Korda Mixa Surface Hooks

How well is it built?

The Mixa is made from a lighter wire gauge than many carp hooks, which keeps it small and light enough to sit under a floating bait without dragging it down. It's still a strong hook for its size, though, and the very short shank keeps the whole pattern compact.

The eye is straight, smooth and properly closed, and that matters when you're tying a knotless knot on the lighter hooklinks that floater and zig fishing often call for.

A rough or open eye can nick fine line, which is the last thing you want when a wary carp finally takes the bait.

To be fair, it isn't a heavy-duty hook, and it's not built to the same gauge as the Nash Twister X, which is made for the biggest carp on hard venues. For a dedicated surface and zig pattern, though, I think the build strikes the right balance, and 8.5 is a fair score.

Sharpness

The point is where the Mixa really earns its marks, and it scores 9.0 for sharpness. It's beaked and offset, so the tip curves slightly in and is angled a touch to one side of the shank, which should help it catch on the lip as soon as a carp closes its mouth on the bait.

That matters because there's no lead to set the hook on the surface, so a sticky point does most of the work. The same goes for a zig, where a fish is often just mouthing the bait mid-water, and the sharpness is also why the pattern is useful for chub and barbel baits.

For me, the point is the Mixa's standout feature, and it's the main reason it edges ahead of the Fox Edges Armapoint Zig & Floater on sharpness.

I'd still check it after every fish and swap it as soon as it skids on a thumbnail, because even a very sharp point won't stay that way forever.

Hooking & Hold

The short shank and wide gape are the heart of the pattern. The shank is short enough to sit neatly with a cork ball or bait fished tight against it, or you can hair-rig a mixer if you prefer, while the wide gape leaves plenty of room for the point to find a hold.

On a zig, the same compact shape hangs quietly under a foam or buoyant bait, and a size 10 or 12 is the usual choice when the water is clear and the fish are wary. Sizes 6 and 8 give you something sturdier for bigger floaters or a larger hookbait.

So, why doesn't hold score 9.0 too? It's a lighter wire, so if you're fishing tight to heavy snags, a stronger pattern like the Nash Twister X makes more sense. On open water, though, I think 8.5 is fair for a hook that's built to take hold fast and stay in.

Is it good value for money?

Is it worth the money? It's priced in line with most branded carp hooks, and ten in a packet will cover plenty of floater and zig rigs. You also get barbed and barbless versions across four sizes, which suits most fishery rules.

Next to the Fox Edges Armapoint Zig & Floater, the Mixa has the beaked offset point, goes down to a size 12 and comes in a barbless version too. The Fox has a slightly out-turned eye for mono hooklinks, so it's worth a look if that's how you tie your zigs.

Overall, I'd recommend the Korda Mixa to carp anglers who fish floaters or zigs over open water and want a small, very sharp hook that takes hold quickly. Chub and barbel anglers looking for a small, sharp pattern should find it useful too.