Red Hooks for Senkos and Other Plastics

[piranha]

Has anyone been swayed one way or the other on using red hooks with plastic worms? I can see the whole blood thing with a treble hook on a crankbait, but I am not convince it will help (or may possibly hurt) success with plastic worms. Any opinions?

On a related note, has anyone seen an advantage when using black hooks versus the usual? It seems to me that the shiny hook may deter fish, but it could be the complete opposite for all I know. I figure, if I can see the hook in the worm in the water from 10 - 15 feet away, then the fish must see it too. And everone seems to make such a big deal about not having the eye of the hook showing or not having the knot tag end too long, but I haven't read about the giant piece of shiny metal sticking out of the side of the worm causing the fish to not bite. Any thoughts?

[Muddpuppy]

I guess I have hooks of both types in most sizes.  I went with the red hooks for a while and I still switch back over to them when things are slow.  I haven't seen a major differance with the red ones.  My fishing buddy has gotten where he uses them alot, but hasn't proven their effectiveness.  When fishing grass or Tex rigged on the bottom I can't see how it would help much.  As far as the black I like the sound of them it seems to me it would hide the hook in the surroundings.  I tried a few times coloring the hooks and stripeing the line to help make them less visiable.  Didn't really give it a fair trial.

[Gatorbassman]

I only use them on my flukes and sometimes when I am fishing a C-Rig in very clear, shallow water. But I have yet to see the difference on any other soft plastic. I also use a red treble on my Hub's Chub. (Top water bait)

[Marty]

I don't own any red hooks because I haven't seen any credible evidence that they are superior.

And yes, the fish can see that hook in the worm, but can't possibly know what it is. All we know is that the whole package is something it wants to investigate.

And, of course, on hard baits, there are two or three trebles in addition to split rings and maybe a snap, and this doesn't deter strikes either. So I don't worry about a hook eye or a tag end on a knot that might be 1/8" too long.

[BassBandit35]

And everone seems to make such a big deal about not having the eye of the hook showing or not having the knot tag end too long

Ya know, I was fishing with a guy about 4 times on his boat & he always, I mean ALWAYS had the eye of the hook exposed & knot tag sticking way out with worm curled like it already bit & he still catch em without even bother to fix it. I was confused, thought bass are picky but are they?

[TWP]

i like these red hooks for soft plastics but after catching a couple of fish the pait wears off and it turns gold.

[Kana]

I havent noticed any differnece, i use black and red 50/50 and catch on both...   The blsack cost less and hold thier coloring better.  and sometimes its hard to find a fine wire hook in red!  The jury is still out!

[roadwarrior]

I experimented with red hooks last year, alternating red with standard Gammies throughout the spring, summer and fall ('04). My results were:

Absolutely NO difference.

[Nick_Barr]

The Only time i use red hooks are on spinnerbaits when using a trailer hook.

[Muddpuppy]

The reason that knot end would be an issue for me is because it snags weeds and moss.  I think that I pick up alot less trash when I cover the knot.  

[Redtail]

I always use Red Gammies with soft plastics but I really don't know if they help-just my preference.

I went to a seminar in March and someone asked Gerald Swindle about the tag end of the knot.  His reply was, "If the fish didn't notice the 50' of line attached to your reel, he probably won't care about that other little piece."

[Pegleg]

I think the red hook deal is catchin lots of anglers. Its a fact that the color red disappears at a certain depth, cant remember the site I read this on but I'm tryin to find it. Regular hooks have worked fine since forever so I can't see payin more for them.

[kcaminitti]

The bait companies always try to change things slightly and push it on the consumer as if it were the next best thing since sliced bread.  Then everyone starts buying into it, then EVERY manufacturer has to start producing the same thing to keep up.  I would be willing to bet berkley, stren, etc. will start making a red line now too.  I have noticed that gander mountain cannot keep the cajun red in, so the others almost have no choice but to follow suit.  Is it really that much better?  Probably not.  The biggest fish I ever caught was off low vis green.  If I ever catch one bigger off the cajun is it because it was red?  Or just because everything else was right?

Just my .02  

[Rattlinrogue]

I seem to have more success when I use a red treble hook on hardbaits(j-baits,c-baits,etc.),but I can't see any difference on their use with plastics.

[Guest hydrillagorilla]

Yea, kind of like Pizza Hut!  How manyways can you sell, bread, sauce, meat and veggies????????

Have you tried the dippin sticks yet??????

LOL

[L.D.]

I switched all my jig hooks over to red for this year. The river I fish in is most always stained. So far my count is up over last year at this time, however there are many other factors to consider.

Let's say they don't hurt anything, they might help, and I like the way they don'y rust in my box after being exposed day after day to the weather. I bought 3000 of them so I will use them up.

L.D.

[Raul]

If you think and believe that they will help you in catching more fish by all means use them, anything that enhances your confidence is good for you.

Personally I have used them and I see absolutely no difference at all.

[BassMamma1054]

"i like these red hooks for soft plastics but after catching a couple of fish the pait wears off and it turns gold. "

Very true...I've been using them, and as you said, the red comes off after the first fish caught on them.

Could be my imagination, but nothing else seems to bite THAT hook afterwards.

[Cephkiller]

I don't know if the red catches more fish, but I have noticed that when I replace only the front  hook with red on a topwater or jerkbait, I will land many fish that are only stuck on the red hook.  That is unusual for me when both hooks are standard.  That tells me that the fish key in on the red when they decide to strike.  As for whether or not the red entices more strikes, I think the jury is still out.

[AOY]

I use red hooks and regular.  I bought into the hype and have been catching fish on red hooks.  I'm not sure if there is any difference but I like them.  They are also not any more expensive around here at Wal-Mart.

[Muddpuppy]

BassMomma:  I run a premanet red marks-a-lot over mine when they wear off.  You can carry it with you.  Sometimes even black.  Even if the shades differ it seems like it would be like camo.

[BassMamma1054]

BassMomma: I run a premanet red marks-a-lot over mine when they wear off. You can carry it with you. Sometimes even black. Even if the shades differ it seems like it would be like camo.

Thanks, Muddpuppy. I have some "Sharpie" pens around the house. I'll give it a try.

[curadolover]

I always use red hooks

[boiler_animal374]

I a red hook by diachi with a tiny cork screw on the eye to help keep the bait on.  This little corkscrew has made a world of difference in keeping my senko attached to the hook in the right place.  Cant find them in standard color so dont know if it would be better.  But can tell ya that the bass i caught on my pro was caught on a red hook and he slammed it as soon as it hit the water no hesitation.  

[Sam]

I have not noticed anyadvantage when using red hooks.  

Regarding the color question, according to Uncle Homer in his book, Bass Wisdom, bass prefer reds and yellows over all other colors.  Bass avoided the shock-related hues.  

Bass can distinguish 24 different narrow-band hues.  The conclusion:  pastal-shade lures are the best.

Actually, the colors that can been seen in the water the most are a robin-egg blue and purple.

Get Uncle Homer's Bass Wisdom as it is a fantastic book and a great read on a rainy summer day and read the research on colors in the water.