Bass Fishing: Treble Hooks and Lure Modifications 

Gosh I don't know how you guys don't have many many more subs than you do You all are so informative You guys rock

EXCELLENT video Matt!!!!! Very informative, thanks for sharing!

The level of information and the way with which you both explain things are ABOVE AND BEYOND so many other channels. Though I grew up fishing with my dad throwing whatever he slapped onto the end of a pole for me, I really just got started fishing seriously by myself a few months ago and if it wasn't for you guys, I would be swimming in jargon and assumptions that I know what anyone is talking about with little to no actual understanding once the videos I watched were over. Thanks for always breaking it down like this for the newbies like me. Your channel is the first spot I go when I have questions about anything specific, and it never fails to help!

What a great teacher! I’ve been watching Matt and Tim for a couple of years, found this older video. I still learn from these guys on every video.Great job Matt.

What size split rings do you recommend for what size hooks? Also what size hooks do you like to match with what size and type of specific hardbaits? A video on this in the future would be awesome.

Thank you for the awesome tips. My dad and I watch you guys all the time. We have picked up more from you guys than anyone else’s tips. Even though he’s been fishing for over 50 years you’ve been so helpful. This is just another really great video. Thank you

I was gonna go browse TW when you got to hook color. I was thinking about checking out a Megladong, then you sucked me back into hook color again and busted some knowledge. You're a good teacher, Matt.

Great video. I've been looking for an explanation on treble hook replacement and the difference in wire gauge, bend and style. Thanks a TON for sharing!!

I really like your scientific approach to bass fishing. I keep careful records of all my fishing trips; lure color, retrieve speed, etc. I really believe that attention to details like this makes the difference between a good day of fishing, and a great day of fishing! Thanks for the great vids!!

great video matt! i love that you're putting out great content out with tons of useful info that is easy for anyone to understand.

being another RU-vidr in the fishing world, I always seem to learn something new from you and Tim day after day. great work with everything. I'll have to come out for a guide trip sometime!!

Always learn something from Tactical. Matt and Tim you guys are awesome

Your such a badass Matt, you got fishing and how to catch fish locked down bro. Mad props!!!!!!

Had a tournament today n until today realized how important the hooks really are .. always making good videos thank y’all !

Matt, you're awesome. Thanks for sharing some of your insider tricks that will help to make us better anglers. I look forward to seeing more of your new vids as well as referencing back to your previous content. Tight lines...

U know its a great video when its 6 years old and u still find yourself coming back for those little tidbits of info u need! One thing I wish is that baits would all come with their treble hook size labeled for easier replacing...

Dang Matt I think I just got smarter watching this video bro 👍🏽 your passion is awesome. Thanks from Dallas Texas

Great topic Matt! I really liked your clarification on red hooks and when to use them. Very helpful. As well as the sink rate change on heavier gauge hooks.

Matt, love the video. I loved the part about putting a heavier wire hook on back of a top water walker to get the wide walking action. Again you show why you are 1st class

Great info Matt and Tim... a friend of mine buys crank baits from China on eBay and he forgot to change out the hooks one time... he lost a tank that took him under the boat and kept going... it had two points from one treble in its mouth and she straightened them both out. He hasn't made that mistake since then. Now, the hooks get changed before the lure even goes on the boat. Lots of good info in here that I don't think I ever really considered before. Great job. Wish I would have seen this when you first posted it!

I really like your explanation on changing treble hooks with that said I have a story that goes with changing the rear treble to a feathered treble. Story Goes that a guy and his buddy we're out on a lake fishing for bass and the baits that they were using where top notch and produced large amounts a fish many times before in this particular area. The fish that day however due to weather condition changes or time of the year we're not hitting their lures very well at all. So much that they almost called it a day but the one guy decided to change up his bait and throw a jerk with a feathered treble. This feathered treble made all the difference and somehow gave the lure the appeal the bass were looking for and they went on to catch quite a few after that. They then modified the other baits that did not have the feather treble to then having feather troubles and just tore up the bass. What I took from the story and from what the story tells is that sometimes bass and other species of fish need that extra little pizzazz to entice them to feed on your lure. Just because they were hungry the time before and your bait was really appealing then does not mean the next time that bait will be as appealing or produce a strike. It's almost like the dying Bait fish effect, put a dying jerking Bait fish falling in a water column in front of bass and they'll hit it hungry or not due to a reaction strike. Put the feather on and it almost brings that reaction strike out in the fish when they are being picky or finicky on the bite. Great video thanks

