Top Water Replacement Treble Hooks ?

[ChrisD46]

A number of top water baits have pretty low quality hooks right out of the package (or shortly there after) ... Good quality top water hooks allow you to pretty much reel set and lean into a bass with a top water rod that may have a soft tip / parabolic action ... *What are your favorite top water replacement treble hooks for mostly #2 - #4 sizes  and some #6's ?

[J Francho]

Owner ST-36 or VMC Vanadium Inline.

[ChrisD46]

I did not see the VMC listed in their line up - does it go by another name as a treble hook ? ... The Academy near me has the Owner Stinger ST-36 for $5.99 per pack (about the best buy I will probably find) . I also saw the KVD Mustad Triple Grip treble hooks but know little about them as compared to the Owner ST-36 you reference .

[A-Jay]

I do a good bit of topwater fishing - mostly for brown bass.

I rarely use stock treble hooks and usually change the hardware (split rings) as well.

(Owner Hyper Wire Split Rings are my choice)

While not every one's preference, I prefer EWG trebles to round bend.

Additionally, I often go up a size, especially on larger walking & popper baits. 

With that - these are the brands & models I go with~

 

For the front and middle hook (if the bait has one) I really like the Owner Short Shank Treble Hook ST-35.  Really like the one. It has two of the hook points spread out to 150 degrees vs the standard 120 degrees which places the hook points farther away for my bait increasing hook up percentages and hook rash. 

 Only caveat is the lures hook hangers must be 'in line' with the bait or these will not hang correctly - Megabass walking baits (Dog-X Diamante) are the only baits that I have where the hook hanger is turned 90 degrees making this treble not an option - 

 For all other baits & hook positions Including the tail hook, I use:

Gamakatsu EWG Treble Short Shank Magic Eye

Mustad KVD 1x Strong 2x Short Triple Grip Treble

Speaking of replacement tail hooks, I have yet to find a dressed one I like, so I tie my own on one of the two trebles listed above. 

Finally, I'll use these same trebles for most all my replacement needs on Rattle baits, jerkbaits, Square, middle & deep Crank baits.

A-Jay

 

 

[J Francho]

14 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

I did not see the VMC listed in their line up - does it go by another name as a treble hook ?

https://www.rapala.com/vmc/hooks/treble/5580-inline-treble/5580+Inline+Treble.html?cgid=vmc-hooks-treble&taglist=VMC|Hooks|Treble#start=13&cgid=vmc-hooks-treble

[Bassattackr]

Gamakatsu EWG Treble Short Shank Magic Eye  for me.   Much higher quality hook than Mustad.

[Grim_Reaver]

Round bends should (in theory) give you a better shot at hooking up if they slap at the bait. EWGs are better at keeping fish pinned after you hook up. St-36 or Gammy EWGs get my vote.

[ChrisD46]

Good info A-Jay and others ... There is a lot more thought on how good quality treble hooks are designed  as well as what are best styles for specific lures (depending on what you are trying to accomplish) .

[Shimano_1]

I don't replace many as I don't do a lot of topwater fishing.  When I do I prefer owner stingers. I do replace a lot of jerk bait hooks with these

[Bluebasser86]

Owner ST36 or Gamakatsu short shank EWGs depending on the bait.

[The Bassman]

I'm finding KVD Elite Triple Grips with the barbs smashed down to be the best of both worlds. They hold well and make handling fish so much easier.

[smalljaw67]

Owner ST-36 for size #6 hooks because those are usually smaller and a heavier hook could affect the action. Walking baits in the 1/2oz to 3/4oz range get Mustad KVD 1X strong 2X short shank trebles. I like the way EWG style hooks hold when you hook up, I started using them on topwater baits and lipless cranks a good many years ago. I tried them and the number of fish I was landing versus throwing the bait was noticeable. Last year I added VMC Hybrid short 1X treble to a super spook and super spook Jr. and so far I really like them. I have only used those two baits on 5 outings since I put those hooks on but so far they seem great, hook as well as a round bend and so far they seem to hold like the triple grip. I need more time with them but I am buying more over the winter as they seem to be a great alternative to the EWG style.

