Up-size treble hooks?

[Dewrag]

I have heard of anglers replacing the treble hooks on their crankbaits with one size larger hooks. What are the benefits/drawbacks, if any? 

[Jrob78]

The key to upsizing treble hooks is to use a short shank model. This allows for a bigger, stronger hook to be used but keeps the hooks from tangling and doesn't effect how the bait runs.

 

A lot of crankbaits come with subpar trebles so you kill two birds with one stone. You upgrade your hooks to quality sharp hooks while also making them bigger which, in theory, should help stick more fish.

[ww2farmer]

You have to be careful which baits your up-sizing hooks on too, some are not well suited for it and it kills/ruins it's action. 

 

Most all Strike King baits take an up-sized hook well, as I think it was designed into them, and KVD talks about doing it all the time.

 

I replace all stock SK hooks, BUT I am selective about up-sizing. I DO NOT up-size them on jerkbaits, and top waters. I am about 50/50 on square-bills, and lipless cranks, and I almost always up-size on deep cranks. The reason I don't always up-size on square-bills and lipless, is I find I hang up way way more often when I do, and I don't feel  my hook up % is any higher up-sizing on those baits. I get a high enough hook up/keeping fish pegged rate just by upgrading from the stock hooks to not want the hassle of getting hung more. With deep cranks, I do get more fish in the boat up-sizing.

[burrows]

I occasionally swap my hooks to a better quality hook same size but I know some ppl swap to a bigger size short shank ewg trebles I wonder if it affects the Buoyancy of the baits?

[Ariffy]

Up-sizing hooks might mess up the action of that lure 

[papajoe222]

The biggest reason to up size is because you're missing fish. They strike your crank and you don't hook 'em. Adding a bigger treble will expose the hook points farther out from the bait and increase the chances of one connecting.

 There are two inherent downsides, IMO, to doing this. The first has already been mentioned, the second is the increased risk of snagging cover, especially wood. Some cranks will roll on their side when pulled over a limb and that bonus of hooking up applies here too. 

If fish are swiping at your crank, often times a change in size or color will get them to commit. If I catch more than one fish on the tail treble, the first thing I do is change baits because I may have missed fish I didn't even know showed interest.

[Dewrag]

Many thanks for these thoughtful answers. 

 

[WRB]

It really depends on the lure type. Up sizing the center treble hook on lipped divers with a 1 size larger doesn't impact the action because it's the pivot point, adding weight of a larger treble to the tail end can impact the action. 

If the lure comes with premium hooks why change them? If the lure has mediocre quality hooks change them.

If KVD isn't satisfied with his signature Strike King crankbaits hooks he should insist they change them, he does!

Tom

[38 Super Fan]

On ‎6‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 8:57 AM, Burros said:

I occasionally swap my hooks to a better quality hook same size but I know some ppl swap to a bigger size short shank ewg trebles I wonder if it affects the Buoyancy of the baits?

Yes it does. But this can be used to your advantage if you want to change the buoyancy of a lure, especially a jerkbait, to get the lure to suspend how you like.

[Dewrag]

Agreed with SoCal. Seems like sketchy marketing for kvd to tell us he feels compelled to change hooks on his own crankbait

[A-Jay]

8 hours ago, Dewrag said:

Agreed with SoCal. Seems like sketchy marketing for kvd to tell us he feels compelled to change hooks on his own crankbait

But they are his hooks too ~ 

A-Jay