Questions on modifying crankbaits

[chadk66]

I am going to be replacing a bunch of the trebles on my cranks this winter. I have been contemplating on what size hooks are best and if any of you guys are running combinations of different sizes on your cranks. Particularily running like size 4's or 6's on the back and size 2's or 4's under the belly. I would think if for instance you would put a smaller treble like a size six on the tail of a reef runner and a size four under the belly you would get a less negative impact on the tail action of the lure. Just wanted to throw this out there and see what responses I get.

[dan (or)]

I run short shank trebles, triple grips on the plugs. Generally try and stay the same size as the factory but short shank. They hang up less and hook up the same number of fish as compared to the regular size triple grips. IMHO

dan
Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them.

[Chad]

Try to stay with in one size of the originals to avoid changing the lures action. That is unless you are tying to change the action.

[SUPERTROLLER]

Chad66, you can usually go one size larger without changing the action of your baits. I like the larger hook gap available with bigger hooks. I replace my hooks now with VMC reverse barbed hooks. I get them from Reefrunner. These are the stickiest hooks I can find. Can't seem to pick up any of my reefrunners without it getting caught on me while attaching to the line.

[chadk66]

yea that's been my experience with the reef runners also. I was going to replace quite a few of the trebles but was considering running size 6's on the back and size 4's like they came with on the belly. What do you think of that idea. Or do you think I should just put 6's or 4's on both.

[SUPERTROLLER]

I never go smaller on size. Mostly I go bigger one size or at the very least stay the same size. I want as big a hook as I can get away with and not impact the wiggle/wobble of the bait.