Great video I fished the future pro tour classic last year at Clearlake we made the final day in 15 a lot of our fish were hooked on the back hook only and we lost some key fish that would have really helped we qualified again this year and will be there the first week of March and I will definitely be applying your tips to increase our odds hope to see you there again we will be the only team in a small aluminum boat. Thanks for your great tips.

Absolutely agree about the red hook, it is the same principle with Alabama rigs. We use a green pumpkin swimbait on the back and that is the only one the fish will bite. Great advice!

Definitely a lot of useful information here and explained well. Thanks a lot.

I love these videos! Theirs always some knowledge to gain from them, even if I already know about the topic. You make me think of things more in depth then I do. Keep these video comming!

Wish they made Owner single replacement hooks in red. I hate trebles and I rarely use them. I've hurt too many fish that way. Our Bass are small up here in northern NJ and sometimes all three hooks get them in the mouth and man is that a mess. I miss some fish with the single hooks but I've missed them with trebles as well. I do an offset bend with my pliers and they work great. Thanks for the video. I always learn something from you guys.

Really helped my understanding of hook terminology and various usages. Many thanks.

Great video dude. lots of good info. I always pick up something new from your videos. Great job. Keep it up.

I'm having a hard time deciding what size treble hooks to put on what baits. ive looked on tackle warehouse to see what size hooks come on the baits I want to up grade but with little success. if you could post something or do an update video that would be awesome. love the channel, keep up the good work.

Another excellent video! Thanks for taking the time to make and post this. Lots of helpful information. I have read about the red hook experiment as a target with regards to smallmouth bass. They consistently struck the red hook, front or back. As you noted, it gave the fish a more defined target, as opposed to the entire lure. More likely to hit the target if you aim for the center or key feature instead of just aiming for the target. I also like feathered or dressed hooks in some circumstances. I use it to change the bait profile - longer. I use some dressed trebles trimmed very short to simulate a tail. Again, changes the profile of a crankbait into more of a jointed swimbait. Especially for stripers, but also big green bass, up sizing with Siwash single hooks can provide added strength as well as reduce the number of points to damage a fish for catch and release fishing. Stripers especially seem to really maul a lure and the single hooks rarely miss. I use olive drab paint to de-emphasize / camouflage hooks. Heavy wire saltwater hooks tend to be tinned or cadmium plated, which holds the paint well. Even permanent marker while fishing is helpful to subdue the flash when needed. A friend fished some years ago in a Pro-Am with Jay Yelas. Jay had a similar take on hook style. Round bend style when fish are tentative, triple grip / sproat /EWG style when fish are aggressive. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

Man I love watching ur vids they help me so much a Lot of times it's stuff that if not thought about in that way and it really helps me out so thanks for all ur hard work brother keep fishing

Awesome video! you just opened a whole new world. Thanks Matt.

Watched all three hook video's now. Great info. I now will order cheap baits and put good hooks on them and still save money and catch fish!

Another awesome and informative video. Great job. Always look forward to your videos.

I've screwed with red trebles on my small spooks but was using them on both. Wow, never figured that the front red would be a game changer.

I have doubled or even triple the number of 4-6 lb bass since spring of this year from watching this vid.. even caught 1 8lb largemouth and a 6lb smallmouth this fall on a suspended jerk bait with a red hook up front.. that's here in Pennsylvania too so a 8lb bass up here is really big.. being the state record is a lil over 11 lbs. Thanks for the great information like always. I look forward to your vids you put out cause I have learned alot from this channel. I even got into swimbaits this year with all your help and information. I have put a few 4 and 5 lbs bass in the boat. But still trying to get that double digit here in Pa.. Thanks again!!

