I'm looking to replace the garbage hooks on jitterbugs and baby torpedoes. I was wondering what size/brand/style treble hooks and split rings people typically use for Topwater. I'm leaning towards Gamakatsu short shank with #2 VMC split rings. Any advice is appreciated. 

Sounds like a good plan to me, if you have trouble with manipulating the split rings, the Texas pliers with the orange handles really work well.

I wish you luck.  For me, that was a maddening exercise.  I had torps and bugs from a few different eras and it seems like every single lure had different hangar-styles.  I wish I could tell you what worked best with each, but it was a lot of trial and error.  IIRC, on one lure, I was only able to make it work with a open-eye double hook.  So, I'd suggest getting yourself a couple/few different #2, #4 and 6's in short and long with different eye thicknesses, as well as a variety of split rings and try to have fun

Jitterbugs usually have a hook hanger, you need to remove it and replace with a eyelet screw for the split ring. Any quality name brand split ring will work, look at lures with a factory split ring for the correct size to match the hook size. Hook size is your next decision and start with the size you lure has. VMC are not expensive and good quality replacements. Owner are the high end trebles I use when replacing older original hooks on higher end lures.

Tom

19 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I wish you luck.  For me, that was a maddening exercise.  I had torps and bugs from a few different eras and it seems like every single lure had different hangar-styles.  I wish I could tell you what worked best with each, but it was a lot of trial and error.  IIRC, on one lure, I was only able to make it work with a open-eye double hook.  So, I'd suggest getting yourself a couple/few different #2, #4 and 6's in short and long with different eye thicknesses, as well as a variety of split rings and try to have fun

I was planning on cutting off the old hooks and adding split rings to the hanger, with new short shank hooks. 

18 minutes ago, WRB said:

Jitterbugs usually have a hook hanger, you need to remove it and replace with a eyelet screw for the split ring. Any quality name brand split ring will work, look at lures with a factory split ring for the correct size to match the hook size. Hook size is your next decision and start with the size you lure has. VMC are not expensive and good quality replacements. Owner are the high end trebles I use when replacing older original hooks on higher end lures.

Tom

I was planning on attaching the split ring to the original hangers, along with the new trebles. I don't feel confident screwing the new eyelet into an old bait. Fear of the strong smallies ripping them out. 

VMC makes a treble hook kit with about 4 sizes of trebles and split rings that has about 30 hooks for under 8 dollars. Components are very good. Theyre pretty sharp, VERY strong, arent bad about flexing, and seem to be more rust resistant than alot of stock hooks.  With some experimentation I upsize on a lot of cranks and then snip the bottom pointing barb off to avoid fouling and snagging.   Google "VMC replacement kit" They make a few different types of types.

13 minutes ago, craww said:

VMC makes a treble hook kit with about 4 sizes of trebles and split rings that has about 30 hooks for under 8 dollars. Components are very good. Theyre pretty sharp, VERY strong, arent bad about flexing, and seem to be more rust resistant than alot of stock hooks.  With some experimentation I upsize on a lot of cranks and then snip the bottom pointing barb off to avoid fouling and snagging.   Google "VMC replacement kit" They make a few different types of types.

Outstanding. Thank you.