hook's breaking

[LedHed]

Roger
If you move a secured hook vertically/horizontally, often enough, it will weaken. You change the tempering, by creating the friction.
Found that sickles sit slightly higher in the vise and can be bent back and forth easily. If you are clamping the hook at the barb; try holding the hook at the bend, while you tie, to keep it from moving.

[slipbobber]

I've been using sickles for a while and have noticed that if I snag them and straighten the hook out and rebend back into shape 4-5 times they will break. As for lead being too hot I don't think so if anything that would remove some temper from the steel and make the hook softer. I remember as a youngun that some people would heat the hook up with a match to make it easyer to bend. My 2 cents worth anyway.

[roger]

Guess I have been lucky never had any issues with any breaking. But I think there was a post a while back about the company may have had a bad bunch of hooks or something. Shoot I have sold Thousands of hooks from #8 up to 10/0 of Matzuo's this year not a person has complained about them breaking. But stuff does happen. I also posted in the other thread that having the lead way to hot may have caused the hooks to weaken as the molds can get bad hot with your lead heated up to high.
Also on my lead pot. Lee 20 lb I never run it above 3.5 when pouring as you will have your lead way to hot.
Pete

Thanks for the feed back I have the same pot as you a Lee 20 lb. I looked at the setting the other day and it had got turned up to Hi while I was pouring 16 oz snagging sinkers. I reset it to 3.5 and I haven't had any problem with the hooks breaking sense.

Thanks everyone that posted a answer to my problem.

[roger]

My first question from what you posted "I have it set at high or 10," what type of lead are you using???? I have several crappie jig molds that I use tire weight in and have never had a problem with the sickles.

You might have th lead way too hot!!!! I usually have mine dialed in about 650 - 700 with lead that I have pigged out and cleaned. Try turning the heat down alittle.

Fatman

I had my melting pot set to high, after reading ShilohRed's post I realized that I have it set to high so I reset it to 3.5 and no more problem with breaking hooks.
I have a 220 volt Lee 20 Lb. pot and I use soft lead I don't like tire weights, no good reason other than my father wouldn't use them so I don't.

[Joe Tilghman]

I had that problem with some Waley Marshall hooks when the watter was real cold they would break and not bend.

[GCD]

I use the Eagle Claw 570 and 575 jig hooks in my jigs, they're designed to straighten when fished with the proprer # test line.

I fish a lot of submerged timber and can't stand it when I break one of my jigs off that hasn't even caught a fish!!!

[Chowan]

I am having a lot of my hand tied jigs to break, could I have my lead pot set to high on the temp? I have it set at high or 10, I've been using Matzuo sickle hooks Red, size #6. They have been breaking at the first bend in the hook. Any help you can give will be great. Thanks in advance

are u keeping plastic on the hook when storing from week to week. salt impregnated plastic will weaken your hook