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Hi guys,

I'm looking for strong hooks for Gourami. I've been using Gamakatsu SW bonefish hooks but can only get these down to size 10. Do they make smaller? Alternatively can anyone recommend hooks that are strong and smaller? He bone fish hooks size 10 straighten around a screwdriver at 9lb pull.

Many thanks,
Paul

Try and have a look at the hooks carp anglers use.
I know I have some around, will check them tomorrow...

Cheers
Lasse

How small you need?
Gamakatsu live bait goes down to #12.
Mustad 9174 goes really small, not sure how strong it is, just bought some to see if I could use them in relatively small sizes in surf candies for BFT.

Ants are 16 and I once saw a pod of Gourami over 5KG feeding on buzzers about size 20.

I have some Carp hooks but they have a wide gape and it's hard enough to float the heavy hooks without unnecessary gape.

I might try writing to Gamakatsu.

How are the Mustad hooks now? I started fly tying with Mustad.

Thanks, Paul

I think kamasan probably do the biggest range in strong hooks in smaller sizes, they do specimen hooks down to 18.... or Tiemco would be the other I’d look to as they do 2x heavy wire.

I’d guess kamasan is your best bet, certainly very popular for large fish, small hook size in NZ.
A quick look online at their specimen / carp range:
https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/kamasan ... eyed-hooks
https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/kamasan ... eyed-hooks

Czech nymph hooks - I use Partridge CZ (not the light ones,the regular) for pretty much almost all of my flies, but there´s other very similar around. can´t wait to get my hands on some Ahrex stuff. They seem to know what they are doing too.

I do not need the strength for the toddlers I fish, but I know they are strong and sharp. I like them for the large eyes, which means you get them knotted to a decent tippet.

I have bought a package each of the hooks Boisker mentioned above. The Kamasan B911x Eyed and Kamasan Animal Eyed Barbless hooks in size 12. I did an unscientific test using a scale from the Swedish anglers society (Sportfiskarna), certified for registering to their big catch database, with two hooks from each package and they straightened at around 12-13 lbs from what I could see. They both take up to 0.50 mm/21 Kg/46 lbs Stroft GTM mono in the eye. What does Paul say about that?

Paul says that sounds bloody amazing! I'll get some and test them. I'm very surprised. I thought bonefish hooks would be the strongest.

Many thanks,
Paul

For my tippet I'm fishing 20lb Spectra. This allows me to fish in stumps.

They weren't that expensive either, £1.69 for ten hooks. I just tested two Gamakatsu Live Bait size 10. It takes 0,60 mm Stroft GTM and instead of straightening it breaks at 28 lbs. The wire in the Kamasan are 0,6 mm and the Gamakatsu is 1 mm thick.