Colored hooks?

[Tony]

I've heard a lot of talk about colored hooks catching more walleye than regular bronze hooks. This last weekend, Al Lindner did a segement on glow hooks. Red bleeding bait hooks, flourescent painted hooks, and glow hooks; for you guys that use them, are they worth the extra cost?

[SoDak Boy]

I use metallic red hooks (Gamakatsu mostly) for years and swear by them. I am convinced that in many situations they significantly out-produce ordinary hooks and I have yet to see a situation where they appear to negatively impact results. I've also used florescent hooks quite a bit but I don’t like how the paint chips when you have to use a pliers or forceps to unhook a deeply hooked fish. I’ve not used any of the “new” glow hooks but will experiment with them this summer. Hooks painted with the “old” (green) glow never seemed to significantly outperform regular hooks and I haven’t used them in several years now. I can wholeheartedly recommend the red Gamakatsu octopus hooks for tying walleye rigs. They’re great hooks and the color seems to outproduce everything else I’ve tried.

[skillz]

I agree somewhat-

The glow hooks piss me off something fience when you have what looks like the ultimate snell, and then have some sheephead bury it deep in it's throat. The paint chips off when you remove the hook with a plyers and then presto-chango- you have a regular hook!!! Somewhat the same thing with the red gamagatzo hooks as well. They turn into bronze and red hooks after some useage. BUT... both have seemed to out perform other hooks, so it turns out to be a pick-your-poison type of deal. I am going to tie one color of each (white, green, pink, orange, red, etc) on a snell just in case. Better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

skz

The best time to go fishing is whenever you can...

[Ristorapper]

Throw a permanent red magic marker in the boat. Heck why stop there, they make blue and other colors too. I'm gonna give it a try this year, the red colors up the old bronze hooks better than any other. We'll see. Give it a try! I've even gone so far as to "paint" some of my jig hooks red too with the marker to give them a try this sping.

And some of the red hooks chip (vmc) so the red marker acts as a touch up.

bob

[Gov.]

colared hookes have made adifferance at times for me. If you dont want to spend the extra $ for colerd hooks try using powder paint, Ive done it and works fine as long as you bake them.Clear the eyes first and dont cover the point. This way you also can use your favorit hook.

[Vitreum]

they sound like utter nonsense to me.

[redbeard]

After fishing Mille Lacs last year I use nothing but the metallic red hooks (Gamakatsu). I have gone out with three people in the boat only one with the red hook and that out fished the other two 4 to 1 (eyes) I don't know why but that's all I have used since. Just my two cents.

[ifitfliesitdies]

I too am a believer in red hooks. They have outfished all others the last three years on Mil Lacs. My buddies and I, always try to find what is hot before the others do and try to outfish each other for awhile. Usually by the end of the trip you cannot find one person with any other color than red on there line.

We have one friend whom is not too smart, Tom Knutson will just set there and watch us catch fish without ever changing...he will not give in!

[W1]

I have used the Gamakatsu hooks and the paint SUCKS!! It comes off very easy. So, I made my powder paint hooks, Purple works the best for me.

[hawgman]

Based on this thread, red hooks are very popular when fishing with spinners. And I agree...red hooks often catch more walleyes when pulling a spinner/crawler harness combo than bronze or black hooks.

My question is why stop at the hooks if red is such a hot color? Red beads are often used, but what about the spinner? I've had great luck with a spinner that's red/white on one side and silver on the other. But I rarely see anyone else using this color.

[eyecatcher_1]

Red hook, leech under slip bobber...Enough said! They work great and if someone can find a way to make it not chip off, let me know! I am curious on how the marker will work.

[Tackleman]

Would you consider using a flexible, glowing red, blue, or chartreuse tube that could slip over any size plain hook shank, or jig shank, can be cut to size to replace a simple bead or as a spacer on a spinner rig, and held up fish after fish? Bet ya would...and will.

[Dave in Mpls]

90% of the time, you will find me using a red #6 Gamakatsu pulling rigs on Mille Lacs. The other 10% I will use a painted hook, primarely chartruse. Works for me...plus, they look cool! :)

Regards

[Steve CO]

Hawgman
I use red and white spinner blades all the time and they are effective for me. I couple them with the red/white foam floaters. I use more red beads on my rigs that any other color, with chartreuse being second. I was going to buy some red hooks this year and decided it probably wasn't worth it. I may have to change my mind based on this thread.
How about nickel hooks? I have a whole bunch of rigs tied with these. Any experience if this is good or bad? I never really worried about the hook color and focused on components.

[Vitreum]

ok guys, educate me. are you using these things in crystal clear water? cannot imagine that they could make a difference in the stained waters of say, lac seul.

