Replacement Treble Hooks

[Catch and Grease]

I've never bought new treble hooks for my lures I've just always sharpened them. Well a lot of my lures are hookless so I decided I'd go pick a pack up but what I was wondering is, if I put a different size on the lure than the one that came with it will it throw the action off?

Also one off topic Q, has anyone tried putting a trailer hook on a crankbait?

[War Eagle 44]

When using the new short shank trebles it's normally ok to go up one size treble without it effecting the lures action. I've been doing this a few years now and I've not had any trouble so far. I was a very big fan of the Mustad KVD trebles but I've since learned that they've changed the hook point to a much cheaper design that what they were originally using so I'm done with those. Gamakatsu makes a short shank EWG treble that's just as good, although more expensive, that I've started using instead.

 

My favorite replacement trebles though are the Owner Stinger series trebles, they don't have quite as short a shank as the other two hooks I mentioned but they aren't "full" shanks either, they're kinda an in between. Great hooks though. I stay with the stock sizes when using these hooks though.  

[WRB]

For price it's hard to beat VMC treble hooks, they are standard for several makes.

Most crank baits come with either size 2 or size 4 trebles, size 2 for the larger cranks and size 4 for the smaller.

Up sizing the front hook from size 2 to size 1 is OK, the rear hook I stay with the size that the lure came with.

A single hook tends to act like a rudder and can ruin the action.

When you replace the treble make sure that hooks hang correctly; 2 kook points running up against the lure body and 1 hook point face directly down.

Tom

[Marty]

I've used short shank round bend trebles in a variety of brands. Any brand which meets the "thumbnail" test is OK by me. I've used VMC, Eagle Claw Lazer, Owner, Gamakatsu and probably others. I usually use the same size as the originals but I know a lot of people go up one size without affecting the action.