PLEASE NOTE: In order to post on the Board you need to have registered. To register please email paul@sexyloops.com including your real name and username. Registration takes less than 24hrs, unless Paul is fishing deep in the jungle!

Sakuma hooks?

Moderator: Viking Lars

Post Reply
Mangrove Cuckoo
Posts: 1038
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:51 am
Answers: 0

Sakuma hooks?

#1

Post by Mangrove Cuckoo »

Hey folks...

Does anyone have experience with this brand?

I saw some nice looking tarpon hooks at a show a while back and just recently stumbled upon my notes.

They seem a bit difficult to obtain in the USA, and I heard an interesting story as to why but it was just conjecture.

Internet searches all seem to lead to the UK, but the hook is a Japanese product.

Any info?
With appreciation and apologies to Ray Charles…

“If it wasn’t for AI, we wouldn’t have no I at all.”
User avatar
Paul Arden
Site Admin
Posts: 19528
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:20 am
Answers: 2
Location: Belum Rainforest
Contact:

Sakuma hooks?

#2

Post by Paul Arden »

It looks to be a UK brand. I’ve never tried them!

Cheers, Paul
It's an exploration; bring a flyrod.

Flycasting Definitions
RudyV
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2013 8:30 pm
Answers: 0

Sakuma hooks?

#3

Post by RudyV »

I understand Sakuma 410 and 420 are rebranded Varivas.

Manta and Manta extra are very similar to Partridge Predators.

Strong, sharp, nice shape. They work for me.
Mangrove Cuckoo
Posts: 1038
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:51 am
Answers: 0

Sakuma hooks?

#4

Post by Mangrove Cuckoo »

Thanks Rudy!

At the Atlanta show I picked up a fly and immediately asked about the hook. It was a Sakuma but the professional fly tier was not forthcoming. Luckily I saw the label on the hook package. I knew I had seen them before but the Sakuma name was unfamiliar.

Later, the story I got was the US distributor did something that pissed off the overseas manufacturer and they decided the US market was not worth the hassle... and the hooks were gone.

Varivas was the name of the hook back then. They were highly thought of for tarpon flies.

I'll search for Varivas. Maybe they are more easily obtainable?
With appreciation and apologies to Ray Charles…

“If it wasn’t for AI, we wouldn’t have no I at all.”
User avatar
Paul Arden
Site Admin
Posts: 19528
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:20 am
Answers: 2
Location: Belum Rainforest
Contact:

Sakuma hooks?

#5

Post by Paul Arden »

I’ve used Vativas as trout hooks and they are excellent. I haven’t tried or even seen their Tarpon hooks. Curiously, perhaps, I found their leaders to be the best I’ve used. They have two different Tapers, a long thick butt and a shorter thick butt. The longer one was the good one (for me 20ft+ Leaders).

Cheers, Paul
It's an exploration; bring a flyrod.

Flycasting Definitions
Dave Warren
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:47 pm
Answers: 0

Re: Sakuma hooks?

#6

Post by Dave Warren »

I know this is a super late post but I use Sakuma a lot for tying predator flies and they are super strong and stay sharp for a long time.
Post Reply

Return to “Flytying”