George Large of Eagle Claw says the new Featherlite series is also the product of an ultramodern tempering processes. “This new temper creates a stronger hook from smaller-diameter wire,” Large says. “The Featherlites come in two styles: Heavy Wire and Finesse. Finesse hooks are scaled down in diameter, but retain the same gap clearance on a shorter shank. In order to maintain the strength and integrity of the hook bend while dropping the diameter and shank length, strong steel is needed. There’s a fine line between a brittle hook and a soft hook, and the Featherlites split the difference with strength to spare.”

The new Featherlite L7042 (available in sizes 8 to 2/0) is designed specifically for walleyes. “We beefed up the old style 42, which was a long-time traditional favorite among walleye fishermen. And through micro grinding, lazer sharpening, and nickel teflon coating, we’ve arrived at what we think is the best walleye hook on the market. This hook was actually designed as a kind of homage to the loyalty of the walleye market.”

Also in the Featherlite Heavy Wire category is the L7741, another alternative style that walleye fishermen will like. The offset point and bend is reminiscent of the Kahle style, but with a straight eye and a nickel teflon coating to ensure faster penetration. “We’ve already had a huge response to the Featherlites from walleye fishermen,” Large says. “The price is in line with what walleye fishermen expect to pay.” Ten packs of all the new Featherlites (except the nickel-teflon trebles, style L754G-2, which sell in 5 packs) retail for approximately $3.30.

Gamakatsu introduced a new glow-in-the-dark dip coating for the octopus, their most popular walleye hook. Glenn Young, sales representative for Gamakatsu, says the new hooks come in all sizes, #8 through #3/0. “The coating covers everything with the exception of the point, which remains bare for better penetration. We’ve also added fluorescent pink and orange to our spectrum of colors. We have people climbing all over us for these new colors.”

Gamakatsu creates needle-sharp conical points on all their hooks. Suggested retail for regular octopus styles (snelling hooks) is $3.40 for a pack of seven. The same pack of seven in the new dipped glow or fluorescent colors sells for $3.80.

Owner, who also imports Japanese hooks, introduced the new 5115 SSW (salmon-steelhead-walleye) snelling hook as a cost cutter. Still a premium hook, the 5115 needle-point sells for about half the cost (suggested retail is $2.75 for a pack of 10) of the classic 5111 knife-edge snelling hook ($5 per pack of 10). “This needle point is made with a slightly lighter wire,” says Dennis Yamamoto, product manager for Owner. “It’s as sharp as any hook on the market, but sharpness isn’t always the main consideration. The cutting edge of the 5111 has less surface area as you move away from the point. Sections are cut out (one factor that raises cost), reducing friction and creating acceleration in the hookset. It sets faster than any needle point—even our own.”