Changing Treble Hooks

[Worm Man 2020]

What works for you?

Wanting member's views on up-grading/ tweaking treble hooks on (NEW) square-bills & jerk baits?     (depth change, hook set percentage)

Seen different options on you tube, KVD's and other pros.. Change rear only, some do all three on jerk baits, etc.

Red v/s silver/black?  and there? (front/back)  Why?

Manufacturers type?  Wide gap, or others?

Do you all sharpen or change?

Thanks, in advance.

 

 

 

[Munkin]

Best advice I can give is to get a good set of split ring pliers if you plan on changing a lot of them. As for brands and types it is all a personal preference.

 

Allen

[Worm Man 2020]

14 minutes ago, Munkin said:

Best advice I can give is to get a good set of split ring pliers if you plan on changing a lot of them. As for brands and types it is all a personal preference.

 

Allen

Thanks, for your in-put, Munkin!

So you sharpen your? and just fish with the stock hooks?

I did buy split ring pliers, made it easier. After I picked up some low end Square bills, from DSG, 5 for $10... I think they are balsa.

I just matched the same hook size as the ones that were on them, I did put red ones on rear, like one size up.. Think they were #1, treble.

really appreciate comment

[alzun664]

The thought process behind the red hook theory is that it gives the fish something to "target" and it can look like gills or a bleeding/injured baitfish. So if you're going to be using a red hook it makes the most sense to put it either on the front hook or the middle hook (if theres 3) so that the fish has a higher chance of getting the other hooks in the process.

It's more of a topwater thing because the color red turns into grey at certain water depths.

If you mess with any hooks on any jerkbait its going to affect how it suspends in the water so I'd personally suggest against that, but you should be able to get a little more depth or even a slow sink with a thicker wire hook.

As for hook style I like round bends. EWGs will work too but round bends have a higher hookup ratio when the fish swipe at it and aren't really taking the baits whole. I like VMCs.

I like to sharpen my hooks if the stock hooks are too dull and will usually only change them out if they are lower quality than VMC. 

[Raul]

3 hours ago, Worm Man 2020 said:

What works for you?

Wanting member's views on up-grading/ tweaking treble hooks on (NEW) square-bills & jerk baits?     (depth change, hook set percentage)

Seen different options on you tube, KVD's and other pros.. Change rear only, some do all three on jerk baits, etc.

Red v/s silver/black?  and there? (front/back)  Why?

Manufacturers type?  Wide gap, or others?

Do you all sharpen or change?

Thanks, in advance.

 

 

 

Most of the baits I own have the stock hooks, so that´s what works for me, but of course, most of the baits I purchase come with good quality stock hooks that don´t "need" to be changed. I have changed the hooks on a few baits like Shad Raps, changing the hooks for the next upper size makes the bait almost neutrally buoyant ( almost suspend like ) but that´s pretty much it.

[roadwarrior]

I'm with Raul.  I fish lures that come with superior hooks. Katsuage are my favorite.

 

[Worm Man 2020]

14 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I'm with Raul.  I fish lures that come with superior hooks. Katsuage are my favorite.

 

That being said; Strike King, Mega Bass and Livingston have high end hooks?

And, you don't buy into the red hook on belly, thing?

Great info, that's well received, Thanks

 

[roadwarrior]

I still have a few red hooks left over from when they became "The Rage". My experience concluded that red hooks had exactly "zero" influence on catch rate.

 

[Team9nine]

If its a good quality hook already on a plug out of the box, then I don't do any changing. Simply sharpen as needed. Most stock hooks are pretty decent on the majority of baits these days. I will sometimes upgrade hooks sizes slightly on a few specific baits though for a variety of reasons (balance, better bite, etc.), but nothing too drastic. Otherwise, I only replace worn out trebles. Actually, I have been known to remove all wide gap trebles on the few baits that come with them

As for red hooks - pfffftttt    

-T9

[Fishinthefish]

All of my treble hooks are usually replaced with mustard hooks for stronger and sharper hooks.