Hooks On Your Hardbaits

[TxHawgs]

On your Topwater, Jerkbaits, Lipless and Crankbaits. Which style do u use on each, Round Bend or EWG? If you wanna get specific on Manufacturer & Model that would be great as there's a big difference between normal, short shank and strength/thickness of wire. Thanks as always.

[Bluebasser86]

I like round bend on baits fish tend to slap at, jerkbaits and topwater. Those baits get Owner ST 36s. Cranks and traps that they usually get a bit better I use EWG like Mustad or Eagle Claw Fletcher Shryock series hooks.

[Jrob78]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like round bend on baits fish tend to slap at, jerkbaits and topwater. Those baits get Owner ST 36s. Cranks and traps that they usually get a bit better I use EWG like Mustad or Eagle Claw Fletcher Shryock series hooks.

I do the same in regards to RB vs EWG, for the same reasons.  I also like Owner ST 36 for round bend and Gammy EWG or Mustad Short Shank EWG.  In my opinion, the Owner's and Gammy's are sharper than the Mustad.  The Gammy Short Shank RB is also a really good hook if you want to upsize but don't want a EWG.

[everythingthatswims]

I just put bronze gamakatsu round bends on everything. I really hate heavy wire trebles on anything but a big swimbait. For me, if I hook a fish on a treble hook, I am playing it lightly regardless and I want the hook to penetrate easily.

[thebillsman]

So I'm going to revive this thread and ask for some help.

 

I am trying to balance some RC STXs. So far in my testing Owner ST-36s sink, Gama Round SS Magic Eyes sink and Gama EWG bronze sink very slowly. 

 

However, the LC Pointers in the same water sink at about the same rate as the Gama Round SS's. I know my Pointers suspend well so should I figure that the STXs will suspend with the Round Gama's?

 

I don't know if I should get some lighter bronze round bends on stick with what I've got. I will be fishing them with 10# mono which may help the bait to float.

 

I am testing them in a big glass vase so I can see the sink rate. Is the water too cold, is the container too small?

[CTBassin860]

I use the Mustad KVD triple grip short shanks for everything.Hooks seem to be the topic for today.

[NHBull]

Take a look at the st35's. A short 36, which works great

[thebillsman]

I've done a lot of testing today and these STXs sink no matter what I do. It's just a matter of how fast they fall. Even with the stock hooks they sink. I'm really disappointed to be honest. I was under the impression these were able to suspend. 

 

Also, of the five Pointer 100s I just bought 3 slow float and 2 sink. 

 

This is driving me nuts.

[scaleface]

I'm a recreational fisherman and stock hooks  work well enough for me .  If I have to replace them i use inexpensive Mustad or VMC round bends . Some lures require short shanks because the hangers are to close .  I fish hard baits a lot and dont see  need to mass replace the hooks .

[soflabasser]

gamakatsu trebles are the ones I usually use to replace worn out trebles on my lures.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

13 hours ago, thebillsman said:

I've done a lot of testing today and these STXs sink no matter what I do. It's just a matter of how fast they fall. Even with the stock hooks they sink. I'm really disappointed to be honest. I was under the impression these were able to suspend. 

 

Also, of the five Pointer 100s I just bought 3 slow float and 2 sink. 

 

This is driving me nuts.

 

Don't forget there is another component between bait and hook that you can downsize to get a different effect as well.

 

Guys always talk about hooks but forget about the split rings. It doesn't take much weight savings the change the performance of a 1/2 oz and under bait.

[Spankey]

I change out very few hooks. Stock hooks on Rapalas, Bandits, SK,s and Bombers don't seem to be an issue for me. Bandit use to use a triple g grip treble back years ago. I did love that hook and bought a box of them to switch out when needed. I break a few trebles a season with my pliers but can't complain about that. I'm more about keeping my hooks sharp. I would say that SK hooks do seem a bit cheap but I'm not ready to change them all out yet. Not loosing fish over them. 

[thebillsman]

51 minutes ago, SPEEDBEAD. said:

 

Don't forget there is another component between bait and hook that you can downsize to get a different effect as well.

 

Guys always talk about hooks but forget about the split rings. It doesn't take much weight savings the change the performance of a 1/2 oz and under bait.

 

Do you know of any split rings that are light enough? Obviously I don't want them bending out but I need to shave weight.

[Team9nine]

Haven't weighed split rings, but small Owner Hyperwires might be worth a shot. On hooks, seems like Katsuge's are the lightest and Gammi round bend regular wire are next. 

 

On the other point, size jar won't matter, but water temp might. Just testing a bait in a tank isn't the whole story though. Throwing the bait with line attached, especially mono or braid, will make a difference because the bait will have to overcome drag and surface tension. Very slow fallers will end up suspending in many cases.

 

One last thought - if nothing else works and you're using a 3 hook bait, don't be afraid to remove one treble, typically the front or middle one to lose the weight. Hookup ratio stays better than you might think.

 

-T9

[SPEEDBEAD.]

1 hour ago, thebillsman said:

 

Do you know of any split rings that are light enough? Obviously I don't want them bending out but I need to shave weight.

 

I have a bunch that I mix and match with. Don't have exact weights but the owners, in smaller sizes, are quite strong and should be lighter.

 

As was said, water temp is going to effect the way the bait behaves as well.

[S. Sass]

14 hours ago, scaleface said:

I'm a recreational fisherman and stock hooks  work well enough for me .  If I have to replace them i use inexpensive Mustad or VMC round bends . Some lures require short shanks because the hangers are to close .  I fish hard baits a lot and dont see  need to mass replace the hooks .

^^^ I'm the same way. I started trying to upgrade at one time but it just made a lot of work and sometimes never worked out.  Sometimes the old saying is right.

If it aint broke dont ____ with it. 

[TxHawgs]

Yes water temp plays a huge roll in how fast or slow a bait will sink/suspend ect. I have a subscription and watch many of the pros talk about hook selection on video. And the majority of them fish round bends and ewg hooks at different times of yr. That being hot vs cold time of yr. Which relates to the fish eating or swiping at the bait and there mouths being harder in the cold water and softer and easier to tear in warm water. So most of them use round bend in winter/cold water months and EWG in summer/warmer months of the yr. Hope this helps with some questions.