Great video, would highly highly recommend Aaron Martens nanocoat hooks, really sharp and dull colour. Thanks for the tips.

Good Stuff Matt, Love seeing you guys break down techniques/baits/terminal, you guys got cool vids keep it up, so much better info than the pros trying to sell you stuff...thx from Santa Rosa, CA

Very good video Matt. Really enjoyed it. I did have a question that didn't get covered. What is the significance of short shank vs. Long shank hooks? When and why would you need to change between the two types. Thanks again for the great videos.

Lost what would have been my first double digit bass because I depended on crappy stock trebles on my square bill. Straitened one right out. Honestly thought this advice was for pros. I’m a believer now. Won’t let this happen again.

very informative video will be experimenting with some of those tips and rigging same colour cranks in different ways to cover each situation

Great video! The red hook is something my Dad and I stumbled onto about 10 years ago, and I use that strategy religiously on hardbaits. I do question the thinking on using ewg hooks on lipless rattle baits, but i fish for smallmouth predominantly and they will slap the hell out of them. From your description, your experience must be different. Would love to see a video talking about short shank hooks. Seems like a short shank will decrease the likelihood of hooking a reaction fish, but it should decrease the lever action of the hook shank and it might increase landing percentage.

Thanks matt you are spot on I tried the red hooks and moved them from front to back and it change where they hit the bait

Mustad #KVD Triple grip hooks 👊🏼 Quantum Smoke HD reels 👊🏼 Great stuff Matt! Really wish your channel had more sub's, you and Tim truly deserve it. You should Collab with some other RU-vidrs.

This is such a great video! Thanks for teaching me your ways!

I know this is years old but I would like you to show the different size treble hooks and what lures do they go on. Thanks Matt.

Thanks for the video. Great info. Could you go into better detail on what size goes on what and what strengths are used? Like what you use on..... Lucky Craft Pointers, Rat L Traps, Square Bills.... etc...?

The red hook ideal of moving the target really works for us. All of our Jerkbaits run a red hook up front. Even at night, it still seems like they light the red hooks.

Great vid as usual. Do you have advice as far as size of treble? The advice I’ve gotten is “use the biggest you can without the hooks catching each other.” When would you use a short shank hook? TB rules!

Great information Matt

Great video, always very informative and very easy to understand....always looking forward to your new videos.....and ps. Still waiting on some plsce to get some tacticsl bassin stickers for my boat and yeti cooler

This info totally opened my eyes, thank you Matt! Any hook size suggestions for a 3 1/4 inch square bill?

what hook upgrade do you recommend for the 168 s-waver and have you ever tried a red hook on the front of that bait? awesome videos, you guys increased my fish catches all season. thank you Matt and tim!

i just learned a few things. Thanks alot Matt

Thanks for the great info. I think I will apply the red hook theory to some top water striper fishing. They seem to slap at any bait including live one's.

Matt, can you please tell me about outbarb hooks and if they are easier to hook a fish and if they are easier to get out of your finger or something? Can you also talk about how you know if a fishing hook is cheap or trash?

I'm learning. Thank you for the insight.

Always great vids, when we fishin? I'll pay for gas! 🤘

Matt; id love to hear your opinion on the megabass katsuage outbarb hooks

good job tactical bassin for taking the time to reply to people

Matt, I’ve been told you should only replace Lucky Craft hooks with stock Lucky Craft hooks because it will change the action of the bait. Have you heard this?

