>Lots of reasons why I prefer the gammies over a hook like the
>st-36:
>
> * The Owner hook is very heavy hook. It weights the slammer
>down and the action is deadened.
> * Heavy wire hooks are more susceptible to dulling. They dull
>faster and a dull heavy wire hooks is less likely to stick a
>fish than a dull light wire. They're also *much* harder to
>sharpen.
> * I (personally) don't like beaked hooks for hard baits
> * The light wire bronze finish is less spooky than the shiny
>black
> * And to repeat what I said earlier: light wire small barb
>hooks do a better job of hooking fish when you're not really
>setting the hook much. Slammer bites should be handled like
>crankbait bites, with a soft rod and a soft hookset.
>
>As far as baits go, I've been extremely happy with the newer
>baits I've purchased over the last few years. I like shorter,
>fatter, floaty slammers. A lot of the new 7 inch baits have
>been perfect in this regard, and have become my new favorite
>slammers.

I agree completely, but i think you meant ST-41, the ST 36 is a perfect bend 1X strong bitchin hook (http://www.outdoorproshop.com/Owner-Super-Needle-Point-Treble-ST-36-p/owner_needle-point-treble-st36.htm) .... I am considered a "Slammer Whore" by my peers. I find the owner ST-41 (2X cutting beaked point I believe you are referring to) to be the WORST style of treble hook for fish like stripers or largemouth... I used them for a year when they came out cause they looked evil, and my hookup percentage fell off dramatically... or should I say, landed fish fell off. You get the nice weighty hook-up, then the fish comes off very quick. The fish you land will often have tears from where the hook was originally planted, tore out, then finally the hook regrabbed just barely through the skin of the jaw. The hooks tear their way out.. anyone with time on the water that catches fish knows this. Beaked point hooks are OK for fish that BITE their prey vs. sucking it in, like wahoo or trout, but I still prefer a non-beaked hook in all applications. None of my friends that fish alot like this hook. A "perfect bend" style hook will hookup MUCH better, and will not tear out as easily if your technique is good.

I landed a 29.5# striper one time that choked a super spook with some 41s on there (back in the day when I fished micro baits), and you could see deep cuts from where it was hooked deep in the roof of the mouth, then the hook tore out and finally re-grabbed in the jaw (luckily, I think half the time it just pops out of the mouth).

PARTICULARLY SO with a big plug where the fish is unlikely to choke it, where you'll have a hook in the corner of the jaw and one in the cheek typically.

They are also way more likely to cut your line if the fish eats it such that your line ends up around one of the hooks, that's happened to me too with the horrible POS ST-41s.

They are popular with certain bait makers because they look mean and they don't scar up the baits as quickly (for the same reason they don't hook fish as well), but I like to land 90%+ of my good bites so I steer clear of the crap hooks. I have a box full of the beaked point owners I've removed from baits and replaced with the needle point ST 36 or 56.

Normally I would never state something like this publicly, as I am a competitive and secretive bastard, but I am sick and tired of seeing these garbage beaked point hooks tear up fish and cause angler heart-ache! I'm sure someone will jump on me and say "hey I landed this fish on the ST-41" , but to that I say - Exceptions don't prove the rule! It's not about what your landing, it's about what you're not landing!

Marcus