Replacing Stock Hooks On New Lures

[Cast_And_Blast]

I hear all the pros say it and others as we'll but how many of you replace the stock hooks or split rings and such on your new lures? Does it really make that much of a difference? I personally do not do these things but I don't feel like it has a negative effect. Any info you had would be greatly appreciated!!!

[fishinthedacks]

I never do it because of brand issues (on new hooks) but will do it if I feel the lure is good enough to target bigger fish and the hook size seems too small to be effective. Or if I had a lure break that I was just totally in love with the hooks and I have a lure I've had trouble with hook sets I'll see if the different hooks will be more effective.

[SirSnookalot]

I only replace hooks on 2 lures that I frequently use, they are a bit small and not real strong.  One is a blaze minnow I use in freshwater, they get replaced with a #6 3x or 4 x freshwater treble.  The other lure is a 1 oz Gotcha brand jigging spoon, a VMC perma steel 4x either #4 or #2.

[Raul]

Unless the hooks are really cheap ( like the ones found in Rat L-Traps ) I´ll change the hooks, otherwise, most of the baits I purchase, come with good quality hooks ( Mustad, Owner, Katsuage, Gamakatsu, VMC )

[wnybassman]

Many do, and I understand why, but generally I do not.    If the bait comes with a halfway decent black nickel hook and it passes the fingernail test, it gets used.   I do have a supply of replacement hooks to change out if/when necessary.

[papajoe222]

It's a confidence thing on one hand and a belief in Murphy's Law on the other. Kind of like retying a perfectly good knot when you haven't hooked a fish or bumped a stump in the last 30min.

[Jaiden]

I change out hooks that are cheap/dull and those that have a reputation for bending out. It does make a difference for sure. Hook ups are more frequent and no one wants to bend out a hook on a solid fish

[ClackerBuzz]

i see little reason for recreational anglers to do so unless ur fishing obsession carries over onto your tax return ie its ur job to land every fish and pull them out of all cover at all costs. or if you are a truly talented angler who needs the strength.

 

most average joes just pay to feed brush piles expensive hooks. it could also be said that many guys that bend out hooks are simply pulling way too hard on the fish. let the rod do it's job.

i might change out some trebles if i lived in TX

[KDW96]

I chaned out hooks on kvds and lucky strike rc lasy spring. After hooks being bent 4 times,id had enough.

[War Eagle 44]

I change the hardware on every brand of hard bait except two, Spro and Jackall. Spro baits come with Gamakatsu hooks (obviously) and Jackall with Owners. Outside of these two brands all the others get changed first thing. Like papajoe222 said it's more a confidence thing for me, I just feel much better about my hard baits when I know they have good quality hooks and rings. I use either Mustad KVD, Owner, or Gamakatsu as replacements. I only use Spro or Owner rings. 

[SirSnookalot]

i see little reason for recreational anglers to do so unless ur fishing obsession carries over onto your tax return ie its ur job to land every fish and pull them out of all cover at all costs. if i fished at a very high competitive level i would. 

most guys just pay to feed brush piles expensive hooks. it could also be said that many guys that bend out hooks are simply pulling way too hard on the fish. let the rod do it's job.

i might change out some trebles if i lived in TX

About the only time my hook bends is using my pliers, I've seen many a 10# fish pulled up with crappie jig, hook was just fine.

[Bluebasser86]

I change my hooks out except on my Spro baits. I've had too many stock hooks bent out by big fish so now they're almost all changed to either Gamakatsu round bend or EWGs or Owner ST36's. 

[War Eagle 44]

About the only time my hook bends is using my pliers, I've seen many a 10# fish pulled up with crappie jig, hook was just fine.

I was indifferent toward changing split rings on "quality" lures until this summer. I had a 4 or 5 pound bass almost straighten the split ring on my R2S Whopper Plopper. Funny thing is it happened by the fish twisting the hook rather than a straight pull. I know it was twist pressure because it also twisted the eye molded into the body slightly.

I saw the fish because it attacked the lure from directly beneath and came about a foot out of the water when striking. It had the lure when it went back into the water head first but when I set the hook and started reeling it just came off after a few seconds. I was using 50# braid and a tight drag so the hookset was good.

I'm not sure when the twisting took place, I would assume on the hookset, but you know what assuming gets you. Needless to say every since that happened I've become a big believer in the actual need for good quality split rings. Owners being my favorite so far.

[SirSnookalot]

I was indifferent toward changing split rings on "quality" lures until this summer. I had a 4 or 5 pound bass almost straighten the split ring on my R2S Whopper Plopper. Funny thing is it happened by the fish twisting the hook rather than a straight pull. I know it was twist pressure because it also twisted the eye molded into the body slightly.

I saw the fish because it attacked the lure from directly beneath and came about a foot out of the water when striking. It had the lure when it went back into the water head first but when I set the hook and started reeling it just came off after a few seconds. I was using 50# braid and a tight drag so the hookset was good.

I'm not sure when the twisting took place, I would assume on the hookset, but you know what assuming gets you. Needless to say every since that happened I've become a big believer in the actual need for good quality split rings. Owners being my favorite so far.

Could be why a hook bends or split ring pulls a part.  Most fish we catch down here on are in open water, not the need for braid that strong or a tight drag.  Tight drag on lighter line.......fish gonna win a lot of those battles.

[smalljaw67]

If the hooks are dull I'll change them but very seldom do I change out split rings. The only bait I switched out the split rings was the Luck-E-Strike RC STX and it wasn't due to performance, it was due to a larger number than normal said the split rings were failing and after see a lot of that and noticing the bait does use light split rings I decided to be safe than sorry. I have never had a split ring fail but I've had hooks bend out and have dull hooks and most of the time I switch them out with Mustad Triple Grips in bronze, I tried the Owner stingers but when I put them on a scale they weigh just a tad more so they get saved for mid depth cranks as the little extra weight doesn't seem to do anything to the action of those like it does with shallow cranks or jerkbaits.

[War Eagle 44]

Could be why a hook bends or split ring pulls a part.  Most fish we catch down here on are in open water, not the need for braid that strong or a tight drag.  Tight drag on lighter line.......fish gonna win a lot of those battles.

 

 

True, very true. This is also the reason I need better split rings, now I have hooks and split rings that are appropriate for my style of fishing. Haven't had a problem since switching the hardware.