eye stems being bendable to 90*. Well tempered premium brands including Ultra Point tend to snap at the point of the angle. EC 57x, Mustad 3275x, and Matzuo Aberdeens (not Sickles) might be bendable but thats because they are softer wire.

[hawnjigs]

OK, need to clarify - the hooks listed are already 90* and were mentioned to advise you that only weak hooks can be bent at the eye legs to alter the angle. On further consideration the ideal hook for do it yourself 90* wide gaps would be Sickles which already have a wider gap than standard Aberdeens and a harder angle on the point leg similar to commercial Mustad and Gami wide gaps. The most practical place IMO to bend to reposition point angle was mentioned, any other place will weaken the hook.

[hawnjigs]

Hey, C&F, what mold do you need the hooks for?