HOOKS
by Chuck Bailey
The body and motion of a crankbait attracts the fish, but it is the hooks that penetrate and hold a fish until the angler can get it to the boat or net. And yet, so many anglers ignore the condition of the crankbait’s treble hooks and end up frustrated because of lost fish. Ultra sharp trebles are essential components for successful crankbait angling.
Most crankbait buyers assume that a new crankbait has sharp trebles attached. Sharp? – yes. Ultra sharp ? – no. Most manufacturers buy standard trebles in bulk. This keeps the cost down, but leaves the crankbait with only adequate hooks for a limited time. Alert anglers are often surprised at how quickly these treble hooks dull. The points of treble hooks wear down, bend over, or break when bouncing off stumps, rock piles, or hard bottoms. NEVER assume a crankbait’s hooks are sharp. Check them regularly throughout the day.
When a treble is dull, there are two ways to correct the problem: 1) Sharpen the hook, or 2) Replace the hook. Long ago, replacement trebles were hard to find and everyone learned to sharpen their own with a file, or small grinding device. But today several quality manufacturers now provide ultra-sharp replacement hooks and most professionals simply throw the old ones away after switching them out with new ones.
Economics may influence an angler’s choice to sharpen or replace, as the highest quality hooks can be rather expensive. Obviously tournament fishermen find ultra-sharp hooks a small price to pay. A lost fish can take an angler out of the money. It is strongly suggested that the split-ring should be replaced along with the hook. When doing so, use a special set of split ring pliers to make hook replacement easier.
To emphasize how ultra sharp trebles make a difference, there are occasions when a fish will have the primary hook inside the mouth come loose during the fight, but the fish was not lost. Why? Because the tail hook slapped up against the side of the fish’s head or gill plate and grabbed on. Only needle sharp trebles do this, and allow the fish to be brought to the boat. Sometimes a fish will come in with all three trebles attached. That ability to penetrate a fish’s mouth with minimum pressure increases catch ratios!
Like other crankbait hardware, there is no “standard” by which all manufacturers abide in designing hook sizes. A #1 from one manufacturer may not duplicate a #1 of another manufacturer. However, within a manufacturer's range of hooks, hook sizes are consistent.
Most manufacturers place the #1 hook in the middle of the size ranges. Smaller hooks utilize the larger whole numbers (e.g. 1, 2, 3...). Larger hooks use a slash and a zero (e.g. 1/0 (one aught), 2/0, 3/0...) as their size increases. With trebles, as a rule, the smaller hooks with a single number go up in size, as the number gets smaller. For instance a size #2 is larger than a size #4, and a #4 is larger than a #6, etc. Once you get into the dual numbers, it reverses. A 4/0 treble hook is larger than a 2/0 hook. The numbers represent a relative size and not any specific measurement of a part or portion of the hook.
A lure’s action and presentation can be affected by the size and weight of the hooks. Many anglers will often go up one size when replacing trebles in order increase hook ability. But going up more than 1 hook size can alter the crankbait to the point that it no longer wobbles as the manufacturer intended. Sometimes it can completely shut down the action altogether.
If you do go up one size, check its action besides the boat before casting with it. Many anglers will bend open the replacement treble hooks 10-15 degrees to improve hooking success. Another good choice is moving to “Extra Wide Gap” hooks when replacing trebles. Both approaches lead to easier hook ups.
Also be aware that replacement trebles in the same size as the original factory hooks may have a variety of shank lengths. A short shank will usually come through cover better, (tucked in closer to the body of the crankbait), but this slightly lessens the chances of a clean hook set. In open water a longer shank increases hook set capabilities. However, remember - the longer shanks weigh more and can dampen the action. In the winter time, toning down a crankbait’s vibration and wobble can be an advantage. In summer time, when fish are more aggressive, the shorter shanks help increase the vibration of the crankbait.
Most hooks are manufactured from either high-carbon steel, steel alloyed with Vanadium, or stainless steel, depending on where it is to be used. The enemy of all hooks is rust. The majority of fishing hooks are covered with some form of corrosion-resistant surface coating, especially in saltwater. As to color, hooks may be plated in gold, nickel, Teflon, tin and different colors. Red is an especially popular color at this time, though there is no evidence indicating fish prefer red over any other color.
The diameter and material used in the manufacture of the treble is important. A heavy gage wire will not penetrate as easily as a thin gage wire. But on the other hand, it tends to reduce straightening out (should a large trophy fish take you into the trees or brush). Still, heavier gage wire adds weight to the crankbait, dull its action, and tend to tear out of the fish’s mouth. Light wire hooks allow an angler to go to a bigger treble without changing the action or wobble of the crankbait. On the other hand, there may be times when you may want to make subtle changes in the crankbait’s presentation, and understanding how different sizes, weights, and lengths of trebles can affect its performance will give you the edge.
Trebles can also be purchased with weed guards, weighted with lead, or dressed with special tied feathers and reflective mylar flash. Some specialized trebles have two normal prongs and one larger wide gap prong that faces backward when attached to the crankbait and allows for better hooking. There is even a treble hook that spins or rotates around its shaft – the idea being that the unlimited range in rotation reduces the fish’s ability to use leverage or torque to throw the crankbait. Obviously, the more “specialized” the hook, the more expensive.
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