Hi All U ROFFers,

At one time O. Mustad & Son of Norway 'owned' the fly hook market in the
USA. When I started in this business in 1965 we bragged about actually
having Mustad hooks in the big sporting goods store I worked for.

Then along came the Japanese hooks (TMC imported by Umpqua) and took that
market away from them. Now Mustad and Eagle Claw hook companies are trying
to play catch up but it is pretty tough now that there are a half dozen good
brands of Japanese hooks.

Actually the Japanese hook companies pretty much took all the fishing hook
business in the USA.

The Japanese hooks are sharper with hard metal with smaller barbs and
smaller better formed eyes.

You will always have people that will argue anything for the sake of
auguring.

Also there are those who will always want to buy the cheaper products and
try to convince themselves and others that the 'good stuff' is really just a
capitalist plot to get all your money. har har.........

My business is supply and demand so we don't carry any Mustad hooks except a
few old traditional salt water hooks for people on a budget. At one time we
had 95% Mustad, now we are ~5% Mustad. In the real world the customers
decide what you carry and if you don't follow that you will be history. I
have about $30,000 invested in a network of computers, software and training
with Retail Pro point of sale software to tell me these things.

Like I said before, my opinion means nothing, but my customers' opinions do.
Our only decision at the shop is what new products to put in stock then
customers take over after that.

The good thing is after all is said and done, you can do what ever you want
and it is OK.

"Four................."

--
Bill "Full of Bull" Kiene

Kiene's "BS" Fly Shop
Goofsville, OK, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com