Am I the only guy who doesn't replace hooks?

[GetFishorDieTryin]

3 hours ago, Jaderose said:

I'm sure you're right.  I don't throw that many jerks.  My home lake has so many stumps and submerged wood that it's just not that conducive to it.     

I know what you mean, a lot of lakes in my area used to be streams surrounded by woods.  I have to be careful where I throw JBs and traps.  In the winter I like to yo yo TN60s in the stump fields where the fish can stack up.  I just put a 1x VMC treble on the belly hangar so if it gets snagged I can bend the hook and get my TN60 back.  Doesn't work all the time but its saved me some money. 

[Mat_ski]

21 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Non-Hook Changers Unite !

 

I change and or up-size just about every treble hook.

Feel better this way.

Even offering All the stock hooks here for sale. Hundreds in fact.  Still up I think.  

Basically giving them away for the cost of the shipping.  Figured with so many bassheads preferring them, they'd be gone quickly.

Nope.  

So I'm that guy. 

A-Jay 

But why would I want hooks I would not change anyway ?. 

[Spankey]

I hear about guys changing out a lot of hooks on Strike King Products. One series of baits they have I love their trebels they use. Yes maybe a bit light but, razor sharp and the best needle point I've used. How I'm using them on North East river smallies and greenies 4-6 lb. they hold up and present no issues. If what I was fishing for was 10-13 lbs. that could be a different story. I wouldn't consider those crankbaits for monster bass.

[A-Jay]

24 minutes ago, Mat_ski said:

But why would I want hooks I would not change anyway ?. 

Right.

Because those awesome stock treble points last for ever. 

A-Jay

 

[scaleface]

I usually dont replace stock hooks . If they get bent then I replace them . Old lures had horrible hooks but todays hooks work well enough  for me . 

[Bankbeater]

I usually don't replace the stock hooks unless I have some experience with the baits, and I know the stock hooks are junk. 

I will sharpen the hooks on a new bait just to make sure they are sharp.

[lynxcat]

2 hours ago, Rusty_Shackleford said:

You ever try weedless ned heads?  Ive tried a few and I really like Lifted Jigs heads.  Its got a VMC #1 EWG that fits a 2.75 TRD perfect.  I was surprised that the TRD stands up just well with the EWG as it does with the standard head.  

Yes, recently started fishing them. Owner blockheads are my favorite but I also have used Lifted and the Zman branded EWG (more weedless style head than blockhead). I haven’t had the bend out issues with the EWG variants. I also like the Pro versions of the ned heads which are a bit stouter. The original zman neds rarely get used anymore albeit I have a number of them. 

[Bluebasser86]

It isn't all about changing hooks because they're bent or damaged, some hooks just aren't very sharp right out of the package.

 

I guess I see it completely different. I'm not losing the fish of a lifetime because a  stock hook is "maybe good enough", when I can put a hook on that I know is one of the best, sharpest hooks made that gives me every chance to land it when a monster comes along. Spend too much time chasing them to lose them over trying to save a few pennies or being lazy/complacent.

[Spankey]

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

It isn't all about changing hooks because they're bent or damaged, some hooks just aren't very sharp right out of the package.

 

I guess I see it completely different. I'm not losing the fish of a lifetime because a  stock hook is "maybe good enough", when I can put a hook on that I know is one of the best, sharpest hooks made that gives me every chance to land it when a monster comes along. Spend too much time chasing them to lose them over trying to save a few pennies or being lazy/complacent.

I would think majority of the guys are competent enough to check hooks on a new crankbait before use and check the trebles on crankbaits they throw a lot. But then maybe not. I lean toward they do. 
 

To help supplement your costs, the stock VMC hooks on a new Rapala DT, Shad Rap, Original Floater, Husky Jerk, or Countdown that you take off, I’ll buy them from you if you’re throwing them in the trash. It will help offset the cost of the new VMC trebles you buy. 
 

I know where you are coming from but majority of quality lures come with quality hooks. The little side note on TW website about t-hook replacements is to aid in selling hooks. I don’t see a bad set of hooks very often. As someone else posted years ago crap hooks were common. 
 

Please don’t take anything in my post to heart. I love your posts. I respect your efforts you put into bass fishing. 

[Mat_ski]

All hooks get dull, stock or not and when it happens, I sharpen them.

[billmac]

I am glad the hooks are better now, but a buddy and I used to get together in the springtime and clean / oil reels, respool line, and I would sharpen all the hooks in my tacklebox.  A pain, but I kind of miss it.

