Gear Review: The Baker Hookout Max-T®

This a review of the Baker® Hookout Max-T.  You can find the Baker product line at Bakerhookout.com.  This is my first gear review for the Outdoor Blogger Network.  

A Little Background

The original 9″ Hookout was developed in 1956 and anglers continue to use it over 50 years later.  It has proven itself time after time as a safe way to remove hooks and lures.  Baker continues to develop tools to aid both casual and avid anglers alike and now carries over forty different products.

The Max “T” HooKouT

I received the Baker® Max-T Hookout and it appeared to be a tool that would prove especially useful in the practice of catch and release or in the case of a “toothy” fish.

Made of rust-resistant components, this Hookout has a 13” reach.  The tip is designed to reverse the angle of the hook making it easier to remove.  The longer shaft of this tool makes it easier to de-hook a fish without having to boat it, putting much less stress on the fish and giving it a better chance at survival after release.

I especially like the slim, straight design of this Hookout over the right angle of
the original.  Since most of my fishing is done from a kayak, this slimmer tool is much easier to store out-of-the-way when I’m not using it.  The length is ideal because it maximizes my reach and enables me to keep the fish in the water while removing the hook.

I found the Max-T very easy to use.  As the directions described I placed the tip around the hook, squeezed the handle towards the “T”, then twisted.  The hook came out quick and clean.

The only thing that would have made the Hookout more kayak fishing friendly (or wading friendly) would be a means to fasten it to a lanyard or a retractor. After I made the picture below I affixed a cord to it between the handle and the “T”  but an eyelet of some sort would have been nice.

On a scale of 1 to 10 I give it a rating of 9 and would recommend it to anyone that is looking to buy a hook removal tool.

Disclaimer:
As with all reviews on ShesAManiYak.com, this review is my honest opinion.  I received the Baker Hookout Max-T free of charge from The Outdoor Blogger Network and agreed  to provide a review in exchange. ShesAManiYak.com is not sponsored by or associated with Baker and is accepting no other compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review.