hooks for lipless crankbaits

[Fshn Cpa]

Thinking of changing hooks on some of my lipless crankbaits. I see that the Bill Lewis and Strike king have the same size hooks for the 1/2 oz baits but the strike king have a longer shaft. I think they are #4. The 3/4 oz look to have #2 hooks and are the same size on Bill Lewis and Strike King. I was considering putting #2 hooks on my 1/2 oz baits, Gamakatsu EWG treble hooks. Just looking for some input as to what way to go?

 

[porthos33]

I love the mustad triple grips that come on the bill lewis and I put #4's on all my crank baits that don't have them and the bigger ones I go with #2. I think you should be just fine putting those #2's on there.

 

[occasionalfisher]

I really like the Owner ST-36 and ST-35 hooks. The 36's are a more traditional round bend, the 35's are the EWG version, but they have a flat side to put against the belly of a crankbait. I think you can go up to a 2 treble without much change in how the baits run. I know the the Strike Kings will handle it as will the Rattle trap. I tend to upgrade the size on one hook per bait, then the same size on the other hook. I tend to make the belly hooks the EWG type, because that rolled in point helps just a little on hanging up if you are bouncing it off the bottom. I normally leave the back hook the same size and a traditional round bend because those hooks tend to grab those fish that swat at the bait better than the EWG hooks do and I fish around a lot of spotted bass as well as largemouths.

 

[bassncorey]

I 2nd the Owner hooks. I've been using them for years and have never had any issues.

 

[Hooker]

Mustad KVD's

 

[Fishingstix]

I use mustad kvd as well.