Red Hooks 2024

Lasher reply :

I'm seeing more and more red hooks in the terminal tackle at stores and websites. I've used them some, but can't say I've seen any real difference. Do you guys buy red hooks over the traditional? Maybe there is some data behind it, but is seems like a matter of opinion to me.

LivewellHero reply :

I have much more confidence in black or nickel, which makes a difference for me. Don't like red, mainly for worm hooks. I have a few crank baits with red back trebles.

roadwarrior reply :

On 1/31/2014 at 2:56 AM, Lasher said:
I'm seeing more and more red hooks in the terminal tackle at stores and websites. I've used them some, but can't say I've seen any real difference. Do you guys buy red hooks over the traditional? Maybe there is some data behind it, but is seems like a matter of opinion to me.

Actually there are less and less. This was a fad started about a decade ago.

Mainebassin reply :

Never really thought about them till one day 2 years ago...My buddy and I both fishing the same colored Senko the only difference was he had a red hook....He was catching them 3 to my one....I switched to Red hook and we were catching equal...

Dr. Watson reply :

I believe red hooks were to make a bleeding bait presentation, but since soft baits are offered with red flake in them anyway, I just see it as overkill. I have heard some people swear by red hooks, but I've never seen any hard evidence to prove they work better than regular hooks.

aquaholic reply :

I like the color of them. I also think anodized blue would be a pretty cool color. I buy them because i dont think there is a price difference, they look pretty cool in my tackle box, and it gives my fishing partners excuses to make why i catch all the fish.

Dyerbassman reply :

I think it's a confidence thing. If you go out and slay 'em with red hooks, you'll have more confidence in using them and will be inclined to do so more regularly. Personally, I don't think there is a huge factor, as I have used both and gotten similar results. But I do not think red hooks lessen the chance of catching a bass at all.

Lasher reply :

On 1/31/2014 at 3:05 AM, roadwarrior said:
Actually there are less and less. This was a fad started about a decade ago.

So would this mean red hooks are a dying trend?

daiwaguy reply :

Sometimes I use them If I am using a "bleeding" style shallow crankbait or Trap. I will swap out the belly treble with a red one. I am not going to say it makes a difference but it gives me confidence and I have caught alot of fish on them.

doyle8218 reply :

I don't think they matter - don't hurt but don't help either.

Ratherbfishing reply :

You need the option of "Sometimes" because sometimes Red hooks help and sometimes they do not.

Missourifishin reply :

I bought a bunch of red Gamakatsu hooks last year. As far as I can tell, they catch just as many fish but no more.

McAlpine reply :

I don't know why but I like a red trailer hook on a white spinnerbait. I like red hooks for senkos too. I doubt it makes any difference but its a confidence thing.

Teal reply :

I don't really beleive the red hooks give any advantage.

But I'm sure they don't hurt anything. I bought several packs of red Ewgs from Walmart a few Years ago when they were on clearance and used them up. They worked as well as any other hook.

Darren. reply :

If red works for ya, use 'em. Me? I've used 'em and don't think they make any difference. Besides, I hate when the paint chips and they become a mix of gold and red (or whatever's underneath).

Prefer un-painted hooks myself.

flyingmonkie reply :

I love to use them with my soft plastics in dingy water... I like to think that a little flash of red might help get a fish's attention. For natural presentations in clear water, I tend to avoid them.

NorcalBassin reply :

Definitely a confidence thing for me. I prefer black nickel with red being a distant second place. The broze/gold hooks just look cheap and I try to change them out whenever I get the chance.

coryn h. fishowl reply :

Well whether or not it looks like a bleeding fish may be up for debate, but the fact of the matter is that bass are specially adapted to see and distinguish red and green the best. So a red hook may just draw more attention...on crankbaits, it's a plus, if not a neccessity.

papajoe222 reply :

Almost every top-water bait I throw has a red treble on it's belly. Most of my shallow cranks get the same treatment. Light penetration plays a big part in whether or not a bass can see red and therefore I don't use them on deeper running presentations. I honestly can't say one way or another if they attract more strikes, but since I was a kid (more than a few years ago) I'd add a splash of red paint or nail polish to the underside of my hard baits and I just bought into using red hooks.

msk reply :

I have a few red hooks that I use for bluegills. I picked them up because they were on sale. I catch just as mentioned with them as I do with the gold and silver aberdeens.

geo g reply :

I have used them in the past, and see no avantage to using them.

Lasher reply :

Lots of mixed answers, so im going to chalk it up to personal preference, but when faced with the decision to buy, I don't see myself reaching for red hooks over black or nickel.

roadwarrior reply :

Well, the poll is a very small sampling, but in this case perhaps representative.

At almost 3:1, most people prefer plain metal vs. red. I fish a little bit of both

simply becasuse red light wire Gamakatu are often on sale. I don't notice any

difference in terms of catching bass. My biggest issue with red hooks is that

they quickly become gold hooks!

