I purchased some Mustad hooks that are real shiny and was thinking about coloring them black. Would stripers be spooked by the shininess of the hooks? If so, what should I use to color them, permanent marker or spraypaint?

Thanks

Kippy,

I have no problem using this color hook, I prefer the chrome over black as the dont rust out as easily. My standard is a Mustad 92553 5/0 and they work consistently.

What type of application are you going to be using the hook on? I imagine you are referring to bait rigs. In this case, the hook will be hidden from view for the mot part anyway.

Painting them balck would have an adverse effect on the fish as you are now introducing more foreign substances to spook the fish.

If your still not convinced, buy some balck ones and give them a try.

Good Luck

Kippy - I don't know what would be good to change the hooks to black. I would just buy black hooks next time.

As far as if it is good or bad to use a shiny hook or not I've seen instances where a shiny gold hook with chunk herring seemed to do better than a non-shiny one but whether that was the-luck-of-the-draw, a truly effective method, or pure bunk that we created I'll never know ;) ... Seriously, I'd use the hooks and buy a second black set and alternate - see if there's a difference...

I don't think it matters much. We use forged and plated mustads everywhere. Some are monster size hooks. I don't think its a major concern. If I wanted to paint a hook , I guess I'd dip it in black Rustoleum since that is a paint whose carrier is intended to bond to metal.

I really don't think it matters much but it may be a fun research project :) I did a project like that a couple years ago with leader mono, flouro, steel. The steel leader actually outfished the other 2 with 2 fish caught the mono rod had 1 and the flouro got the skunk! I was fishing chunks at the time. I do not reccomend using steel for live bait applications eels, herring etc... but i seen no difference chunking. Further research may be needed but i don't mind landing a few blues sometimes they save my night from a skunk!

Anyone try the "blood" red hooks yet. I understand they are becoming more popular and the red can represent a gill-flash or blood.

I want to try red with jerkbaits, however, I haven't seen offset worm hooks or jig hooks in colors.

So, I thought I might paint a few to try... I guess I will try the rustoleum.

I use a stainless hook and have found no problem. I think sometimes a flash or reflection would attract a bite.Sometime it may spook, but you cant prove that by me. Jackie O

Stainless steel hooks don't rust up in your tackle box...........they also don't rust out in the fish!

I read an article not long ago about the blood hooks. Seemed to make some sense. An old timer was said to have a bottle of red nail polish in his bag of tricks to transform his hooks into bloods

Stars and Stripers forever

Stainless is a real no-no in my book. These hooks are great for not rusting out but they also will not rust out of a bass's mouth either. If you fail to retrieve one from a bass, the mortality rate increase dramatically......stay away from the stainless.

Last season I picked up a fish that was gut hooked with a stainless. The line attached was haggard the hook looked shiny and new.

I won't be including them in my bag.

That's why I like Mustads - they're dull and they rust ;) ... So you do need to sharpen them but at the same time they should rust out fairly quick....

I've heard a couple different points of view that a rusting hook causes infection and may not be all that hot either. So the best way to go is to go with rustable Circle Hooks whenever you can. Circles may not be the best for every application but certainly use them when you can. If a fish is not gut hooked because of a properly fished circle, whether the hook will rust out or not is much less a factor because the hook is set in the corner of the jaw....

Just my humble opinion ;) ...

They are starting to come out with all differant styles of hooks that are red. Myself I'm not sure if it works better but it can be that "confidence" thing. If you feel it will catch you more fish go with it!

The original post was about shine on hooks. I dont think it matters most times.......As far as what hooks YOU use, thats your decision.thats your business. As far as what hooks I use thats my choice and my decision and my business. Im not here to debate. Im here to talk fishin ,make some new on-line friends and pass a few minutes. Jackie O

Sorry Jackie O
That was just my opinion certainly not an attack.
These threads have a way of moving in different directions.