Red Hooks

[ShootnStr8]

It seems that using red hooks is the current rage.  I've not tried them.  Do they really work or are they a gimmick to catch fishermen?
Blessings!

ShootnStr8

[Beers]

I used some last year. I needed hooks, the only ones at the shop in the size/style I was after were red. I bought 'em because I figured It wouldn't make any difference...

It didn't.

I fish for channel cats, smallmouth, largemouth, blugill and crappie.
I use the same rod&reel, same hooks, same bait for all of the above. I use different rigs, fish in muddy water and clear.
In ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers... morning, afternoon and night. (I love summer.  )

I used 'em for the latter half of last summer, and on average, I didn't catch any more or any fewer fish than I usually do.
(I haven't come home w/ an empty stringer in a long time.)

I think the vast majority of fishing equipment is better at catching fisherman than fish.
All of the fishing equipment I currently own cost me less than $50.
I generally catch more fish per outing than anyone I know, and have had several tell me they wish they could catch fish like I do.
Rod, reel, line, hooks,sinkers (depending) and nightcrawlers.... That's all.
I don't even own a tackle box. Not counting food and drink, everything I need to fish all day will fit in my pockets.

[kyelkhunter3006]

Tried em'.  Not a difference at all.  I agree with Beers, simpler is better.  I do carry a tackle bag though, with three boys 7,4,2 years old, I use a lot of terminal tackle--hooks, bobbers, etc.  It's great!!   

[Buckskin]

The only difference that I've noticed is that they seem to work better for tip-up fishing, for both pike and walleye.
All of the fishing gear that I currently own cost me significantly more that $50.

[kyelkhunter3006]

Hey Buckskin, like your symbol, picture, avatar, whatever you want to call it.     I know that all of my stuff cost more than $50, but then I also have about 12 rods-n-reels too.  Got to have lots of loaners for all of the kids in my family.

[Siskiyou]

I found that they work great on salmon when fishing in a river.  Have not tried them other wise.

[Cheesehead]

I have tried red hooks for ice fishing and open water, no difference to me. The thing that has confused me is the claims about using red fishing line since it is the first color in the spectrum to disappear in deeper water which is its claim to fame, to be invisible at depth. So that means red hooks are colorless at depth.

Cheese

[Buckskin]

Hey Buckskin, like your symbol, picture, avatar, whatever you want to call it.     I know that all of my stuff cost more than $50, but then I also have about 12 rods-n-reels too.  Got to have lots of loaners for all of the kids in my family.

I figured, hard to keep under $50 for anything these days.

[Buckskin]

I have tried red hooks for ice fishing and open water, no difference to me. The thing that has confused me is the claims about using red fishing line since it is the first color in the spectrum to disappear in deeper water which is its claim to fame, to be invisible at depth. So that means red hooks are colorless at depth.

Cheese

At what depth are you talking? 20,50,100 feet?  And I guess that if it disappears, thats  good too.

[snuffer#1]

Red hooks if you use them along with a little sprtiz of lure attractant are a real good thing. It seems that the attractant gets their attention and the red hook serves as a blood trail. It's real effective on bass! If you use a trailer hook with a soft bait, the red hook is a real fish catcher.

[snuffer#1]

I've applied what Bill Dance talks about on his shows, and he is pretty doggone smart about all kinds of fishing. I really like the shows when he is catching really big catfish!
                                                                                    thomas

[Savage .250]

 For me, the jury is still out. I`ve got a pack or 2 but i still reach for what brought me and that is the  standard
   issue..........black.
   More importantly than color, for me anyway, is it`s got to be sharp!  That`s after i put a few licks with my file on it of course.

[corbanzo]

I havent really noticed a difference.  The only real reason I use them, is cause they are the gamakatsu octopus hook, and that is a quality hook and a good style, I dont care about the color.  But you will find a bunch of red in different sizes in my boxes.

[Ratltrap]

I gotta think they work for flatline trolling and mooching for salmon. I use red hook for the front hook on my herring rigs and my catch rate definitely goes down when the red wears off.

[corbanzo]

Hmm, when I'm mooching, if I keep my bait fresh (make sure the herring hasn't lost too many scales and still flashes, it seems to do the same weather it is a worn hook or not.