[Teal]

I still find a few of the older LUcky craft baits at the bargain stores and they have trash hooks....such a shame but for the price I buy them at I can put a couple new trebles on it.  

 

I think alot of fisherman, just dont wana take the time to do it 

[TnRiver46]

41 minutes ago, Teal said:

 

 

I think alot of fisherman, just dont wana take the time to do it 

You got me!!! 
 

if a hook rusts off my crankbait, I just pick up a jig haha. 

[J Francho]

Not having sharp hooks or hooks that will break is one small thing of many I do to ensure my gear is NOT on my mind catching ANY fish.  Whether that means sharpening, replacing, bending, or what else depends on the situation.

[the reel ess]

I never change trebles unless they're damaged. And even then, I don't break the bank. I will sharpen them sometimes. I might replace them if I was fishing vintage lures. I don't have any of those.

[Cdn Angler]

I've got about 100 hardbaits so yeah I'm not going to for the most part, especially with baits from manufacturers that have decent stock hooks. 

 

If it is a lure that I fish A LOT then I consider switching the hooks over time as they get dull or what have you. Or I sharpen them. 

 

I feel like jerkbaits are one where super sharp hooks matter. The fish is often biting a lure that is just sitting there and you may not feel it so can't set the hook ; so the hook needs to be sharp to penetrate. If I've got a crank bait moving, even a more dull hook is going to be aided by its own momentum. 

 

I'd say bigger muskie/pike can be a problem, but usually if I'm fishing smaller bass baits they tend to engulf the entire bait/trebles so they aren't coming off unless they break my line. If I'm targeting them I'm not using those lures. 

 

So I'm kinda in both camps. 

 

For me if a big fish comes off, it sucks. But I'm not willing to put the time/effort/$$ to have every single variable in my favour. I found that obsessing over perfection was ruining fishing as a hobby for me and actually led to less fishing as I wouldn't go unless I had everything "just so." I ended up in the basement fiddling rather than fishing. Sometimes I just need to chuck all my gear in the car and hit a lake.

 

I'm never getting paid for this and nobody but me even cares what I catch. I could catch a 20 lb bass and my wife would say good job the same as if I caught a 3 lb bass. 

 

[roadwarrior]

"I'm not willing to put the time/effort/$$ to have every single variable in my favor."

 

 

C'mon man, it's all in the details and time well spent.

[GReb]

6 hours ago, Cdn Angler said:

I could catch a 20 lb bass and my wife would say good job the same as if I caught a 3 lb bass. 

 

I sent my wife a pic of a 3-4lb fish yesterday and she said “that’s not a lunker”

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, Cdn Angler said:

 

For me if a big fish comes off, it sucks. But I'm not willing to put the time/effort/$$ to have every single variable in my favour. I found that obsessing over perfection was ruining fishing as a hobby for me and actually led to less fishing as I wouldn't go unless I had everything "just so." I ended up in the basement fiddling rather than fishing. 

 

I can understand this.

However, I will openly admit that I am on the complete other end of the spectrum.

If it's within my ability to improve, I am very willing to make that happen.  In fact I sort of have to.

Understanding the trade offs.

The prep is as much a part of the experience as the hookset for me.

Just how I'm wired.

A-Jay 

[Cdn Angler]

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I can understand this.

However, I will openly admit that I am on the complete other end of the spectrum.

If it's within my ability to improve, I am very willing to make that happen.  In fact I sort of have to.

Understanding the trade offs.

The prep is as much a part of the experience as the hookset for me.

Just how I'm wired.

A-Jay 

 

Understandable and over the winter in Canada I do the same thing as bored silly. But in summer I get crazy busy and for me it is mentally best to just hit the water with what I got sometimes. I have too many summer hobbies. 

 

I think whatever works for you is the correct answer. To some I'm totally nuts because I own multiple rods and a hundred lures. I can't go fish with substandard line or reels as they drive me nuts, but for others the minimum is top quality hooks. 

 

I think people get confused when pros or YouTube ppl say to do XYZ. Usually good advice, but need to view it through your own lens. 

 

I often wonder how far to go down the rabbit hole. If you have competing interests you can't go down all of them. For example, I'm a better runner than most fishermen, and a better fisherman than most runners, but I'm average at best at each. What's better? Jack of all trades or master of none? I don't know, but I think for me it is the later. 

[greentrout]

NOPE ... only on my worm hooks (sharpen) from time to time ... especially when I'm using tru-turn hooks ... that are great ...

 

good fishing ...

[Armtx77]

Bait Monkey, recently rode me into buying about 250 bucks worth of Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnows in the 2.75 flavor and guys must not throw them much around here, because I have been WEARING them out!

