Korda Longshank Beaked Hooks

How well is it built?

The Longshank Beaked is forged from a stepped-up wire gauge, so it's a thicker, stronger hook than the fly patterns it grew out of.

That matters more on a long shank than on most hooks, because the extra length puts more leverage on the bend, and the heavier wire is there to stop it opening out when a big carp hangs in weed or powers off under the rod tip.

The finish is a PTFE coating, which gives the hook a smooth, dull surface rather than bright metal, and it should help the point slide in once it has caught hold. You also get a choice of micro-barbed or barbless versions, so the same pattern covers venues with different rules.

To be fair, there's nothing exotic in the materials, and it doesn't have the specially finished point of the Korda Kamakura Krank. For a strong, coated long shank you can tie on session after session, though, I think 8.5 is a fair score.

Sharpness

The point matters even more on a long shank than on most hooks, and the beaked shape is a big part of this one's appeal.

The tip curves slightly in towards the shank rather than running dead straight, which gives it a little more protection when the rig is dragged across gravel or settles on a hard bottom, though any point will still blunt on stones and mussels.

The PTFE coating helps as well, because a slicker finish means less drag as the point pricks into the mouth. The micro barb shouldn't need much force to push past, while the barbless version relies entirely on a sticky point, so it's worth swapping that one a little earlier.

For me, a beaked point is the right choice on a long shank, since the hook is built to turn quickly and you want the point to catch the moment it comes round.

As with any carp hook, I'd check it on a thumbnail after every fish, and overall 8.5 feels right for a sharp, well-protected point.

Hooking & Hold

This is where the redesign counts. The 40-degree in-turned eye and the beaked point are both there to speed up the turn in the fish's mouth and improve the hold, and on a long shank, that pairing should make the hook flip and catch quickly as a carp moves off with the bait.

That 40-degree angle is a little steeper than the 35-degree in-turn on the Nash Claw Long Shank.

The pattern suits spinner and combi rigs, as well as PVA and solid bag rigs, with bottom baits, wafters or pop-ups, and a D works well on the longer shank. Sizes 8 to 2 cover a single wafter right through to a big bottom bait.

So, why not a higher score? A long shank adds leverage, and some anglers feel that makes hook pulls more likely than with a short wide gape.

The beaked point and in-turned eye go some way to answering that, so I think 8.5 is fair for a pattern that's built to turn fast and hold on the rigs it's made for.

Is it good value for money?

Is it good value? It's priced in line with most branded carp hooks, and a packet of ten goes a long way when you only change the hook after a fish or a snag.

For that, you get a forged, PTFE-coated hook in a heavier wire with a modern beaked point, which is a fair spec for the money.

Next to the Nash Claw Long Shank, it's a close call, since both come micro-barbed or barbless in sizes 2 to 8 with ten to a pack. The Claw has its Power Forge Bend, while the Longshank Beaked has the steeper eye and the beaked point, so it comes down to which shape you trust.

If your fishery insists on barbless hooks, the barbless version covers the same four sizes.

Overall, I'd recommend the Longshank Beaked to carp anglers who like a long shank on spinner, bag or D-rigs and want a strong pattern that's built to turn quickly and stay put.