Facts about red hooks

[Ed Stringer]

I've used red hooks for 3 years now and think they have saved the day more than once. Not to say gold hooks do not catch fish cuz they do I still use them. Fish are attracted to blood, the sight of red means it's grocery time or "injured bait" to perch. As perch feed their gills become ingouaged with blood like any muscle. The pros call this phenomenon "gill flash" witch to other perch means I have grocery's and you don't. This combo sets off the natural feeding respones in perch. The guys I fish with did a little test last hardwater season and Daiichi red hooks out fish trueturn 4 to 1 on 3 differant days.

[Brian S]

So then maybe a bright red slash on the gills of the perch decoy may help also? I've heard a lot of people suggest red hooks, and not just for ice fishing. Haven't yet, but plan on trying it this year (if we ever get any ice).

[stinger63]

Well I have tryed red hooks for the last year or so and they do seem to catch fish.Wether its more than any other color I dont know.You can have a gold and red hook with bait on it or fixed to a bait.Say the fish hits the red one 1st,How do you know if that same fish would have hit the bait with a gold hook or not?Someone do a study on this,I can imagine the fish when they hit a bait with red hooks saying or thinking hemm I prefer to get caught on red hook 5-1 over the traditional gold or bronze hook :lol:

[Thunderhead]

Cool, I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip.

[Ed Stringer]

Leave it to you to be goofy Stinger 63.

[igotgame]

I agree with you about the red hooks, especially under a slip bobber with a minnow. Wish there were thin, tru-turn style hooks available in red. I've never
seen any.

[Houghton laker]

I replaced up up sized most of my trebles on my jigging rapalas for eyes....I put the red Gamakatzu trbles on them!! Haven't had a chance to see the difference....but I know on my slip bobbers I was using the red hooks and did excellent with them!

[Zakker]

What size of hooks do you "upsize" to for say,

#5 rap
#7 rap
#9 rap

?

[Sailor]

I've had good luck with red hooks, but I've read over and over that after about 14' deep the red is no longer visible. Anyone know for sure?

[bgoodenow]

I was fishing Crappie with a guy using a red hook the other night and he was doing pretty good with it. Must be the same for other species besides Perch, eh? I know we've had good look with them fishing 'eyes in the Spring in Canada.

[Ed Stringer]

"Gill Flash" applies to any fish I was using perch as an example because that the main fish we run after in LSC.

[The Whale]

Wal-Mart's loaded with red "Tru-Turn" hooks, really ! :)

I've replaced many of my cranks front hooks with red and it seemingly has increased the number of solid FRONT end hook ups I get. Sure has not hurt anything at all. Tied up a large number of crawler harnesses with red hooks involved too, can't say I've seen any difference in those though. They always hokk up and work real well. Just my input. :D

[ESOX]

Red is the first color to dissapear under water, so red hooks make no difference in deep or dirty water. However, I am a believer in red hooks for shallow and clear water fishing. Last summer I did a little expiermenting with two of the same color Chug Bug poppers, one with the factory hooks and one with red hooks, the red hooked one outfished the factory hooks by a little over 10%.

[tubejig]

Ed, good post. I use em and they work well.


Well I have tryed red hooks for the last year or so and they do seem to catch fish.Wether its more than any other color I dont know.You can have a gold and red hook with bait on it or fixed to a bait.Say the fish hits the red one 1st,How do you know if that same fish would have hit the bait with a gold hook or not?Someone do a study on this,I can imagine the fish when they hit a bait with red hooks saying or thinking hemm I prefer to get caught on red hook 5-1 over the traditional gold or bronze hook :lol:

stigner36, here is your study that you wanted. Last year I had several perch swim over and look at a minnow hooked with gold and not bite. They then proceeded to move to my other rod that had the same bait with a red hook and inhale it. On that particular day and many days after that, the fish were apparently thinking that they would like a red hook over a gold hook. :lol:

[newk8]

I am just getting into ice fishing, and this site has been very helpful. I know this summer I had much better luck with baits and lures with red hooks. Sag Bay and crawler harnasses and had outstanding success. I do believe there is something to this and will be switching many of my treble hooks over to red on tots and stick baits. Good idea to change just the front one, may try that first. I can tell you this, red hooked jigs in canada are killer!!!!!!!!!! :D :yikes: