Got a good hit yesterday on a 1/4 oz clear Rebel Pop R in shallow water.  I could tell right away he was a really strong, big fish.  There was a down tree close by and he got around a limb that gave him some leverage, straightened out two of the tail treble hooks and that was it.  Took him about ten seconds,  talk about a quick rush.

 

Not saying Pop R hooks are bad, I've caught plenty of bass with all sizes of Pop Rs and this was a first.  For all I know this fish would have straightened any brand of hook under these circumstances.  Didn't get this one but sure makes you want to go back.

 

We fish a lot of top water and try Whopper Ploppers, Spooks, Ricos and various Pop Rs, for whatever reason the 1/4 oz clear pop R has out fished them all by a lot this year.

90%+ of baits have junk OEM hooks.   

 

I consider hooks to be more important than any other single factor in regard to landing fish.   I can fish awesome hooks on a 25-30yr old rod and reel and see no difference in catch rates.    On the other hand give me a brand new Steez and Conquest and 25-30yr old hooks and my catch rates would plummet.   

 

I replace OEM hooks and split rings with upgraded ones for the .01% of fish.  If you fish long enough, you'll encounter a fish that is able to free itself because of inferior hooks or split rings.    I had to learn this lesson the hard way, but recently had a 8.6 come in the boat 1000% because of Owner STX 38s and Hyperwire split rings.  

With the exception of some dressed trebles on a few topwater baits

(not made by Rebel)

there is NOT A STOCK Treble on anything I throw. 

I should have take stock in Owner Hyper wire oval & round split rings too. 

The op's post is the driving force.

As a side note, slightly 'oversized' tackle comes in handy as well.

A-Jay

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/241684-treble-hook-replacement-~-one-man’s-theory-application/

 

I've straightened some light wire single hooks more than once.  I am pretty sure that these fish were sizable smallmouth bass that straightened me out.

 

I can't say that I've bent out a treble hook before, but I could see it happening.  Rapala is notorious for putting cheap stock trebles on their lures.

Trebles are plentiful in my boat, various brands and styles depending on what I'm wanting. The owner zo-wire are on all my megabass jerkbaits (or gami g finesse), then we have the ewg short shanks on most moving baits, and sorry those crap dressed hooks, well they are swapped too. Spend the extra $$ and get replacement hooks. Have had hooks break trying to remove them from the fish, so if they broke with me trying to unhook with pliers, they ain't gonna straighten, and a good pair of split ring pliers and another hook, I'll be back in business 

On 9/20/2024 at 12:03 PM, learnin said:

the 1/4 oz clear pop R has out fished them all by a lot this year.

 

Good tip. Thanks!

 

Thanks too for the reminders to change my trebles. I did that last summer, but haven't yet this summer and my trebles hooks have accumulated a lot of wear and tear on them. Way back when, they were red.

Most stock trebles aren't very high quality.  IMO Duo makes the best stock hook of any bait I've ever used, but Spro and Ima are great too.

Honestly once a fish wraps you up, the odds of actually getting him are slim IME, especially if its a bigger fish.  Better she bent the hooks out than have broken the popper off and had it stuck in her face.  

Yep,  glad that didn't happen .  I got the popper back and the fish got away.  That was a really good fish.  I got one a week before on the same lure that might have gone four lbs based on it's length.  This one wasn't on that long felt a lot stronger.

Love the rebel poppers, never felt the need to try any fancy/more expensive ones when the rebel baits are absolute fish producers. Hope you get another shot at that fish!

Hope ya get another shot at it. It still took a lot to bend two outta three on stock  hook. I’d still change them out and go back.