Changing hooks on crankbaits

[BB]

I am curious to see what the preference is amongst all of the fishermen and fisherwomen on this forum. When you change out your crankbait hooks, do you prefer EWG or round bend, and do you have a preference which hook style goes on the front hanger and which goes on the rear hanger. Also what about when you have to change out three sets of trebles such as on a Super Spook.

Thanks in advance for all of your input.

BB

[Scott D.]

most of the time I put Gami EWG's on. I normally go with the same size that comes off, but sometimes go to the next size up. You just don't want to go too big because you will impeed the natural action of the lure, plus you might have a problem with the hooks tangling with eachother. As far as which hook where, for instance a Rico, I put the larger of the two on the body, and a smaller one on the tail because I believe most of the time the fish will strike the main body. Just my $.02

[Phil]

I feel most everyone changes hooks except us. I believe a reputable manufacturer has balanced the bait using the hooks that came with the bait. All we do is sharpen them needle sharp is my only clue we do

[Mark Langner]

On the forum here, in the "Ask Gary Dobyns" section...Gary talks about hook replacements. He generally recommends replacing the stock hooks with higher quality hooks (on those baits that don't have premium hooks to begin with), and usually going up one size. He cautions to double check the action of the bait to see if it is adversely affected. I believe on a spook he upsizes the front and rear hooks but leaves the middle the same size to prevent the hooks from tangling (I do that too).

Gary claims that round bend hooks are stronger, but EWG hooks can "have more bite". I think you just have to experiment around and use which style you have most confidence in. I've stayed mostly with round bends myself, upsized one size. Gary suggested a EWG up front and a round bend on the back as a suggestion to try...I may do that on a couple baits this season.

I'm also a firm believer in feathered rear treble hooks on topwater baits. I also feel strongly about replacing the hooks on my most used rip baits before a tournament to insure I have the sharpest possible hooks. Just a confidence thing with me perhaps, but I use rip baits allot and the hooks will dull hitting objects (or bend sometimes catching fish).

Some of the "Gary" comments have come from the most recent issue of inside line magazine.

Hope some of this is helpful...

[MrSkeeter]

I too change hooks on most crank baits. I use almost exclusively gammie round bends rather than EWG's ... I believe that the round bends offers you a better chance of a hookup when a fish swipes at the bait. This is because the EWG hooks have the points pointed inward while the round bends then to 'hang out' a bit more. I also agree with the comment of the EWG's have more bite once you get the fish hooked, that is that it's less chance of it coming off after you hooked the fish. But ... first, you must hook the fish!! I'll chance it coming off rather than getting hooked in the first place.

[Riplip]

Up one size if you can get away without changing action...EWG if you are using stout tackle/short range or shallow, or you want the bait to be mroe weedless, round bend for any deepdiver. It takes much less energy to drive round bend hooks in! Try this experiment: hold a single worm hook at the bend between your thumb and pinkie finger, have someone stand 15 yards away and yank like a hookset. You will be surprised how little energy is commuted to the hook unless you are using braid.

[Phil]

riplip wrote: (, have someone stand 15 yards away and yank like a hookset. You will be surprised how little energy is commuted to the hook unless you are using braid.)

Can you please elaborate on this i am confussed ???

[Riplip]

*NM*