[metis]

Anyone who scuba dives know that the color red is pretty much gone at 20 ft in absolutely clear water. our eyes can't see it. are 'eyes eyes different? could be. i don't know. above 20ft tho the theory should hold.

[REW]

Actually, another color that has worked even better than the red hooks has been bright pink hooks.

Also, at times pink blades will catch many more fish than others.

Take care
REW
p.s.
Even when pulling a lindy rig with a couple of beads, I always make sure that I have at least one pink bead on the snell. I suspect that it is the contrast and makes it more visable.

[hawg]

hard to believe with all the money we all spend on stuff that anyone complaines about paint coming off a hook. i think they work great. i keep all the glow colors and the reg red. lidners were right. i would say they outperform reg hooks hands down.

[stewart]

I'll agree with REW about the pink. It's my favourite Phelps floater colour. Just a thought, thinking of the tubing idea, wrap a few turns of thin chenille(fly tying material) on the shank?

[Steve CO]

Well, I've got as bottle of fluorescent red paint I used on some jigs and spoons. I'm going to paint the nickel hooks I have from the barb back. Sounds like it can't hurt.

[Dryfly]

I started using red hooks four years ago on just a plain snell at oahe and absolutely killed the walleyes on them. I now only use a red hook. Went out to shore fish a small lake near my home. There were about 20 people fishing from the bank. I caught my limit of six in two hours. The only other fish caught that night were the two caught by a guy that I gave a red hook when he asked what I was using. A trip last June to Devils Lake I had seven nice keepers in the boat and my buddy did not have a bite yet. After I shared a spinner rig with a red hook he started to get bites and catch fish. Just a tip don't share your red hooks with friends until you have a good lead in the total fish contest. I have found that they work in clear and stained water. Red hooks for me. I see Scheel's has a red line and I may tie a few spinner rigs with the red line to try out.

[redbeard]

I also have trouble with the paint coming off. They do get expensive. I bought mine direct from Cabela's (ID-113360). You need to use the complete number in the search by catalog number. Pick your size and quantity of packages. You get 25 for $4.79 versus going to Gander mountain and getting 10 for $2.99 or more. So now I just cut the line and put a new hook on catch 3 or 4 replace the hook.

[Canoehead]

I started tying my own spinners with 14' Vanish and orange Gamakatsu octopus hooks in # 1 and #2 about 2 years ago to see if it would improve the number of strikes I would get while slow trolling in stained rivers and lakes. When they finally figured out what I was doing, I gave them a sample and their catch rates matched my own. The Gams are "laser sharpened" and the hook-up rate is deadly. I also match the beads on my spinners to match the hook.

[Ristorapper]

I have read where the color red is the first color absorbed underwater in depths beyond 7 feet. Not sure if this is true but will definately find out in a little swim and fish experiment this summer. Ok, if you are a scuba diver does the color red turn to black in deep water(you say 20'), which it does I think?? IF SO, then in fishing deeper that 20' in your case, it does not pay to use red hooks, right? And in my case 7' of water, of which I usually fish deeper; it wouldn't pay to even buy red hooks for me. BUT my two big fish the past two years have come off red hooks and leeches in water deeper than 7 feet.

Looks like I need to do a little more experimenting before purchasing many more red hooks, and will experiment with different colors. Better yet, I'm gonna call a scuba diving friend and see if I can squeeze him for some information.

Red hooks until they prove me otherwise. In tying crawler harnesses this winter I did tie some with double red hooks and some with the lead hook red and trailer hooks different colors We'll see.

[Buster]

I have used the red hooks for several years on Mil Lacs and it is the go to but not always the best. Last year went to Cajun red line for my leaders because it seemed logical. Because the red as stated earlier dissappears under water I went away from Vanish which I didn't like. I had great success and found the line to be very abrasion resistant as well.

[Floater]

Are you speaking of the Phelps Glow Tubes? They are an awesome product. Very versatile.

[Tony]

Where do you get your glow tubes to cover the hook?

[Tony]

I've never heard of this product before. Where do you get it?

[Northman]

I also use the red hooks and am convinced (fish must be too) that they work better.
What I really like about them is they are easier
to find when you drop them in the boat carpet. They are easier to
see when your bottom bouncer-rig setup is flying around the boat
in the wind.
Northman

[Radio Gaga]

>Where do you get your glow tubes to cover the hook?

Tony - you can get them direct by emailing Phelpstackle.com or there are many stores in MN that have them. Maybe even Gander Mtn & Cabelas? Pretty cool.

[Ristorapper]

Easier for you!! I've got red carpet!!

[Capt. Paul]

Yes they work, and Yes they are worth the extra cost. Every one of out big water harnasses have red singles in the front and a red treble in the back. Gamagatsu have been our best.

[Floater]

I know they are available at some of the Gander Mountain stores.