The Red Hook Phenomenon

[mhall]

When this first started way back when I was skeptical. Now I'm sold on it and truely believe MOST of the time it really helps.

[biggw]

When this first started way back when I was skeptical. Now I'm sold on it and truely believe MOST of the time it really helps.

What red hooks you Im shocked 0 WoW

[RoadToad]

This is really interesting, and I can't claim to have enough experience to say if red hooks really help or not, but if they do, I seriously doubt that it's due to any "blood connection." I'm not discounting a fish's eyesight, but we all know that their sense of smell is highly developed, and that's primarily how they would detect blood, or any other substance, in the water. I seriously doubt that a fish is going to mistake something for blood, if it doesn't smell like blood. It seems much more likely to me that it's due to the fish not seeing the hook as well, which makes the bait look more natural. But who can really say for sure?

[joco0101]

ive experencd first hand that the red hooks make a difference on at least mid-to-shallow crankbaits during the day, i was fishing with a partner one time and i cought about three on the back hook, he told me to switch the front hook to a red one so i did, . . . there were only fish on the front hook from then on

i believe that it has to do with a bass' "genitic" reaction as to why they go after the red

[Lipbskt]

I really like the idea of the red hook. I believe that it give you a little advantage. Remember that BASS are ambush predators. Hince the name predator they like killing and blood...

[apb]

Guess I'm just sceptical of the marketing hype. Moose gave a good description of red and wavelengths. Red does not disappear under water. At a certain depth, it turns black.

As for bass hitting the red front hook, bass are head hunters and typically hit their prey from the head. I don't use red hooks and 95% or more of my LM, SM, Spots, and Stripers are on the front hook.

If a red hook gives you more confidence in a lure, thats probably the biggest help.

Mark, so you mean a beat up lure can still catch fish. Now you see why I don't bother repainting those plugs when they get trashed out Shhhhh

Andrew

[Mean Morone]

All the hooks on Gizz 4's are red. We did that not because of some scientific research, but because we thought the lures look better. If I think they look better then I am going to have more confidence throwing that lure. I've seen the studies that say the color red disappears the deeper you go in the water. In shallow water I'm sure the fish can see the color red. Either way I consider it a plus.

[RoadToad]

All the hooks on Gizz 4's are red. We did that not because of some scientific research, but because we thought the lures look better. If I think they look better then I am going to have more confidence throwing that lure. I've seen the studies that say the color red disappears the deeper you go in the water. In shallow water I'm sure the fish can see the color red. Either way I consider it a plus.

Thanks for posting that. That's the best reason I've heard so far for using red hooks.

[td176]

If i'm not mistaking I was told when I use to scuba dive that red was one of the colors to disappear in deeper water

[riverrat12]

Through the pass few years I have noticed many more lures with red hooks. With a little research on subject, here is the "blood connection." Fish naturally strike blood and injury. Also, when fish feed they show red in their gills which stimulate feeding. Crappie have been known to bite a red hook without a minnow, and they will attack a minnow if it has an injured spot before one that does not. Dark red is better than light red or organge, and red does not disappear underwater. Red hooks are not new. Heddon used red hooks on some of their lures back in the forties. And even more interesting, my grandfater back in the thirties painted all his lures red and white. I still have those lures, and I remember as a kid, my father making fun of him for doing so.

Oxygen deprived shad will turn red from the nose back, ussually when the red reaches past the gills the shad will die. My grandfather did the same thing boy that brings back memories,funny how history repeats itself...I'm still waiting for my hair style to come back, I'll be the first to have it lol.