Changing hooks on KVD 1.5 Squarebill

[Lasher]

I fish the KVD 1.5 a lot and I'm wondering if changing out hooks would help or if the factory hooks are good enough.  Thanks for any feedback.

[ww2farmer]

IMHO, factory hooks suck on ALL Strike King baits. I change them all out with mustad kvd elite 1x strong, 2x short triple grips. Size #4 specifically for 1.5's.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I fish em until I hang em up and straighten them then I swap em out

 

Hooks make a difference, I take 3 hook stick baits like rapala's and swap out to 2 hooks slightly larger. Catch same amount of fish and snag 'less' 

[blckshirt98]

Depending on how many squarebills you have you want to swap out hooks on, it can get kind of expensive.  I've compromised where instead of swapping out both hooks I'll swap out the rear hook with the ones that KVD uses (the Mustad 2x Short Triple Grips).  Choosing the rear one is to put the extra weight towards the back of the lure for casting purposes.

[Lasher]

18 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

Depending on how many squarebills you have you want to swap out hooks on, it can get kind of expensive.  I've compromised where instead of swapping out both hooks I'll swap out the rear hook with the ones that KVD uses (the Mustad 2x Short Triple Grips).  Choosing the rear one is to put the extra weight towards the back of the lure for casting purposes.

Thanks for this tip, I never thought to only change the rear treble.  Funny how most suggest using a KVD mustad for a KVD strike king bait, you would think they could collaborate and solve this problem, but I guess that would increase the cost.

[junyer357]

I also swap out hooks to the kvd mustads. I do this on all of my treble hooks. I normally go up a size too. Ie: a stock #6 becomes a #4kvd. 

I buy in 100pks at captain hooks warehouse and its a lot cheaper than the 6 or 11pk normally found, but they only have more common sizes 2,4, and 6 usually. For my bigger hooks for 8 and 10xd i get the 11pk normally still. 

[BassThumb]

I personally don't feel the extra cost is worth the benefit for an amateur angler. The chemically sharpened VMC/Daiichi hooks on my Lucky Crafts do not hook bass significantly better than the stock hooks on my Strike Kings. Maybe a touch better, but thats about it. 

 

Try it on a couple crankbaits and report back on this thread what you think.

[NHBull]

The hooks on the particular bait is bad.....anything is an improvement

[Jrob78]

I swap all my 1.5 size sq bills up to a number 2 short shank hook. There are several different hook options from Gamakatsu, Mustad and Owner. If you don't go with a short shank hook keep the size the same and stick with a 4.

[Bluebasser86]

I swap mine out to a #4 short shank EWG Eagle Claw. I watch my buddy lose what was probably a 30# bag worth of fish on the stock hooks of a KVD 1.5 one day, even after I warned him about the hooks. 

[drscholl14]

I love Strike King cranks.  Only crankbait I throw.  BUT as everyone has mentioned the hooks are not great.  I notice that after a decent fish the hooks bend out.  I have been using VMC short shanks in the #4 size and it has seemed to help.  Those crankbaits are so good though!

[burrows]

I fish most my treble hook baits stock unless they are not nickel plated then I’ll change them out as for the kvd 1.5 I fish them stock unless I bend one out, and they do bend out, I’ll replace them. I used to change out all my hooks but it got expensive, and I don’t fish Tournaments so it’s not like money is on the line.

[NHBull]

........timely thread, my partner swapped out all his trebles over the Winter and his hookup ratio is through the roof.

 

......slightly expensive yes, but only hurts once

[Dorado]

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought the stocked hooks were garbage 

[DINK WHISPERER]

KVD triple grips for me

[Lasher]

Such a great lure all months of the year and I own about 15 in different sizes and colors.  I am going to start swapping out one or two at a time.  Is ebay the best place to buy in bulk for kvd trebles?

[Lasher]

On 5/31/2018 at 10:15 PM, DINK WHISPERER said:

KVD triple grips for me

Do you buy in bulk? Do you have a favorite store or website to ease the cost?

[DINK WHISPERER]

I do, from eBay. I just can't think of the seller right now. Very good prices on 50 packs. 

[Way north bass guy]

8 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

I do, from eBay. I just can't think of the seller right now. Very good prices on 50 packs. 

Same here, can’t remember also but I got a couple 100 packs for a good price. 

[BassB8Caster]

I just ordered vmc treble hooks on basspro.com. search 1112202. $9 shipped for 25 hooks. Size 4. 

[bassin is addicting]

On ‎5‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 5:25 PM, blckshirt98 said:

Depending on how many squarebills you have you want to swap out hooks on, it can get kind of expensive.  I've compromised where instead of swapping out both hooks I'll swap out the rear hook with the ones that KVD uses (the Mustad 2x Short Triple Grips).  Choosing the rear one is to put the extra weight towards the back of the lure for casting purposes.

EXTRA WEIGHT......??  just how much is that...and I doubt it makes casting length difference.  talk about over thinking...lol