How many of you swap out the trebles on your crankbaits/jerkbaits/topwaters? What do you replace them with? What about red trebles?
Some cranks/topwaters/etc come with quality trebles. Most of the ones I buy, don't :D I usually swap out stock trebles with Gamakatsus.....some round bend, some EWG. I don't use red treble hooks.
I upgrade most of mine with Ultra Points or Gammis. I also change a lot of the back hooks for dressed ones (mainly top waters and jerkbaits). I tried some red hooks last year on some of my baits and honestly I didn't see much difference in bite percentage if any. I'm still not convinced red hooks really make a whole lot of difference, but I don't really know.
One modification that seems to have made a dramatic difference though in hooking percentage is to up-size the back hook on lipless crankbaits. It seems like it helps the "nippers" hook up.
Quote from: Revtro on March 07, 2008, 08:59:37 AM
I tried some red hooks last year on some of my baits and honestly I didn't see much difference in bite percentage if any. I'm still not convinced red hooks really make a whole lot of difference, but I don't really know.
Rev,
Dont think of using red hooks as something to increase your bites. Think of it as something to increase your landing percentage. After reading an article a few years back in North American Fishing Club magazine, i started using one red hook on baits like jerkbaits and big topwaters per the articles suggestion. But only one red hook per bait, and always at the from of the bait. With longer baits like jerkbaits and topwaters ( like spooks, sammys, etc ) if the fish gets the bait by the back hook, they have all that leverage from the weight of the rest of the bait to shake it free. Using a red hook under the belly gives them something better to 'target' when they strike. It works. I throw a ton of jerkbaits in the early spring and late fall and i can honestly say that they will hone in on that red hook 90% of the time. It has really made a difference on the fish on land on these longer baits.
McCarter himself :-\'
Cool. I'll give it a try this season and see what happens. Can't hurt to experiment.
Nothing gets in my boat with factory hooks, just for the rust factor alone. I use gamakatsu ewgs, triple grips, and owner needle points. Same thing a ebond said the ewg/triple grips hold the fish best but don't hook them the best. The triple grips are also a lighter wire which will bend and break after a few big fish. Get yourself some good split ring pliers (see link below), it will make the job much easier. I also change a lot of my split rings, especially the copper ones on rapalas. I've found the basspro split rings to be garbage, jannsnetcraft.com has the strongest.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=27365&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults
I replace the majority of my hooks as well. I typically use triple grips. I will also replace the hooks on a moving bait if at any time I am missing or loosing fish on it. I always carry treble hooks with me in the boat.
I agree with McCarter on the red hooks thing. I put red hooks on the front of a bait and I find very ofter the fish is hooked on the red hook. If nothing else a red hook doesn't hurt and the cost is almost the same.
Good trebles are expensive and I left stores before having spent $50 to $100 on nothing but hooks.
Cy
No Dought about it, change the hooks, yearly and more often if its your confidence bait. If I'm using the same rig and have not lost it after half a dozen or so in medium action water. If I'm snaggin a bunch and pulling up stick fish or christmas treebranches its time to replace. I don't like sharpening hooks cause I cant get them as sharp as chemical sharpenig does and they seem to rudt a lot faster after the file. I like red front. I have been dressing my stickbaits with fancytrebles (feather) hooks for years.
I also have put one of those so it slides between the swivel(18 to 24 or 36 inches) and my spoons in a upand down presentation. Red hook. I hope that helps. Also if my hooks on jigs or anything else feel rough or rusty its time to do something with them cause they aint gonna be sharp anymore. Hey if you just like the atmospher and the exercise throwing your gear, don't change anything.
later
don m
I also change treble hooks on a regular basis rather than sharpening. I believe touching up with a stone opens them up to rust and decay. I tend to use less expensive hooks such as Eagle Claw so it doesn't hurt as much throwing them out. As far as red hooks, when I use them I tend to mount them on the front of the bait. If the fish actually do see the diffenence they will try to hit that and the back hooks give you the followup chance.
It leads to a question though: " Why don't the fish see red line but zero in on red hooks"? Marketing? ;D
I think its because the red color in fishing line is translucent. This translucence will cause the red color to disappear in about 4 feet of water. The red color of a fishing hook is opaque and reflects light which will make the red color visible deeper.
I don't swap out hooks on higher end baits like LC's, but almost always swap lesser quality hooks. I like the Gammy or Owner round bends for most baits, but will experiment with others if I want to have a shorter/longer shank on a certain bait.
I like to increase one size on the belly hook if the bait will allow it. I also like to put an oval split ring on the line tie. The action of a crank or jerkbait can & will change slightly with hook or split ring swaps. This can be a good/bad thing on an individual basis. I see it most on supending baits or slow floaters. I used to have one rattlin' fat rap that was the kiss of death on northern largies. But to maintain the balance of that bait I had to get rapala hooks/split rings as it needed replacements. (I still hope that pike choked on it; almost made a grown man cry)
I like red belly hooks on fast moving baits, especially traps. Seems they eat that belly hook nearly every time. Haven't noticed a difference on baits I like to pause. That big belly hook will get them in the mouth, and the tail usually pins them outside too; makes it harder for them to throw.
I don't sharpen hooks anymore. I can't possibly match the point that Gammy/Owner puts on their stuff. I also think sharpening takes off any protective coating. Like getting a scratch in the blueing on a gun.
Speaking of rust, good hooks cost a bundle. Go to any shoe store, and ask for some of the silicone packets that come with the shoes. Throw them in your boxes to absorb moisture. I also like to open my compartments once I'm back in the garage to help dry out.
I buy red hooks as well, but if you do, you will find that the red comes off. I bought red lure dip and dip the hooks back in it which works great. It last a while then I dip them again. One bottle last a long time.
Here is a video on what to do when changing out trebles on short body baits.
http://www.bassedge.com/sections/show_media_center/Videos