Gardner Covert Dark Mugga Hooks

How well is it built?

Like the Talon Tip, the Covert Dark Mugga is forged from double-tempered high-carbon steel. That's a strong wire for its gauge, so the hook shouldn't open out when a big carp kites towards a snag or a weed bed, and the tempering helps stop it becoming brittle.

The bend is non-reversed, which means the point lines up with the shank rather than being offset to one side.

The finish is a single-layer matt electroplating in the Covert Dark colour. It's dull rather than shiny, so it won't flash on the lake bed, and the thin layer keeps handling damage to a minimum while the hooks are finished and packed.

Then there's the micro barb, which takes less wire out of the hook than a full barb and leaves it stronger near the point. Barbless versions are there for venues that insist on them. For me, it's a solid, well-finished hook, and I think the 8.5 is deserved.

Sharpness

Is it sharp enough to use straight from the packet? Yes, and the point on this version is longer and slimmer than older Muggas, so it should prick more quickly and push in deeper as the fish moves off.

A straight point like this is quick to catch, because the tip faces the skin of the mouth directly.

The flip side is that a straight point is more exposed than a beaked one. Over gravel, shells or a hard bottom, it's more likely to turn over or lose its edge, and that's why it scores a little lower on sharpness than the Gardner Covert Dark Wide Gape Talon Tip.

You'll want to check it on your nail after each fish, and change the hook if it doesn't grip.

Overall, it's a sharp hook that needs a bit more care on rough ground, and 8.0 feels right to me.

Hooking & Hold

This is where the Mugga earns its place. The steep 25-degree eye and sweeping curved shank make the hook turn as the hooklink pulls tight, so the point flips over and sets in the bottom lip or the corner of the mouth.

Those are the firmest places for a hook to land, and the shape gets it there without any tubing, which makes tying rigs quicker.

It suits bottom baits and snowman rigs on a knotless knot, and the curved shank makes it a natural fit for pop-up rigs as well. A micro barb adds a bit of extra security where barbs are allowed, while the barbless version relies on the curved shape and a tight line to stay in.

So, why not a 9.0 like the Korda Wide Gape? A straight point can work loose a little more easily than a beaked one during a long fight. That's a small gap, though, and I think 8.5 is a fair score.

Is it good value for money?

It's one of the cheaper hooks from the big carp brands, with ten in a packet, and you're getting a forged, plated pattern with a proven shape. Because it turns without extra tubing, you'll save a little on rig bits as well.

Against the Gardner Covert Dark Wide Gape Talon Tip, which uses the same wire and finish, the Mugga is the one for curved-shank rigs and a quick-pricking straight point, while the Talon Tip suits rough, gravelly ground.

Next to the Atomic Grabba, a beaked wide gape made for weed and snags, the Mugga is the more all-round pattern for open water.

Pick barbless wherever the fishery rules ask for it. Overall, I'd recommend the Covert Dark Mugga to carp anglers who like a curved-shank hook for bottom baits, snowmen and pop-ups, and who want a simple rig that turns and hooks without shrink tube.