Gardner Covert Dark Wide Gape Talon Tip Hooks

How well is it built?

The Talon Tip is forged from double-tempered high-carbon steel, the same strong wire as the earlier Talon Tip patterns.

Forging flattens the bend slightly for extra strength, and double tempering is there to stop the wire becoming brittle, so the hook should resist opening out or snapping when a big carp heads for a snag.

The finish is a thin, single-layer matt electroplating in the Covert Dark colour. It takes the shine off the hook so it blends in better on the lake bed, and because the layer is thin, it doesn't dull the point the way a heavy coating can.

Handling is kept to a minimum during finishing as well, which helps the points stay sharp until you open the packet.

The micro barb is a sensible touch, as it leaves the hook stronger near the point than a full barb would. For me, it's a well-made, no-nonsense hook, and 8.5 is fair.

Sharpness

The point has been reworked to be longer, slimmer and sharper than the previous Talon Tip, so it should prick faster and penetrate deeper once the hooklink tightens. The thin plating and careful finishing help keep that edge intact until the hook is tied on, too.

The real strength of a beaked point is how well it lasts. Because the tip curves inwards, it isn't the first part of the hook to hit stones as the rig lands or gets dragged back, so it's less likely to turn over on gravel or a rough bottom.

That means fewer hooks thrown away mid-session, which is a big plus on a gravel pit with plenty of spoil bars.

To be fair, no hook stays perfect forever, and it's still worth checking the point on your thumbnail after every fish. Overall, though, I think it's a sharp, hard-wearing point, and 8.5 reflects that.

Hooking & Hold

The 5-degree in-turned eye sets the angle between the eye and the point, which helps direct the point into the mouth as the rig tightens. A wide gape gives that point room to catch, and the beaked tip grips positively as it goes in.

After that, the beak is built to stay in position if a fish shakes the rig, which matters most where barbs aren't allowed.

So, why is it half a point behind the Korda Wide Gape? A beaked point can be a touch slower to take that first hold than a straight one, and the medium shank gives a fish slightly more leverage than a short-shanked pattern.

Neither is a big issue, but on a rig where every bit of hooking counts, it's the difference.

It suits knotless knot rigs with bottom baits and wafters, and it works well with a kicker or shrink tube. Overall, I think it's a dependable hooker and an even better holder, so 8.0 is fair.

Is it good value for money?

Is it worth the money? It's one of the cheaper hooks from the big carp brands, and a packet holds ten, so it isn't a big spend for a pattern built to last on rough ground. A point that stays sharp for longer also means fewer packets over a season.

Next to the Korda Wide Gape, it's very close on value, and the choice comes down to whether you'd rather have the Korda's shorter shank or this hook's angled eye and harder-wearing point.

Against the Gardner Covert Dark Mugga, which shares the same wire and finish in a curved-shank shape, the Talon Tip is the one for wide gape rigs and rough bottoms.

Overall, I'd recommend the Covert Dark Wide Gape Talon Tip to carp anglers fishing gravel pits, spoil bars and rough lake beds, and to anyone on a barbless venue who wants a point that holds once it's in.