Korda Developments Hook Range

Although there has been loads of features and reviews already written about the Korda range of hooks, there are still anglers out there that have not yet given the hook range a try for one reason or another.

I had been using the Korda hooks for a while, but strayed to try out and use other manufacturers patterns (which I stuck with after purchasing trade packs of each), and forgot about the Korda range during this time. When Ray asked me if I wanted to write the review of the range, I immediately agreed and was soon in receipt of the range once again.

Korda Choddy

In recent years, the Chod rig has been hitting the headlines and the first rig that most anglers nowadays tie up for the majority of their pop-up presentations. With this in mind, Korda sat down and looked at other patterns on the market and designed what they feel is the perfect pattern for pop-up rigs.
The Choddy has an out-turned eye - which is required when used with stiff hooklink materials - so that the hooklink allows the hook to sit correctly when in the water as well as to put less pressure on the hooklink at the point of exit from the eye. The eye is angled at 25 degrees, which is more than some other hooks of similar ilk, and if I am to be honest, allows the perfect exit of the hooklink.
The point is also inturned slightly, which when used as it is intended to, will give better hooking potential in the bottom lip and will stay put once in. The wire guage of the hook is also just about spot on, and is also forged flat for additional strengthening.
Unlike most of the other manufacturers of a dedicated stiff rig hook, Korda also market a barbless version which means that anglers can fish with the rigs they have confidence in, with the knowledge that they are not bending or breaking most day ticket fishery rules. I have used the Choddy B on various day ticket waters over the past year, and found hookholds to be superb and as good as if I was using the barbed version. I have no doubt that the inturned point helps with this, and found that mouth damage (something that a lot of anglers and specimen fishery owners associate with the use of large barbless hooks) was non-existant. I also use these with hinged stiff rigs and hookholds are just as good as they are with other patterns.

Korda Kurv Shank

The Kurv Shank, is exactly the pattern that it says that it is. The design behind this pattern is based upon the old sedge style of hook that was used in fly fishing, which has superb anti-eject properties with a variety of rigs. The straight point of the pattern lends itself perfectly with use with bottom baits (which is the only time I use this type of hook other than one specific pop-up rig), although some anglers do use them more for pop-ups. The curve of the shank gives a claw-like action of the rig when tied up with a small knot and the hair exiting close to the eye rather than the bend. A lot of anglers use this pattern in a blowback rig style using a rig ring that slides long the shank tied to the hair, but I prefer to use a different pattern for this style of rig. When using a KD Rig though, the Kurv Shank is my first choice of hook, as the hooking potential is greatly enhanced with the longer hair and the exit point close to the eye. This pattern also lends itself well to having a piece of shrink tube elongating the shank in the same angle of the curve, making a safe version of the old Partridge PiggyBack style hook. The curve of the shank and the angle in which the eye sits lends this pattern as a great change hook for the Multi-Rig (sometimes known as the Jonny Mac Rig) because of the angle the point is positioned in under a bouyant bait. One little use that I have found for this pattern of hook, is that in the smaller sizes it makes a superb floater pattern which does increase the take to hook up ratio a fair bit given the claw type effect that this pattern is designed around.
Korda also market a barbless version of this pattern, but although I personally don't like to use barbless hooks with curved shanks for personal reasons, there are plenty of anglers out there that have welcomed this introduction.

Korda Longshank X

The Longshank X is one of my favourite patterns, and I am not ashamed to admit it. For the majority of bottom bait work the first hook I reach for is a long shank pattern due to the turning potential that it gives, especially with a short piece of shrink tube placed over the eye as a crank. With long shank hooks, 99% of the time I will use a smal piece of silicone just above the bend to trap the hair, but also leave quite a long gap between the bend and the bottom of the bait. The gap between the hook and the bait is important with a long shank hook, and for some reason the bigger the gap, the better the hookhold seems to be in the bottom lip. This pattern also lends itself very well for use with a rig ring tied blowout style to the hair as the long shank enables the bait to be blown completely back along the hook out of the way. The straight point of the hook is perfect for bottom bait use, and with almost any bait. The Longshank X also has a 20 degree downturned eye that accentuates the flipping of the hook when it is in the fishes mouth. As I have mentioned, I like to use a short piece of shrink tube with this pattern to make the turning potential far greater.
A lot of long shank hooks tend to be weaker than the same pattern with a shorter shank, but the Longshank X is not in this category whatsoever. The strength of the hook is superb and I have used these with confidence in all but the most hit & hold situations with no opening out.
Korda have not released a barbless version of the Longshank X due to the risk of mouth damage that can occur with long shanked hooks. All in all the Longshank X is my first choice for bottom bait rigs and in the smaller sizes, makes for a superb hook for the Mag Aligner.

Korda Wide Gape

When you mention Korda hooks to an angler, the first pattern that will come straight to mind is the Wide Gape. Based on the classic Maruta Kinryu pattern that was the only hook that a lot of the old school anglers would use on places like Yateley and Savay in their hey day, it is no surprise that the Wide Gape is a very popular pattern indeed. I must be honest and say that I don't really use the Wide Gape as much as I should due (due to personal preference for straight pointed hooks), but I am not going to say that the hook is not right for the majority of anglers needs - as it obviously is else it would not sell so well. I do know that Ray uses the Wide Gape's in their various forms for the majority of his angling, and it does not seem to detract from his catch rate one bit.
The pattern does suit almost all arrangements that you can think of with soft hooklink materials as the inturned eye allows the hook to flip with most means of bait attachment. The turning potential of the Wide Gape is increased more, just like with the Longshank X, by adding a piece of shrink tube over the eye.
To cater for every anglers needs, Korda have a barbless and a stronger version of the hook in the Wide Gape B and the Wide Gape X. Both of these patterns have a thicker wire guage to increase strength of the hook, and in the case of the barbless version, to keep the hook in place once in the fishes mouth. A thicker wire guage helps to negate the missing barb, and lowers the chance of movement during the fight.
All in all the Wide Gaoe family of hooks are the first choice for a lot of anglers including some of the top names in the sport. Who am I to argue with those anglers, and I will be trying the Wide Gape patterns a lot more in the coming season.

Conclusion

Korda have really hit the nail on the head with the range of hooks that they had made available. Some companies will release a pattern of hook simply because it looks right and "carpy", but all of the hooks in the Korda range have been thoroughly researched and developed to do specific jobs. Every hook in the range has been Teflon coated which is non-reflective in the water and helps the rig to be camouflaged better, as well as allowing almost frictionless penetration into the mouth of the quarry. I have had a good look at the points across the range under a jewellers eye glass, and every hook that I inspected was as sharp as a hypodermic needle - which is exactly what the angler requires. The wire guages used across the range are also perfect and not under gunned or over the top. Too thick of a guage wire makes the hook can impede hook penetration with lighter leads, but I would have no problems at all in using these with leads as small as one ounce and expecting good hookholds from the off.

For more information on the Korda range of hooks or any of the other items in the product range, please click on the Korda logo below.