5/6 Pepin

[kpj5br]

Had a great day on the water today. Water temps are between 50 and 54 depending where on the pool you're at.

Ran cranks all day, for a reason. I wanted to do a somewhat scientific study of the "red hook" syndrome bringing in more fish.

So I used identical rod/reel combos with line counters, same amount of line out on each, same lure, but one with "factory" hooks and the other with gama reds. Did this with a number of different cranks.

What did I learn? I have to say, the reds definitely outfished the blacks. Amazing.

[dan2957]

Was the line size the same on all rigs, how about the hook size, were they the same size? Did you use the same brand line on all of your poles. Mono, florocarbon? Did changing out the hooks effect the action of the bait? Lots and lots of factors.

Let me know, I'm interested in the results, I'm kinda doing the samething this year.

[kpj5br]

Yes, when I say identical, I mean identical in every way. One rod was out the left side of the boat, one out the right side, and I alternated them about every hour so they'd have equal time out each side of the boat.

The replaced hooks were the same size as the originals, they did not appear to affect the lure action, but one thing that's interesting is I believe they made a noise, but again can't be totally positive on that.

I really tried to execute this as close to being a true scientific control-group study as possible.

[EBass]

What was the ratio? Just wondering

[kpj5br]

10:1

Beyond all reasonable doubt with a ratio like that.

[g'eye pilot]

KPJ -

Can you elaborate a little on what you caught and the type of area you targeted, i.e. rip wrap, sand?

Thanks!

[kpj5br]

For this experiment it was sand flats, 9 to 14 FOW.

Ran several different cranks, as stated above always running were two identical cranks one with factory (black) hooks and one with red replacements.

All the baits were bright colored (fire, white, etc.) and running within 1 foot of bottom.

Area fished was mostly flats in Maiden Rock area, and just outside the channel at the head of the lake.

[carlcmc]

What did you catch? 10 walleyes to 1 walleye? That is is impressive reason to switch...

[kpj5br]

The ratio includes counts of walleye and sheephead, 10 were walleyes, with 2 on black and 8 on red (they were all small males), and 10 sheepies all on red, for a total ratio of 10:1, with the walley ratio being 4:1. The sheeps were all small as well, 2 pounders.

But I was not going for size at all with this, this was strictly a numbers gathering game.

Total fishing time was about 7 hours, of course with most fish coming in quick bursts, then for awhile nothing.

I forgot to reset my GPS odometer at the beginning, but I'd venture to say I covered between 13 and 17 miles of trolling in total.

I would have loved to do this in areas with bigger fish, but that just wasn't possible, all of the areas known to hold bigger post-spawn fish were just choked with boats making this type of fishing impossible. God knows how many tens of thousands of acres on Pool 4 and every walleye boat stacked up in fisherman's cut...

But it was reassuring that at least the smaller ones have indeed ventured back out into the flats, and the mamas won't be long after them.

[nofishfisherman]

18 fish caught on red hooks, and 2 on black hooks would yeild a ration of 9 to 1, not 10 to 1.

Don't mean to be picky.

[mnz71hunt]

either way - it's good catchin

[76k20]

10 walleyes + 10 sheepies = 20 fishes in total.

read more carefully if you intend to correct ones statement.

[nofishfisherman]

18 Fish or red

2 on black

equals 18:2 ratio

reduce it to its simpilest form and you get 9:1

To get a 10:1 ration you would need to cathch 20 on red and 2 on black.

That would give you 20:2 or 10:1

Not that any of this really matters 9:1 still proves the red hook argument.

[kpj5br]

The reason I started this is because I am a skeptic, and while I believe the results are eye opening, I also believe the sample size is still too small for a definitive "proof", and I will be repeating this thing at least 3 more times to try to get the sample size up to more statistically sound numbers. (and of course I'll post the data, making every effort to do the math right )

In a way I'm hoping this was a rogue day, as many times as I've said "there's no way red hooks can make a difference" I may have to be eating my own words...

[76k20]

guess I should take my own advice