Fish hooks are the most frustrating stretch of blacksmith because they require a book. If you don't have the book, you lose a ton of durability. SE probably set them up to be harder than normal because the mats are so low.

Your bread and butter grind will be 4-nugget metal weapon head synths.
Good alternatives are needles when they pop up in the stretch.
Luxury grinds are 3-nugget goldsmith-crossover javelin heads.

As cheap as hooks are to spam, I'd avoid them. Sounds like they're still frustrating to grind on.