Based on input I have received from anglers, many of whom frequent the Texas Fishing Forum, I am now making available pre-packaged MAL Lure replacement hook sets in 4-packs.

You have a number of choices, from replacing the original hook with an identical hook, to upgrading to a 4X strong or even a 6X strong hook. I continue to advocate the use of a 6" pair of curved-tipped hemostats (a.k.a. forceps) in order to prevent undue abuse to your original hooks (and fish), but, when the time comes, these quality VMC hooks will fill the bill.

These replacements come with a split ring already attached, and glow tubing already installed, like this:




Find replacement hooks here: NEW HOOKS

Size #4 Replacement Options:






Size #2 Replacement Options:






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HERE IS THE TEXT OF THE ORIGINAL POST ABOUT REPLACING HOOKS ON THE MAL LURE WHICH LED TO ME OFFERING THESE KITS:


At some point, you may need to replace the treble hook on you MAL Lure. Here’s how:





Step 1: Cut off the old treble hook by using a pair of diagonal cutting pliers (a.k.a. dikes) to cut the eye of the old treble hook. DO NOT CUT the wire loop of the MAL Lure’s wire shaft as that will ruin the lure. Wear eye protection, as a piece of the old hook may go a-flyin’! Once the cut is made, you may need to grab the eye of the hook and twist it a bit to get it to spread open enough to remove it from the spinner's wire loop.






Step 2: Remove and set aside the short piece of plastic tubing on the old treble; you’ll use it later.









Step 3: Slide the saved piece of tubing over the shaft of your new treble hook. This tubing prevents “blade strikes”; be sure to reuse it! Since the recommended treble hook is a bit shorter than the original, you may need to trim the length of the tubing just a bit so it does not hinder the treble from swinging freely from the split ring.









Step 4. Using a pair of split ring pliers, spread the split ring open and slide both the spinner’s wire loop and the new treble hook onto the split ring. Continue sliding them in the same direction until the split ring joins the new hook to the spinner’s wire shaft securely.


Suggestions on replacement parts:

Split ring: VMC Stainless Steel Split Ring: Part #SSSR#3

Treble Hook: #4 VMC Short Shank Treble: Part #9651 in black nickel color. Use a #2 treble if you are replacing the treble on an upsized MAL intended for hybrid/stripers.

Important Note: The recommended replacement treble hook is a short shank treble with a shorter shank than the original hook. This is intentional. If you use a hook identical to the original treble hook, the overall length of the repaired MAL will be longer than the original (due to the length of the split ring) AND you WILL get more misses due to blade strikes at the front end of the lure because you now have the treble hook farther behind that blade.






GIVE THE MAL LURE A TRY: SEE ALL MAL LURES HERE

If you have tips of your own, feel free to respond to this post, or send a private message. I will give credit where credit is due!


A LITTLE BACKGROUND: This is one in a series of tips posted for the summer of 2022. These helpful suggestions are borne out of thousands of hours of on-the-water experience in pursuing white bass and hybrid striped bass in Texas using the in-line spinners in the MAL Lure family. With tens of thousands of the MAL Lures now in use (and most of those in Texas!) I want to help give current and future MAL Lure users their best shot at catching fish by sharing what I've discovered 'the hard way' in hopes of reducing your own learning curve. These tips are in no particular order.

One thing I will add is if you are doing this at home and have access to a Dremel tool, use a cut off wheel to cut the old hook off. I have replaced hundreds of trebles on Manns Little Georges over the years and its a life saver when doing multiple lures at a time.

JCB, I've never tried that. Do you ever have any hook parts fly off when using the Dremel cut off wheel? If not, that would be superior to using the diagonal cutting pliers (dikes), as probably 1 in 3 cuts I make sends a piece of the hook eye flying across the garage.

I have never had any lure parts go flying at all but I always wear glasses anyway. Those little cut off wheels can be brittle though and of course there is the potential for metal shavings to get in your eyes as well so glasses are a must! I have had the wheels shatter when using them to cut bolts but that generates high heat and lots of pressure though. I have never run into that when cutting hooks or wire shafts. It takes maybe 1/2 a second to cut a hook and near zero effort. Funny thing is I broke a pair of flush cutters today when trimming a lure shaft. The upper jaw completly broke off the cutters and went flying across the kitchen. Guess I am going to have to wear glasses with the flush cutters now as well. LOL

I had a fellow call me asking if he can "mix and match" hook styles for his 4-pack.

Absolutely I'll do this for you. You'll just need to place an order for one 4-pack (it doesn't matter which one, as they are all priced the same), and then CALL or TEXT me right away before I pack and ship it.

Tell me what 4 hooks you'd like from those offered and I'll send your way. You can mix and match sizes (#2's and #4's), as well!

I'm at 254.368.7411.

Great question J.H.!!

Order here: NEW MAL HOOKS