Why do I have to beef up my plugs, you ask? It’s really common sense if you’ve ever tangled with a big snook or a hard-mouthed redfish around cover… these fish can make a factory treble hook look like a severely strained paper clip in just a few moments.
The stock hooks on most plugs are more than adequate for most fishing situations especially when using light to medium rod actions or monofilament line… it’s when braid is used or the angler is fishing around cover that these factory hooks just won’t quite cut it! Today’s plugs possess so much detail and realism they are like micro pieces of art and not very cheap either if the manufacturer had included premium 2X or 3X chemically sharpened hooks, the lure might easily have double in price. But there is an easy solution.
Here is what we do at Flats Class… we change out the stock hooks with Owner 2X strong trebles (ST41’s), these hooks are very strong and I mean super sharp. These beefier hooks give me the confidence to pull trophy fish out of trouble without a mishap and did I mention these hooks are freakin’ sharp if a fish breathes on my plug he’s a caught fish! Remember if you’re going to target oversized fish be sure to beef up the split rings also… it doesn’t do you a bit of good to make a hook upgrade if the fish pulls the hook completely off your lure. Until next time, keep that rod bent!
