VMC Fishing Hooks Celebrates Centenary – Issue 9

VMC’s hunger for success proves sharper than ever.

The French hook giant is celebrating its centenary with yet more innovations including the deadly efficient Spark Point. “It’s our experience that sets us apart,” says MD Stanislas de Castelnau.

VMC Pêche, 100 years old this year, is working hard to make sure that the company’s longevity and rich tradition are translated into the highest quality.

VMC is rightly proud of the fact that it began fish-hook production in 1910 and that it is the only hook manufacturer to maintain production in Europe. But the famous French hook maker has never lost sight of the fact that it is judged first and foremost on the quality of its products. And while its rich history makes fascinating reading, it is innovative ideas and modern-day technology that drive the business today, ensuring that VMC hooks remain relevant for today’s anglers and lure manufacturers.

High precision machines and tooling are specifically designed and built in-house, and cutting-edge technology is applied to hook shapes, points and coatings. But it is the acquired knowledge through 100 years of hook making and the application of that knowledge to meet changing market needs that has culminated in unsurpassed products, says President and Managing Director Stanislas de Castelnau.

“The success of VMC is based on our leading-edge technology and on our inventiveness. But even more important is the savoir faire of the people making our hooks,” he stresses. “VMC’s success has been made possible by all their years of experience and their ability to continue to develop and innovate in the market. We are in a process of continuous improvement.”

VMC’s contribution to the advancement of hook technology is nowhere more evident than in the distinctive Spark Point, the company’s latest premium product for ultimate and permanent piercing power. The point is hardened by ‘forming’, followed by chemical sharpening. Front and back reinforcement ribs guarantee the point’s rigidity while ‘energy channels’ increase the speed of penetration and driving force, resulting in deadly efficient hooking power. Spark Point has been made available on an extended range of single and treble hooks, including the lethal Tropic treble for tropical fishing. Further evidence of VMC’s pursuit of perfection is the Fastgrip point, which has three micro-barbs to ensure that hook setting is instant – and under only 30% of the pressure required with a regular hook.

The upper barb guarantees swift connection with the fish while the two lower barbs prevent the fish from coming off, even when the line is slack. The Fastgrip also reduces damage compared to a regular barbed hook, complementing catch and release practices.

Permasteel, VMC’s exclusive anti-corrosion coating, creates a protective shield and helps maintain sharpness. The secret formula prevents signs of corrosion in saltwater for over 1,000 hours, says VMC.

Hook shapes have also come under the eagle eye of the VMC design team. The award winning SureSet (Scorpic) Treble – described as ‘the hook with a sting in the tail’ – combines a wide-gape single hook with a double hook to provide maximum scope in attack and hooking rates. The eye has been rotated in line with the largest branch to provide lures with perfect balance and exceptional swimming action, even at high speeds.

The Barbarian treble features a uniquely designed locking curve that ensures the maximum transfer of energy toward the point while setting the hook. This results in a faster penetration and can improve hooking rates by up to 25%.

The treble’s V shape locks the fish close to the shank, applying less pressure on the point. Tests have proven that the unique geometry of the Barbarian increases the hook’s resistance to opening and thus prevents fish escaping.

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