Thread: Removing front hook on cranks

Some people just mash the barbs down with needle nose pliers

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Was Taught by a Crankbait Pro to snip or cut the middle hook off of the front hook.The front hook will lay flat against the belly of the crankbait. Preventing snags and still hooking fish.We have lots of snags trees in our lake can get expensive .My two cents.

Crankbait Front Hook.

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Don't know that it makes much difference when they are taking them good. Sometimes when they are just swiping at the bait front hook gets a few more. Your not going to stop gill hooked fish especially smaller ones because they seem to be more aggressive and take them deeper. Secret is to take your time and get a set of forceps. Go in from back side of gill end pull hook backwards out of gill and then work them out. Yes they bleed a bunch at times but unless you just rip the gill loose from mounting tissue more will survive than you think. Patience is key.

Originally Posted by jackie53

Was Taught by a Crankbait Pro to snip or cut the middle hook off of the front hook.The front hook will lay flat against the belly of the crankbait. Preventing snags and still hooking fish.We have lots of snags trees in our lake can get expensive .My two cents.

Been doing that for years.

carry a mt dew in the boat and pour a little in where its bleeding, the citric acid somehow stops the bleeding

Originally Posted by Shad

Who removes the front hook on your crankbaits when pulling? We fished Sardis the other day in my buddies boat. He had all the front hooks removed on his crankbaits. Didn’t seem to hurt the catch rate. We definitely caught over a 100 fish. Anyone else do this to cut down on snags?

Also, we had several fish with the crankbait deep in their gills. We were wondering if removing the barbs on the cranks would be best or not to help avoid killing the fish, especially the shorts we wouldn’t keep. Anyone do that? Does it hurt your catch rate a lot?

Me and you are the only ones who hurt fish pulling cranks. WE have to get better at removing the hooks. Everyone else looks them right in the upper lip with only one of the hooks.


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Originally Posted by Nutbush

Me and you are the only ones who hurt fish pulling cranks. WE have to get better at removing the hooks. Everyone else looks them right in the upper lip with only one of the hooks.


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I sense the sarcasm in your post once again, outlaw treble hooks yada yada.. I will respond one more time, if you TN boys ain't happy with the way things are ran hear in MS then you more welcome to stay close to home! All we hear is shorts, carp, treble hooks, it's to dang hot etc etc etc...