Red Treble Hooks

[Chance Rhoads]

Been out of serious bass fishing for several years.  Noticed allot of new crankbaits have red treble hooks on the front.  Wondering if it would be worth switching all my old crankbaits to red treble hooks?  And does it make a difference?

[Bluebasser86]

It's a confidence thing for me but admittedly it probably makes little if any difference in most occasions. 

[Chance Rhoads]

So do you use them on every color?  Or just certain ones?

[Bluebasser86]

I use them on most every bait, mainly just the front hook anymore. Only time I feel they might really make a difference is on topwater and shallow running baits since red is the first color in the light spectrum to disappear under water, so once it gets very deep it loses it's color and becomes grey. 

[papajoe222]

Welcome to the forum and back to fishing. I use them on the front hook up all my topwaters and shallow cranks, but rarely anything that runs deeper than 10ft. as red is the first color to wash out in deeper water.

Rather than switch out perfectly good hooks, you could try Adding a splash of red to the underside of the bait by the front hook. If you become confident that it makes a difference then when it comes time to switch hooks you can opt for red ones.

[J Francho]

I don't use them at all. I found that the ones I used wore out and dulled quickly. I prefer the simplicity and durability of a nickel plated hook over any color.

[F14A-B]

I don't use them anymore, I did a bit in the late 90's.. They are not a durable finish at all.. Seems pointless to me, as Raul would say " use sharp hooks" lol

[Sam]

Chance, there was a time when red treble hooks were in.

 

And red normal hooks, too.

 

Then it died down and you don't read or hear about "red" hooks anymore being used by the pros.

 

So you can use them if you want but I would suggest considering changing out to one size larger in lieu of red hooks.

 

Just be sure the new larger size hooks don't get tangled with the smaller trebles at the back of the crankbaits.

[Chance Rhoads]

Thanks for the input guys

[WRB]

The red hook fad has passed, this years catalogs are back to black nickel.

Sharp hooks are more important.

Tom

[J Francho]

Most quality baits come with properly sized quality hooks. No need to replace unless your constantly in the bargain bin.

[Rich in Co]

As the others have said the fad has paased and I never saw may catch rate go up with them, I still have some laying wround that I got a good deal on that I'll use to replace hooks when needed, and in short order the red has worn off and now I have a non red sharp hook.

[Crestliner2008]

You might look at it like this. Most lure patterns have some red in them. And more patterns with red have been sold over the years than any other. So does it matter that the hook is red or not? No one can say definitively, but I also know for a fact that it can't hurt!

[Trenton]

Most quality baits come with properly sized quality hooks. No need to replace unless your constantly in the bargain bin.

Only thing I don't like about my Bomber cranks, I switch out the stock trebles for gama's or if I'm out I use eagle claw razor sharps. But they're all black nickel plated no reds.

[Ginosocalbass]

I have seen many red crawfish colored crankbaits, with red hooks. I imagine its not a bad thing. 

[RAMBLER]

I have one Tiny Trap that came with red hooks.  I had more success on it catching crappie than any other.  So, I put red hooks on other Tiny Traps and it does seem to help.  I used them trolling and probably never went more than 6 feet deep and they worked best when the sun was shining.  The red probably showed up well under those conditions.

But, I've never seen any difference fishing for any other species of fish.  I believe it's like others have said, it's a confidence thing.  What you have confidence in you will use more efficiently.

[primetime]

I put Red hooks on some cranks that I have in the same color just to try as sometimes I think it helps, but I have no idea if it truly does or not. I know some say that the red treble in front or red split ring gives off the look of gill plates, but I only put them on a few lures and have never been comfortable with Red Hooks for soft baits, not sure why just never used them.

 

If it gives you confidence to have a red treble on your lure than it is worth doing because you probably will do better, but I think a sharp treble is most important, but I still play around with red and also adding dressed trebles etc...

[Ratherbfishing]

MOST of the time, red hooks are nothing more than red hooks.  Very ocassionally, however, it will make a difference.  Primarily in very clear water.  However, I certainly wouldn't trade all my hooks out for red ones.  Just keep some spares and change 'em out if/when you think it will help.