[Big Rick]

Just remember that the split ring is just as important as replacing the hook. Owner Hyper Wire Split Rings are far superior to any other brand/type out there. You might as well replace it when you replace the hook. ST-36's for me. And on lighter applications I like the Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Finesse Treble Hook. 

[ChrisD46]

Agree that split rings are important ; seems like the short shank treble hooks are popular for top water / jerk baits ? To start , my Sexy Dawgs (both sizes) use a #4 treble of unknown origin . My Spook One Knocker uses a #2 size treble of unknown origin . I'd be more inclined to stay with the same size treble hooks but try the shorter shank versions (not entirely sure of the short shank treble hook advantages though ?) ... Concerned going up a hook size may interfere with the walking baits action ?

[J Francho]

Has anyone really had a split ring fail?  And I don't mean a rusty old one, but say split rings on a decent $5-10 bait?

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Has anyone really had a split ring fail?  And I don't mean a rusty old one, but say split rings on a decent $5-10 bait?

I've had hooks straighten out on a JB from a good size pike - but the split ring wasn't even deformed.

[ChrisD46]

*On a related topic - what size replacement split rings for treble hooks (i.e. owner hyper wire) do you use ? I'm guessing #2 or #3 size split rings for walking baits using in conjunction  #2 and #4 size treble hooks ?

[Grim_Reaver]

46 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

*On a related topic - what size replacement split rings for treble hooks (i.e. owner hyper wire) do you use ? I'm guessing #2 or #3 size split rings for walking baits using in conjunction  #2 and #4 size treble hooks ?

A while back I took a ruler and measured the stock size of split rings on a variety of my hardbaits (topwaters, crankbaits, jerkbaits, etc.). I believe that the universal size I came up with was a #3 for the Owner Hyperwire split rings.

[Drew03cmc]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Has anyone really had a split ring fail?  And I don't mean a rusty old one, but say split rings on a decent $5-10 bait?

Fail? No. I've had them open up a little bit. 

 

For split rings, I've begun using the Spro Power Split Rings in size 2 and 3. Trebles on topwaters are bait dependent. On the smaller Megabass baits, give me the Outbarbs, including the belly hook on Pop X. Everything else I'll take #4, 6 or 8 ST-36. 

[ChrisD46]

36 minutes ago, Marcus Y. said:

A while back I took a ruler and measured the stock size of split rings on a variety of my hardbaits (topwaters, crankbaits, jerkbaits, etc.). I believe that the universal size I came up with was a #3 for the Owner Hyperwire split rings.

Thanks - in my area no Owner Hyper Split Rings but plenty of Spro brand split rings (I believe Spro is a decent brand)  ... The Owner Hyper look like they were designed for peacock bass in South Florida !

[Big Rick]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Has anyone really had a split ring fail?  And I don't mean a rusty old one, but say split rings on a decent $5-10 bait?

This pic shows a failure in my book. This is an Evergreen Shower Blows 105 and comes with decent hardware. However, I did take the time to swap the front out to an ST-36 and Hyperwire split ring. I was too lazy and in too big of a hurry to swap the middle hook. Almost cost me my fish!!  

 

 

[J Francho]

Interesting, never seen it myself on just bass.  I've seen king salmon and northerns mangle stuff, though.

[Harold Scoggins]

On ‎9‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 7:06 AM, J Francho said:

Owner ST-36

X2, and don't forget the Black Friday sales coming up.

[Big Rick]

Slight correction on the split ring failure pic. That is actually a ST-41BC on the SB-105. It's a little bigger bait that needed a bigger hook. 

[NHBull]

I like the 36's, but also like

Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Nano Finesse Treble Hook