That's why I like to use red off set bend work hooks sometimes

I really like video. But I do believe when it come to topwater the hooks don't matter as much except on a overcast day or shallow water. I live near lakes were fish will come out of 20ft of water to destroy a bait on top. And on a sun day from the fishs eyes all they really see is a shadow. With that said the hooks are key to get the right action out of the bait and they will key in on the details on a overcast day. All and all love the videos keep up the great work!

do you have a video explaining when to use other types of hooks? for example I wasn't sure what type of hook to buy for wacky rigging

Such a good point, does owner make some reds

Matt, I have a question. What are the best size hooks for jerk baits like Vision 110 or let's say a RC STX? I'm not a fan of the megabass stock hooks. I've lost a couple smallmouth on them in the last two days, one was about 3lbs and other was close to 5lbs. The 5 bent out the hook. Would the KVD triple grip work? What size? I use Owner STX, Mustad and some VMC and gammys.Would you use double split rings on cranks? You ever try decoy?

Great info! A non fishing tip, while cruising the back roads in Amish country here with a lady friend that lives in that area we passed an Amish home that had a goat tied to each fence post in the front yard. I personally thought it was weird, but my lady friend, who has much more experience with the Amish asked me, " have you ever seen an Amish person using a weeedeater? " Not that I really paid attention to that sort of thing, but I answered no. She replied, notice how clear it is along the fence line? no high grass and stuff? The goats eat it and keep the need to trim it down! LOL, you need goats! They free up time for fishing!

Hey Matt, was it your advice on the different coloured owner trebles? I see you use the black chrome trebles exclusively. What do you think of the new Zo Wire silver trebles from owner? Any disadvantage with silver vs black hooks?

Like your videos But in the one on treble hooks you never mentioned Hook-Size and when to increase it. many Pros do this but would like your thoughts. Keep up the good work.

Excellent video just like all of them

Great Video!

Matt, i had my glide bait sit on the water and a 2lb bass came to nibble the hook and I missed the hookset. So I guess they do aim for the hooks sometimes lol

I agree. Great info here!

I was snagging carp in a pond that has bass in it i was using. A red treble hook with pencil lead warp around it and had a three pound bass inhale it never thought i would catch a fish only using a hook

How strong is the Owner Feathered hook, recommend feather hook, today ?

So, I know from other videos that you're big fans of the Gamakatsu Nano finesse trebles, particularly for jerkbaits. I'm curious if you use them in other applications, and when you prefer them to your go-to Owner 1X? Also, Gamakatsu has introduced the MH wire version of the Nano finesse. Have you used these yet? Under what circumstances? Thanks.

Do you ever run feathers on a S-Waver? It is slow moving and the 200's sink pretty slowly. I think all the Japanese 250's come with them but BB versions come with normal hooks. I have caught them either way but can not really say one way is better on them. None of mine swim the same any ways though since you can tune them to do anything.

Thanks for the knowledge

♥️ great content..

When changing out hooks I can't find it, but i thought you said something about that lil hump or edge at the top of the treble, catching line? Should that be facing backwards and mine look to be going sideways

The double buzzers I use come with a red trailer hook. Would you remove them?

Thanks for explaining the hook bend etc info. Since i dont know much about the hook replacement topic, how do i know what size treble hook is on the jerk, crank or lipless crank bait that i want to replace the hook with? Im just ordering these things from TW without being able to see them in person. Also, what about split ring size? This was a great topic. Thank u.

So if a spook had a number 4 treble hook on it, should i bump it to a number 3 or would a 2 be to heavy?

very informative video

I have used barbless trebles on lures to quickly remove fish.

Best on RU-vid

When you fish 8 inch hard wake baits, what hook do you use? I have been having problems finding trebles in the right size.

What size trebled for your crank baits?

Why isn't VMC ONE OF YOUR CHOICES. Nice video btw alot of tips thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!

I have a sixth sense Glide bait white with a white feather on the back is that good or bad should I take it off

Do you recommend red hooks on the front of S wavers?

What about a feathered treble as front hook instead of hanging out the back?

Thanks.

great vid

what size split rings would you use for a 6XD

would a size 2 wide gap hook work on a bill norman dd22 btw great vid

I am wondering what split rings you prefer for square bills that hold up to the constant abuse of running braid?

Can they see red tho? some companys built their companys around red fishing line. Maybe they cant see that hook dodge the other

thank you

What model and size of Owner hooks would you use on S-Wavers 168 and 7" MS Slammers?