In the summer when we are brush pile fishing a lot of minnows get dunked. We lose a lot of fish at the boat that throw the hook though and I'm looking for some ideas that don't start with "get a better net boy" . Ive seen some sickle aberdeen hooks and was wondering if any of you guys have experience and any thoughts on them.

Here is a link to what I found. Are there any American made versions out there?

http://www.matzuo.com/sicklehooks

I am no expert by any stretch but I love them. Eagle claw ones from Academy. Those Mr. Crappie red with offset are awesome too!!

I don't use the matzuo hooks for minnows any more...they have a very light barb and seem to loose minnows pretty easy... eagle claw has their version of a sickle hook with a good barb....so far it has done really well for me.

This.

I have also found some small bronze kahle hooks that I started using a little last summer. I was pleasantly surprised with the job they did. Especially with young or inexperienced anglers in the boat who were either a little slow on the hook set or just started reeling. They act similar to a circle hook in that the fish basically hooks themselves. The majority of the fish were hooked in the corner of the mouth.

>E

I seldom use minnow hooks anymore...but when I did, the tru-turn bronze were the hook of choice in a 2/0and 3/0 size. I guess they still make them...

All I use if I fish minnows. I find I stick more fish in the hard roof of the mouth using them. With the tru turns, I tend to hook more in the side where its soft. Also, the sharpness of the Matzuo hook is superior to others.

I use the matzuo sickle hooks for my jig heads but only ever use the classic eagle claw aberdeen hooks when we have to use minnow late summer. I hardly ever lose crappie on them.
I did not know matzuo had some minnows hooks looks like they will work very well. plus matzuo is a very sharp hook if you get a good batch. I had a few batches break at the bend before.

what size aberdeen do you use Phill?

I use sickle hooks on all my jigs, but have found that when I hook minnows through the lips with sickle hooks...the minnow tends to come off more often that with a regular "U" shaped hook, so my minnow hooks are all Eagle Claw Extra Light wire, size 2:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/eagle-claw-aberdeen-hooks-bronze

If you want Matzuo and find some, you had better get them. That company is in bankruptcy. The custom jig makers are in a panic.

this is correct
no panic here though LOL

Count me odd man out. I like of red offset Mr Crappie minnow hooks for minnows and regular round bed hooks on my jigs. Sickles get hung up too easy and minnows fall off IMO. Plus the way I set the hook it's going in their face no matter what it is.

Thanks for all the input. Ive noticed that in the summer we lose more fish than in the winter. Its probably because in the summer they are coming up from the deep, coming in vertical, and are more lively considering the warmer temps. In the winter (now) we are pulling them from 20-40 feet away under slip bobbers. The fish are already on their side considering they are in shallow water and we boat swing the majority of them. They don't seem to fight as hard since they are colder i guess. I don't just limit myself and customers to minnows though we are fishing bridges and timber as well this time of year but generally all with jigs that have sickle hooks.

I'm going to give the eagle claw sickle hooks a run and see how they perform. I heard about matzuo and honestly that's fine because it will give more opportunity for American companies to sell product.

Pete, I use #2 hooks usually. I don't seem to kill as many dinks that way.

Right there with you Todd.