I don't get to much into the red hook issue but I do use them on my topwaters. It does make small difference for them. But for drop shotting or other things I don't believe it makes much difference. Pro fisherman Rich Tauber once told us at one of my club meetings about the red hook craze. What he told us was that the color red, starts to turn brown the deeper you go into the water coloumn. This being a study down by one of his sponsors Diachi Hooks. So for surface down to maybe 10ft it might benefit you. But to each his own and what ever gives you confidence.