Opening the hook gap

[esoxangler]

I am rereading and you guys are freaking me out with the pictures of these sharks! I just got some 17/0 circles that should do the job after I open them up a bit. I will try to get out Friday or Saturday and see whats up.

[trowpa]

Esox - how do you open the hooks up - specifically? I mean I try with pliers and a vise and I can't get them to budge - they bend a bit, but really just flex - I think i have the strongest 15/0 circles in the world!! I've asked this in other threads, but i still would love to hear someone describe the proper technique for opening up and offsetting circles for sharks...

[trowpa]

Originally Posted by Charkbait

Trowpa,

I think if you have an 1" to 1-1/2" you will do fine on your casted bait if you size the meal correctly.

Charkbait - I just checked my 15/0 penns - they are 3/4" gap from point to shank. Need at least a 1/4 " more eh?

[ben23]

I just put the eye of the hook and a little bit of the shank in the vice, with the rest of the hook coming out the top (the hook is perpendicular to the vise). I take some heavy duty pliers or some sort of grabber. Put it just above the hook barb (not on the pointed tip part of the hook is what I mean- its more like the end of the bend). Then I pull up while slowly "twisting" the wrench to pull the hook point away from the shank and upward at the same time.

it probably doesnt make any sense, but it worked for my 16/0 Mustads!

[Randy Stinchcomb]

Hmmmm, sounds like somebody needs to invent a new tool.................called a "hook spreader"

[igormothra]

what if you put the barb in the vice and used a piece of black iron pipe as leverage on the shank????

[trowpa]

Ben - thanks -that makes perfect sense. I guess I'm just not using the right wrench or am mechanically challenged as that is how I was trying but the hooks don't move and as I use more pressure, the wrench slips off the hook (creating a pretty cool spark i might add!) - all I'm doing is damaging the hook... I guess I'll try them the way they are

[hoax23]

....

[trowpa]

Originally Posted by igormothra

what if you put the barb in the vice and used a piece of black iron pipe as leverage on the shank????

Ahh I thought of that, but am afraid of dulling/damaging the point - plus w/ the circle and the bulk of the vise - to get any good leverage, the angles just don't work - but like I said - Im mechanically challenged...i'm probably just going about this the wrong way

Here's an Idea!! I'll just wait for a 500lb ray to straighten the hook out for me

[trowpa]

Originally Posted by hoax23

put the hook in a vice, get a small piece of piping to slide over the shank to give a little more leverage.

Ahhh! good idea - that will help with the power without the problem of the wrench slipping....i just need to find a way of not damaging/dulling the point...thanks hoax.

[hoax23]

put a small piece of rubber hosing over the point

[trowpa]

(Thanks to the mod - you're right. blatant hijaking!) apologies...

[Steve]

No worries, just giving this good info it's own place so we can find it when we need it later....

[hoax23]

that should work for ya though

[Charkbait]

Just a tip, make it flex way past where you need it to be. For me it's a 2:1 ratio or close to that. Don't be affraid of a LITTLE heat if you need to either, after you bend them they are hot as hell anyway. You must have some serious hooks...mustads bend easy, almost too easy. I've broken gamakatsu's before they've budged...just high quality.