Red Hooks vs Plain Hooks

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Allantek
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Location: Southern California

Red Hooks vs Plain Hooks

Post by Allantek »

Okay, do the recently marketed red hooks catch more fish than conventional ones?
Some people believe so! However, I have not found this to be true. I have experimented using both plain and red painted hooks in areas where fish have been concentrated and I have found on several different occasions that red hooks catch about the same, but not any more bass than plain ol' conventional hooks. Is this just another marketing ploy to hook the fisherman in spending more money on tackle?

What is your opinion?
Allantek

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BigJeff
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Re: Red Hooks vs Plain Hooks

Post by BigJeff »

I think in certain situations it does work, but its definitely a marketing bonanza. I don't see where a red hook will outcatch a black one. I haven't experience it myself yet. Just open a bass pro catalog and look at all of the bleeding bait series with red dots, trebles, feathers, etc.
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Kelly Ripa
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Re: Red Hooks vs Plain Hooks

Post by Kelly Ripa »

I just did my own research on dropshot at Clear Lake and it was inconclusive. I think I might have been the better angler in the boat ( soph. in High school was the competition ) and I had him using red hooks also. However, on many occasions I have done better than most with my cranks by removing the front hook and replacing it with a red Gamagatsu. My buzzbait trailer hook is red also and I don't know if it actually draws more strikes but the ones that do bite SEEM to be more commited to killing the bait than when I fish it with the standard trailer hook. I used to hang a piece of red yarn about 2 inches long off the split ring of my M.S. Slammer and I felt that the fish that were following the bait would respond in a positive way. How many trout look perfect before they get eaten? Seems like the ugly black with white splotches barely swimming are the ones that should be saying their prayers to me. If you'll look back historically at old surface plugs and cranks a lot of them seemed to have the red head white body paint scheme on them and they caught fish. While the jury in my mind is still out as to whether they make a serious difference they don't cost so much that I won't keep looking to up my baits productivity by even 5%. Just my opinion.

Kelly
Remember ...What the Dormouse said...Feed your head!
CharlieS.
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Re: Red Hooks vs Plain Hooks

Post by CharlieS. »

The "red" thing kind of a marketing ploy ..just my opinion. Remembering my scuba diving days ,I think red is one of the first colors to dissappear as depth increases, atleast to human eyes anyways. We are told that fish sees red,yet how does one explain that fishing line is sold in red also with the promise that fish cant see it. I've taken a little pocket pointer(those red lasers) and tried to tease a bed fish by pointing it around the bed while a bait was sitting there. No effect what so ever...So...its anyones guess. But I do have a few real nice rip baits that I had to have just cause the nose was red :roll: Charlie
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Kelly Ripa
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Laser pocket pointer..

Post by Kelly Ripa »

Funny when I hit the carp in the river in laughlin..(sp) just below Lake Mojave the whole freak'n river changed course as those carp got the hell out of dodge...Geeez it was funny. I guess because I am not using the red stuff to deep it hasn't made a difference....What about the red flake in your worms then? That seems to matter. I remember reading the book In Pusuit of Giant Bass and he was saying that he dyed some brown worms black and they still would only eat the undyed black ones. I try not to make our green friends to smart and have learned that I don't need 80% of the tackle I have aquired of the years but to some degree red must matter. I fish saltwater to and you don't want those red nosed baits out in the big pond at all. I guess we need to face it it's all about what sells or looks good to us when it comes to sales.
Remember ...What the Dormouse said...Feed your head!
CharlieS.
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Re: Laser pocket pointer..

Post by CharlieS. »

Ya have a pointy there Kelly,about the red nose baits in salt water. I havent fished in that water in several years...tired of 20 thousand people in one cattle boat.. Hard to say,on the red flake...JB worms used to make(maybe still does) bass candy,one of my hafta haves....alas....it wouldnt be the last time an angler had to have something cause it will guarantee (might) a fish...Charlie
mark poulson
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Re: Laser pocket pointer..

Post by mark poulson »

When red hooks first came out, I bought some drop shot hooks in red, and they broke in the bend. But the next batch was fine.
I also tried some red 4/0 EWG hooks, and thought they didn't hold a point as well, and that they were lighter in weight.
Short story long, I use red trebles on cranks if they're the size I need. I don't know if the color makes a difference.
I do put red on the heads of blades to simulate gills, and on the underside of the head. I think it does get their attention better.
But I don't want them focusing on a red hook if I'm worming, because I think it takes away from the worm's "naturalness" and makes it look more artificial.
Just my 4 cents, adjusted for inflation.
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