Red Hooks and invisible line

[timinmo]

So just because I'm bored but also for the sake of discussion, I have two questions.

Do you believe red hooks make any difference?

Do you believe that fish, specifically bass, will bite more often if they can not see the line?  Or see it less clearly, braid verses fluorocarbon?  

[Greasy B]

I don't know the answer but it is common to use a bare red hook (worm) with a two or three fly rig when trout fishing the big freestone rivers out west, it works.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I've tried EWG red hooks for soft plastics for bass fishing and really never noticed any difference.

I believe lighter line (smaller diameter Flouro) is critical when trout fishing using dries and small nymphs.  Not so much on streamers.

In finesse applications for bass I think Flouro is better and I always use a leader with braid.  For spinner baits and Jig n Pig I use straight braid.

[Al Agnew]

No and no.  I've never seen a difference using red hooks, and I hate it when the red starts coming off and they get ugly.

As for line visibility, I don't think it makes a bit of difference to the fish (within reason...you probably shouldn't use 50 pound braid on a clear trout stream).  No line is "invisible", and fish have pretty good eyesight in clear water, so they can still see 2 pound test fluorocarbon, it ain't invisible to them.  If it really bothered them, they'd never take a lure or fly, because they can surely see the line (and hooks hanging off a topwater, and a hook coming out of the butt of a fly).  I use straight braid all the time, never use a leader, and catch plenty of fish in clear water, although I don't go heavier than about 4/15 Power Pro.  I use 8 pound test or 10 pound test co-poly in ultraclear smallmouth streams and the fish don't care.

Of course, you wouldn't want to use a super heavy line that would be as noticeable as the lure itself, but the main reason I see to use lighter lines is so that your line has less of an effect on the attitude or action of your lure or fly.  I almost never go lighter than 5X tippet on trout streams, and the only time I go that light is if I'm using very small flies, like size 18 or 20.  Most of my trout fishing is done using 2X to 4X tippet, and if the water is fairly murky like it often is on the Yellowstone River and I'm using streamers, I'll go 0X.

[Terrierman]

It's probably just a superstition, but I use red hooks whenever I fish with minnows for crappie and wind up catching a few whites and maybe a walleye or two.  I also use 2 lb maxima whenever I'm fishing minnows.  Night fishing it's a split shot or two and then freelined.  Crappie on the bank or getting close I use a slip bobber and split shot.  That's what works for me anyway to the point I'm settled.

[fishinwrench]

Red hooks just MIGHT give you an edge with heavily pressured fish on fast moving baits.  Or possibly on topwater baits if you're getting slaps instead of solid bites.   I'm not quite ready to completely dismiss it so I still carry some red trebles in the boat, and I have one Rattle Trap and a Pop-R rigged red just in case that one day ever happens.

And I have a red Sharpie marker in there too, if the red gets rubbed off.

[Gavin]

I dont think that red hooks matter. If they won't eat your topwater change the size, mine are moving fast, not sitting. I like a flouro leader on braid, usually 8-12lb, usually 3x for trout with the fly rod, rarely lighter than 5x. Do have some 6& 7x and it can make a difference if you are fishing tiny flies 18-24's. Probably a better drift with the lighter stuff, pretty sure they can see it.

[mixermarkb]

I'm with wrench, I can see a red flash on something like a trap or topwater being a good thing, though I don't buy hooks based on color. I have some really sharp daichi trebles that are red, and I don't think they hurt anything. Not sure that I'd change to them, but when I need to replace a hook on a trap, those are the ones I've been using.

[Pat Magee]

I always use a red hook in my flukes. I don't know how it got started that way but it has worked for me so I never switched back.  I agree with Al though, when that paint comes off they look like crap.  I think we give fish too much credit though.  If they want to eat, they will, no matter what color the hook is. I'd say the color/profile of the bait is what really draws them in, not fancy red hooks. 

[Guest]

Red hooks= painted gold Aberdeen hooks. In other words they bend & dull easier than black nickel hooks. So the difference is durability. 

The only red hooks in my tackle box are used for minnows & crappie.