I have an old Chug Bug that has some rust on the hooks and the dressing on the rear hook is starting to wear a bit. I want to go up one size on the hook but I'm not sure if it'll affect the action of the bait. I'm also not sure how to go about putting a new dressing on the rear hook.

Any help?

I have an old Chug Bug that has some rust on the hooks and the dressing on the rear hook is starting to wear a bit. I want to go up one size on the hook but I'm not sure if it'll affect the action of the bait. I'm also not sure how to go about putting a new dressing on the rear hook.

Any help?

Stay with the same size hooks, whie you can go up a size on cranks the same is't true for most topwaters. The chug bug is one of my favorite topwaters, it was the first topwater I used that was a hybrid popper/walker, and I know from experience that going to a larger hook will mess it up. The chug bug walks as it pops, great action but slightly larger hooks make it sit just a hair lower, that tiny bit makes it dive and ruins the action. I even had a hard time using certain brands so what I found works best is VMC cone cut trebles. I believe you can find a VMC hook guide that tell you what size hooks you can use on the Storm and Rapala baits.

Smalljaw67 is dead on with his post.

if any one has a link to the size guide for the lures please post, ive been looking but cant find it

if any one has a link to the size guide for the lures please post, ive been looking but cant find it

I just tried to find the place I saw it and it is no longer available, it appears VMC now sell one in book form for like 6 bucks. Either way the hooks used on the chug bug are VMC and if you match the size up you'll be fine. As I said, it isn't quite as critical on cranks as it is on topwater especially the chug bug, they designed it to spit and walk by weighting it to sit lower in the water, a slight change in hook size place havoc on the action as I have found when replacing hooks on my chug bug lures which I love.

I have a saltwater version chugbug and dont like the shiny silver hooks. what happens if you downsize the hooks?

I'm also not sure how to go about putting a new dressing on the rear hook.

I wouldn't have the foggiest notion, but you can buy dressed trebles.