Raul reply :

I don´t give a dang about the hook color, I´ve got all sorts of hooks with all sorts of colors from the traditional bronze, silver, black, gunmetal blue to chartreuse, fluorescent orange, funky blue, red ; as long as they are quality made and sharp as razors it doesn´t matter. I´ve got a bunch of red hooks and got them because they are quality brand ( Gamakatsu ), razor sharp and they were on clearance. So far I haven´t witnessed hook color made any difference in the catch ratio.

If you want to believe they will help you catch more fish I´m the first one to tell you should use them.

CDMeyer reply :

I feel like I do not catch anymore with them, but I have a buddy who swears by them and does not use any thing else PERIOD..... He likes the "blood" look the give off

MacP reply :

I use red hooks at the rear of all topwaters. I think it helps.

AQUA VELVA reply :

I've been using them for three years or so but I can't honestly say they have made a difference one way or another. Im inclined to believe it was a good marketing ploy that ran it's course.

Lasher reply :

On 2/11/2014 at 11:40 AM, AQUA VELVA said:
I've been using them for three years or so but I can't honestly say they have made a difference one way or another. Im inclined to believe it was a good marketing ploy that ran it's course.

Yeah I thought it was a marketing ploy also but lots of responses with positive feedback, especially with top water and senkos. If I find them for cheap, I will try a few and see if makes a difference.

Talonman reply :

I voted yes...

And believe they help.

Both with treble hooks, and KVD drop shot hooks.

dave reply :

Years ago when they first came out, a bass guide told me that he liked them because they were brass underneath. The red would flake off and the hook was a nice flashy brass color.

Clear water I would say it could be seen and possibly help.

Red is the first color in the spectrum to disappear. The deeper the bait in the water column, the more black (absence of color) it becomes.

Alonerankin2 reply :

I used a big Daiichi red hook in the late 90's on Big yo-Zuri crankbaits. Baits color was lime/ chartreuse . On that color and bait I had more fish caught by that red hook than you can believe!

However the red hooks now suck so I use owner needle points and mustad triple grips. No more reds for me

George DeHaven reply :

I can't say whether or not they work, because I have only been "seriously" fishing for less than a year. I was using red 4/0 Gamakatsu Wide Gaps with Zoom Flukes and never had a bite on them. It could be the color, it could be my presentation, it could be that the fish didn't want flukes that day. However, in this off-season, I've been doing a lot of research to get ready for the thaw. I've become a spinnerbait fanatic and have been watching a lot of KVD YouTube videos. He SWEARS by red TRAILER hooks on his spinnerbaits and I am looking forward to trying it out. In fact, right before I posted this, I bought a few packs of red trailer hooks on eBay.

96ecss reply :

I saw a video with Randy Howell where he was talking about lipless crankbaits. He said he always changes the belly hook to red and that's where he hooks bass most of the time.

He said that if you don't believe it, try switching the belly hook on your lipless cranks to red and you'll see that the bass are hooked on the red belly hook most of the time. Then switch the red hook to the tail position and you'll see that the bass are hooked on the tail hook most of the time.

I've never tried it so I don't know if it's true or not. I just thought I'd put it out there to see if anyone ever tried it and if so, what the results were.

Dave

froggerbass reply :

The red hooks are def more than just a confidence thing or a bleeding effect. Try putting them on the front hook of jerkbaits, especially if fish are really slashing at the back. You'll get better hook ups at the least. Also, with flukes a red hook or a red stinger hook can provide the same results. It's the red flash engaging the instincts imo.

Talonman reply :

I believe the YESes are starting to see a comeback...

Red means dead baby!

SENKOSAM reply :

I suppose it matters to those that believe that bass associate colors to those that occur in nature such as prey fish and craw colors, blood or gills. Association is one thing, evoking a strike because of unproven associations is another. Bass strike for different reasons and I think that many would agree that lure action and presentation are at the top of the list. Even slow presentations at the right place and time seem to have an edge over what color hook or lure color pattern is chosen.

Do some colors work better than others at times? On certain waters that may be true, but still it's hard to attribute catch rates with colors unless two or more anglers used the same lures and presentation daily, from the same boat for at least a month and compared notes. The point of the experiment would be to see which worked better by a considerable amount, though I tend to believe it would even out. JMO

IowaHusker28 reply :

I'm not going to say yes or no because, well none of us know what the bass are thinking when they take our bait. I do put maybe one red treble on a lure such as a jerkbait or crank. I have no idea if it makes a difference but I will say the best day I've ever had bass fishing was using a Bleeding Bait 1/2 oz spinnerbait. The size, numbers, and the way they hit that thing was second to none for me. I wouldn't call me a huge believer but there is merit to think it makes some what of a difference.

Jsinkic reply :

I just bought a few crank baits that have the front hook is red and the back is just a normal. I don't know if it will work better then just regular hooks but I will let you know once the ice is gone

RoLo reply :

"Yes, I believe that red hooks do catch more".

I'm paraphrasing a hook salesman of course

Roger

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Red Hooks 2024

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