It’s difficult enough to keep big bass on the line when you’re fishing with crankbaits, because a lot of times they’ll jump and throw the lure. At other times, they might pull free because the hooks that the manufacturer put on the lure are too small and will tear out. I like to use the biggest treble hooks possible that match the size of the crankbait, and sometimes that means changing the hooks.

If it’s a size 6 treble, I might want to go with a 4 or 5 with the widest gap I can find. Also, I use as small a hook hanger as I can get by with, but one strong enough to accommodate the bigger hook OK and allow it freedom of movement. If the lure comes with a No. 3 split ring, I might go to a No. 2. I do that because you don’t want the bigger replacement hooks to be able to hang each other all the time. Using smaller hangers will help avoid that. And changing the hooks doesn’t really affect the action of the lure, because the difference in hook weight is made up for by the smaller O rings.

The other important thing is to use a crankbait rod that has some give to it so the fish won’t be as likely to pull loose.

— National Guard pro Mark Rose of Marion, Ark.