I can distinctly remember using pre-snelled Eagle Claw hooks for bass and perch during my summertime forays to upstate New York lakes back in the 60s as a kid escaping from the NYC urban jungle. It’s good to see them 50 years later still doing the same thing and at the top of their game. When you think about it, Eagle Claw is the only major American-made fishhook. For some readers of The Fisherman looking to support the made-in-USA label, that might be an important factoid. If it is, then these new Eagle Claw Lazer TroKar saltwater hooks are definitely for you, as they are manufactured in their Denver, CO factory.
The new Lazer TroKars are some of the sharpest fishhooks on the planet. They are designed from the get-go to pierce and penetrate the toothy maws of the toughest coastal and pelagic species that cruise the world’s oceans. With its symmetrically engineered three-sided point, superior quality heat-treated wire and welded eyes (on select styles), there is a Lazer TroKar hook out there that should work for your style of fishing.
DIFFERENT STYLES
The full saltwater line-up starts with the TK3 and TK4 Lancet Circle. These hooks are a light-to-mid wire circle hook with a wide gap and welded eye, offered in sizes 1/0 to 9/0. Available in both an offset (TK3) and non-offset (TK4) version, the Lancet Circle is ideal for myriad species, techniques and fisheries. The TK5 AP Circle is designed to be a tournament money-maker. Based on perfected and proven designs in the billfish tournament world, the TK5 AP Circle is sure to provide consistent hook-ups and retention rates. They are offered in sizes 7/0, 8/0 and 9/0, all in non-offset tournament-approved designs.
Live bait fishing is as popular as ever from coast to coast, and Lazer TroKar is now manufacturing some of the planet’s finest live bait hooks. When targeting inshore or near-shore species such as weakfish, redfish, snook or sea trout, the light wire TK7 will be the ideal hook, available in sizes 2 to 4/0. When conditions and target species call for a more robust design, the TK8 Extreme Live Bait HD might be the optimum choice of hook. The heavy wire design and welded eye of the TK8 is ideal for chunking tuna and big stripers and is available in sizes 1/0 to 8/0.
The Eagle Claw folks sent me a sample package of the Live Bait HD hooks in size 7/0 (eight in the pack) and upon closer inspection, they are all literally works of art. The unique three-sided knife-edge point is super sharp and very “sticky.” Anything it touches, it seems to penetrate with ease, including my fingertips! The short shank bend is forged for max strength, with the aforementioned welded eye that should make a great stopper when snelling your hooks (always the best way to attach hook to line). TroKar’s patented triple-sided point uses technology originally developed for surgical suture needles. The result of this added step is that comparison tests have shown that TroKar hooks consistently pierced a test medium with as little as half the pressure of other competitive hook designs. That should insure more hook-ups for us common folk when practicing our sport. I can’t wait for my first offshore tuna trip, where some of these 7/0 Live Bait HD beauties will definitely get a chance to show their mettle.
Inshore enthusiasts will be pleased to see the popular Kahle design utilized in the new saltwater family of TroKar hooks. The TK9 Inshore Kahle is the perfect hook for live or dead bait, especially when rigging shrimp. Available in sizes 1/0 to 5/0, the TK9 Inshore Kahle’s deep gap and wicked line-pull ensure consistent and sure-fire hook-ups. Lazer TroKar is now offering the TK10 Saltwater Straight Shank for those saltwater enthusiasts that desire a longer shank and wider gap. Of course, the welded eye of the TK10 goes a long way to ensure your hook-ups make it all the way to the boat. Available in sizes 4/0 to 7/0, the TK10 is perfect for toothy predators and when trolling live or dead bait. The TK11 Extreme Octopus is known as the “big nasty”. Whether fishing for sturgeon, halibut, trolling for mahi-mahis, or drifting for salmon, the TK11 Big Nasty offers you a perfect solution. Complete with welded eye and offered in sizes from 2/0 to 7/0, the TK11 will be applicable to a variety of species on all three saltwater coasts.
Ideal for kingfish and other aggressive predators that pull like a freight train, the TK315 4X treble will hold up to the punishment. Built with straight points and a regular shank, the TK315 is one fish-hooking machine. It is also an excellent choice for upgrading and/or replacing standard trebles on all of your favorite lures or when fishing live bait and using a stinger hook.
All Eagle Claw Lazer TroKar saltwater hooks feature a durable premium black chrome finish, specifically tailored to withstand the corrosion and abuse that fishing in the briny presents. The MSRP for these new TroKar hooks is $21.99 and each package has a varied count based on its style and size.
