Changing Stock Hooks

[bigbassctchr101]

When changing your stock hooks on lipless baits and small crank baits... do you always put on the suggested hook size? Does anyone change up the size any? I know changing the size will almost always change the action, but is their a combination that will change the action in a positive way? I was going to experiment with the red eye shad. 2 in front and 4 in back? Vice versa? what do you guys do?

I just noticed...this is in the wrong section... Sorry

[CKFishin]

I try things.. See if it hurts or helps.. If you want to get bigger you can use the mustad hooks fthat vandam talks about that have short shanks.. I put VMC barbarians on alot of mine. My only negative is that when a good size catfish hits the crank and bends the hell out of them.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Its going to be a trial and error. If you do go bigger make sure the hooks will not tangle together.

[irnwrkr]

I've been using the KVD hooks on my lipless cranks. Size #2, and will never use anything else. Fish stay hooked. Need pliers to get most off. You would have to hook something pretty heavy duty to straighten them out. Hope this helps.

[Marty]

I generally use the same size as the original hooks. If you want to trust the manufacturer, they are putting in that package what they believe will provide optimum performance. That said, I'm sure you can go up or down a size on most lures with no adverse effects.

[Gatorbassman]

Most cranks I will go with the size that prevents them from tangling up together. But lipless cranks are a different story. I usually put a big #1 treble hook on the front and remove the back one totally. This makes the lure more snag-proof. I will fish a flooded timber lake at night with it with few problems.

If I want a back hook I will keep the #1 hook on the front and add a #6 or smaller on the back.

[Raul]

Man, many baits come with really lousy stock hooks ( Rat L-Traps come to mind ) upgrading the stock for better ones is almost a must in those, in some baits changing the size can change certain lure characteristics which may be a pro or a con depending upon how much of the action is changed, another thing that can change is the buoyancy, a bigger hook may turn a bait from a floater to a slow rise/suspending bait, many times it`s a pro other times it`s a con, that`s a trick I do to one of my favorite cranks ( Rapala`s Shad Rap ), I change both hooks for the next one in size above.

[Bluebasser86]

I upgrade most of my hooks right out of the box. I save the old hooks and put them on baits I find so I can give them to my friends kids to use. If I can get away with upsizing I will. Some baits, like poppers and jerkbaits, it's best to stick with the closest hook to the stock hook you can find.

[SirSnookalot]

I change when needed, not before. I step up 1 size and use saltwater hooks even for my freshwater fishing. Sometimes they may get tangled with each other, a second to untangle and back in business. Best hook I use comes standard on Mirrorlures.

[J Francho]

When changing your stock hooks on lipless baits and small crank baits... do you always put on the suggested hook size?

Yes, unless I'm trying to alter a suspended bait. I also try to stick to the same wire thickness, unless it is really necessary to go to a 2X or 3X.

[Edgy]

I have never personally changed the stock hooks but i have heard the pros and cons about it.

[J Francho]

So, when the hooks go dull, do you throw the crankbait out? There are no cons to changing dull hooks.

[bigbassctchr101]

This is good stuff. I have changed out my hooks on many baits. But it has almost always been for the sharpness aspect. Not the action... with the exception being topwaters (heavier hook on the back) and floating/suspending jerkbaits. But I just haven't had the time to experiment with hooks for the different actions on moving baits.

I was intrigued by Jeff's post about removing the back hook. I've done this before and added the spinner blade (like a ratltrap pro series) But I don't fish grass, only the occasional stick up and brush pile here and there.

The thing that really sparked my interest was the new sebile lipless bait. It seems like a pretty neat design, although to me it seems like your hookup percentage would be good if it was 60/40%. Has anyone fished this thing yet???? I probably wont be getting one just to try out. But I would like to hear some things about it. The feather on the back is neat too. I've done it with deep divers and shallow cranks, but not a lipless or blade bait.

I guess I just need to experiment with heavier hooks in front, lighter in back, bigger hooks, smaller hooks, quad hooks, rotating hooks, all seem to have their time to shine. This would be a great reason to get the dive gear out.

I was hoping to hear a magic combo that makes a red eye shad feel like a silver buddy, and fall like a fluke lol JK. I guess in most aspects though the manufacturer does pretty much have a good suggestion for the original and best action of their baits.