Kevin Van Dam Forums

For all of you hook gurus or even crankbait guys, my question to you is I need a good all around crankbait hook. I picked up some size 8 gamas for my tiny norman and may go back to get some size 6 for my bandits/normans/strike king cranks but before I go ahead and do so, is there a specific type of hook you guys are putting on your crankbaits for a better hook up ratio? these gamas are standard round bend trebles you find on 99.999999% crankbaits just much sharper and sturdier hook. I was thinking maybe the sure grips, but I fish around alot of grass and noticed I pick up alot more grass and even get snagged more with them. The KVD mustad short shank hooks looked promising because of the larger hook you can go with them, but the short shank makes me nervous if a fish decides to pop up and shake around throwing the hook right back to me. Are the gamas probally the best way to go? let me know. Thanks!

I have used mustad for a few years for replacing trebles.  The short shanks are awesome…they key is to get as big a hook you can put on there without tangling them up all the time.  Usually, you wont hinder the action at all if you go with this philosophy.

Mustad make awesome hooks for trebles…I think the new KVD ones would be an easy way to choose hooks.  I went the old school way and had about 4 model numbers I went by depending one the size of the bait.  I think the short shank 3x strong, and the short shank elite..and maybe the triple grip are the 3 I use…something like that.  I replaced all of mine before the “official” KVD hooks came out.

I did model my changes after a KVD article I read on some obscure website….never saw the article anywhere else.

Thanks for the reply x, I did purchase the gamas is a size 6 to replace all of my crankbaits and did buy a pack of the kvd short shank mustads in a size 4 to test out as well and wow do those things make my crankbaits look like its on steriods! If a fish is remotely near my bait it looks like it will be hooked, I just hope it doset effect the swimming action of the bait. I never realized how important replacing the hooks on my cranks would make a difference! The stock hooks that come with my baits are crap compared to the new hooks, I got stuck with the new hooks as I was picking up the crankbaits to put back in my box that’s how much sharper aftermarket hooks are.

i agree with the hooks choice. Stock hooks are crap for the most part and hard to sharpen and keep sharp. Quality hooks definitely stays sharp much longer and easier to sharpen. Always go with the short shanks if possible.

I replace most of my crankbait hooks with Mustad Triple Grip hooks - love ‘em.