drop shot hooks for kokes

[SandySteel]

I have been looking online for drop shot hooks in red. I can find them in black but not red.
I like that gap and the fine wire of these hooks for kokes. Am I being too picky by insisting on red hooks?
Anyone have a different kind of hook that I can use as a replacement or point me to a source for these hooks? Should I just compromise and go with black?

[moknots]

Great hooks! I use both red and black and have not noticed a difference, but my wife would be the first to offer that it's not unusual for me to fail to notice a difference that the fairer sex (or in this case, slime-ier species) would absolutely notice. If anyone has documented a difference, please SHARE! I know the Lake Washington sockeye fishermen claim, in using bare hooks for searun kokanee, that red is a must. But really, these are fishermen -- how can they be trusted? Might I also offer, Matsuo Sickle Hooks, from Stamina (the lure parts folks) do come in red, as I just received 100 each in 4s and 2s that are quite red, and do look good. Anyone tried the sickle hook yet?

[Dullhook]

Am I being too picky by insisting on red hooks?


Not if they work for you, SS. If you can't find your color in that type of hook you can always dip them yourself. Below is a thread about that from back in January. I'm anxious to give 'em a shot this spring!

Colored Hooks (http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=180255 &highlight=colored+hooks)

[Splash]

While I really like the drop-shots, my own experience is that tandem octopus hooks work better in most situations. The octopus you can buy in qnty's of 100 in most colors and the dropshots I have found the reds only in packs of six. I have also observed no noticeable difference between red or black.

Google "Gamakatsu dropshot red". There are many suppliers to include Cabelas. Most inexpensive I have found yet are $1.99 per 6.

Fishermans carries the dropshots in black but not in red (the last time I looked). Look for "split shot/drop shot" on the package.

[FallRiverGuy]

I started using the black drop shot hooks and did just fine with them last year. I think I have seen the red ones at Sportsman's.

[moknots]

Gamakatsu does do bulk pack (25 count) drop shots, but they are really hard to find. There was a guy on eBay that seemed to be purchasing lots of 1,000 and repackaging, so you might find some there. They also make a VERY similar hook that I was using before the drop shot hook came out -- it's the "Walleye Widegap". The sizing is slightly different, with the #2 WG about the same size as the #1 Octopus. The #1 widegap jumps up in wire thickness so I don't like that one for kokanee, and the #6 WP is really close to a #4 drop shot, for what it's worth.

[Smalma]

I found the drop shot hooks in a 25 pack that were red once but have not seen them since - though I have to admit I have not looked for them very hard - just needed a handful to fill in a couple hooks in kokanee collection.

Have also used the black ones extensively as well as have not seen any difference in catch rates based on the hook color. Though given a choice I typically use reds - just look better to me though experiecne has shown that the fish don't care.

This past week-end I was re-rigging a number of my kokanee rigs from last year and notice that a couple of best rigs had "gold" hooks - caught enough fish that the red paint was worn off the hooks and the "bite" did not drop off.

Tight lines
Curt