 

Now for the hooks. When 5-10lbs redfish decides its time to hit one. They pretty much collapse the treble hook like a beer can. I'm not sure why it is happening, because I can see them running through the bait, not really coming on it and smashing down on it, but they will completely collapse 2 of the 3 barbs.

 

I started rigging up Owners on split rings and when one gets sniped and beat down by a Red. I take that as God telling me to take a break, drink some water, reapply sunscreen, check the sky and water for weather and toss on a new hook.

 

Love the Yo-Zuris by the way, still hate that Bait Monkey.

 

 

[Mbirdsley]

On 9/20/2020 at 11:22 AM, Captain Phil said:

If you are fishing for fun, changing a lure's hooks may not be a top priority.  It's all about how you feel when a fish gets away. If you are serious about fishing, it's a necessity.  I have no idea why some lure manufacturers put such junk hooks on their baits?  If you don't change the hooks, at least sharpen them.  

This is exactly it.  I hate loosing fish and I’m not even fishing tournaments yet.  I lost a huge smallie today.  I actually thought it was a snag so I gave a half a$$&$ hook set.  Than it started moving and taking line, there  fished jumped than it was gone.  Looked at the lure and still had what ever hooks kvd puts on cranks.  If I had triple grips on it that fish would been stuck. 
 

I have been turning over my hard baits and getting rid of non-successful ones and Ive gotten lazy in the last couple of months due to work of swapping out hooks 

[Bluebasser86]

17 hours ago, Spankey said:

I would think majority of the guys are competent enough to check hooks on a new crankbait before use and check the trebles on crankbaits they throw a lot. But then maybe not. I lean toward they do. 
 

To help supplement your costs, the stock VMC hooks on a new Rapala DT, Shad Rap, Original Floater, Husky Jerk, or Countdown that you take off, I’ll buy them from you if you’re throwing them in the trash. It will help offset the cost of the new VMC trebles you buy. 
 

I know where you are coming from but majority of quality lures come with quality hooks. The little side note on TW website about t-hook replacements is to aid in selling hooks. I don’t see a bad set of hooks very often. As someone else posted years ago crap hooks were common. 
 

Please don’t take anything in my post to heart. I love your posts. I respect your efforts you put into bass fishing. 

My findings (literally, from the dozens of baits I find), show that most people roll with the stock hooks and they're in pretty rough shape a majority of the time. Some is obviously from weathering, but in the cases of baits that haven't been lost for long, I still find hooks that I wouldn't use for catfishing on hard baits.

 

I don't trash the hooks I remove. Instead I save them, sorted by size. Every winter when I decide it's time to move all the baits I've found, I clean all the baits up and put new split rings up and whatever hooks I deem appropriate from the piles of hooks I've removed from other baits. They're brand new still, and someone who doesn't care if they're the best or sharpest hook out there, gets a new to them bait, with new hooks on it.

 

I get why people don't change them, I never use to. I'm just at the point now where I spend too much time and effort into catching fish and trying to catch larger fish especially that I want to give myself every advantage possible.

1 hour ago, Armtx77 said:

Bait Monkey, recently rode me into buying about 250 bucks worth of Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnows in the 2.75 flavor and guys must not throw them much around here, because I have been WEARING them out!

 

Now for the hooks. When 5-10lbs redfish decides its time to hit one. They pretty much collapse the treble hook like a beer can. I'm not sure why it is happening, because I can see them running through the bait, not really coming on it and smashing down on it, but they will completely collapse 2 of the 3 barbs.

 

I started rigging up Owners on split rings and when one gets sniped and beat down by a Red. I take that as God telling me to take a break, drink some water, reapply sunscreen, check the sky and water for weather and toss on a new hook.

 

Love the Yo-Zuris by the way, still hate that Bait Monkey.

 

 

Those are great little baits. I love that smaller size for a finesse jerkbait in cold water, especially for ponds and clear water. I can't imagine trying to handle a redfish on those tiny treble hooks though. Wonder if you could find inline single hooks and replace them with those? They'd be a lot stouter I'm sure.

 

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

My findings (literally, from the dozens of baits I find), show that most people roll with the stock hooks and they're in pretty rough shape a majority of the time. Some is obviously from weathering, but in the cases of baits that haven't been lost for long, I still find hooks that I wouldn't use for catfishing on hard baits.

 

 

 

I contend that the baits found may quite often have been lost by an angler with a different level of experience.

When was the last time you lost a bait in a tree @Bluebasser86?? 

Been a while for me.

But I don't fish the bank so I that takes the trees right out of play 

A-Jay