It's no secret that competitive tournament angling has played a key role in the many advancements made in the last decade with regards to tackle and other fishing-related equipment. Touring pros like myself have continually harped on manufacturers to build products better suited for our needs, and they have responded accordingly. Boats and motors are more durable and trustworthy. Rods are lightweight, yet stronger and more sensitive to the touch than ever before. Reels are built to take a beating and keep on performing.
Lures are now available in just about every form and fashion in both hard-bodies and soft plastics.
The hook scenario is no different. Gone are the days of spending five minutes honing a new jig, spinnerbait worm or treble hook to needlepoint sharpness. Here are the days of taking a bait directly out of the package and dropping it in among good-looking bass cover with confidence. Not only are these hooks sharper, but the they also are much stronger and constructed from smaller diameter wires, thus allowing for better penetration on the hookset. In addition to building sharper, stronger hooks, some of these companies have broadened their horizons by constructing specialized hooks designed for particular types of fishing.