Mustad UltraPoint vs Eagle Claw Trokar
With all of the recent hype on Eagle Claw’s new Trokar hooks, I decided to see for myself and put them to a head-to-head test against my Mustad hooks that have served flawlessly thus far this season. Claiming to have its' genesis in the need for a superline hook, Eagle Claw pro-staffers are claiming the hooks to be sharper AND stronger than any other hooks on the market. Given the quality of the brands currently available, such a claim deserves close scrutiny, which is the intent of this grass-roots product comparison.
The hooks that I chose for comparison were Trokars in 1/0, 5/0, and 7/0, similar in size/style to what I would use for a small worm, large worm, and swimbaits respectively. Moons ago, Harry Simmons, now of Mustad, had shown my a way of testing hook points that goes beyond the tried-and-true fisherman’s test of running the hook point across one’s thumbnail. While a “scratch board” test may create visions of a sophisticated piece of lab equipment, in actuality it is nothing more than a chuck of soft-pine 2x4. I had heard of scratch boards being used at various trade/outdoor shows to show the durability of a particular hook, so it seemed reasonable to utilize it for my comparison. The results were quick, concise, and pictured clearly that advertising does not make a hook sharp AND strong!
Put in simple terms, the Trokars that I had simply did not live up to their billing. In fact, curiosity got the best of me as I drew the first hook from the pack so I pulled it across my thumbnail. Although it quickly “stuck” rather than dragging, indicating it was indeed sharp, as I continued the pull I rolled the hook point! I quickly dumped the remaining hooks from the pack and dove into the scratchboard test. As you can see in the accompanying photos, EVERY HOOK POINT rolled on the first pull! I immediately envisioned the chaos the cedars, hedge, and various oak/hickory hardwoods in the areas I typically fish would render on a Trokar hook. No need to even consider the impact a rock would have, but what about the bony snoot of a bass?
I have experienced similar issues while sharpening my hunting knives and broadheads. There is a fine balance between honing a broadhead to its’ ultimate sharpness and keeping the edge strong enough to survive its trip through tough hide and potential impacts with bone. In basic terms, a long, thin point results in a sharp edge but sacrifices strength by the removal of too much material. In contrast, a shorter edge provides plenty of “effective sharpness” while also providing the durability required to make it functional.
Confident I had seen enough of the Trokars, I dug out a handful of comparable Mustad UltraPoints and pulled them across the board over a dozen of times each with ZERO rolled points. Enough said? The point (pardon the pun) is this: I had either come across some inferior Trokar hooks (unlikely given the variety of hooks I tested) or the hook point is simply poorly designed and/or manufactured. I obviously don’t have the market clout of Skeet Reese who is pumping the expensive Trokars, but by the same token, I also don’t have the visibility of Mustad pro Kevin Van Dam. Although I don’t have a sponsor’s paycheck dependent upon my reading their script, I do have tournament victories, points championships, and big prizes in upcoming end-of-the-year fish-offs dependent upon the one thing that connects me to the fish, my hooks! There is no way I can afford to spend a ton on hooks that simply do not perform.
Conclusion: I am sticking with my Mustad UltraPoints!
Posted by Mark Thompson, who is proud to support Smithville Marine, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Motors, Mustad, 724Outdoors.com, Dave’s Custom Baits, and The Buck Stops Here Taxidermy .
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
