Bigger Hook On Back End Of Rattle Trap?

[ghost]

Any of you guys use a bigger hook on the back of your rattle traps or similar lure? I know the front has a size 4 & the back is a size 6. I would think you would use the same type of treble hook.

Just wondering if a size 4 in the back would throw off the vibration of a rattle trap lure. Do you use regular bend trebles or wide gap trebles? How about adding a feathered treble in the back, will that throw off the lures action?

[Grey Wolf]

I change out all my hooks to larger sizes on all my traps.

[Cephkiller]

In my experience, Mustad Triple Grips are hard to beat on lipless cranks.  As far as upsizing, when I've tried it I notice a decerease in the vibration, although I'm sure that isn't always a bad thing I didn't like it and switched back.  I've never added feathered trebles, but I do have an old BPS lipless that came with one and it seems to do OK, so why not?!

[J_pontius]

I just started putting a sure set on the back hook and changing the front out to a good name brand larger hook.  Still noisy as hell!

[kyron4]

So why do lure companies put a smaller sized hook on the rear ? There must be a reason.  :-?

[MALTESE FALCON]

I just saw the Rat-L-Trap ad in the April/May In-Fisherman magazine, and it shows a Tail Chaser trap that has a dressed hook on the back and triple-grip hook on the front.

Falcon

[Matt Fly]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but  normally, and the key work is normal to me, isn't the larger treble normally in the front and the smaller one in the back?

A trap swims when retrieved at a higher rate with the nose down, thus the body protects the larger hook from fouling.

Any thoughts?

Matt

[MALTESE FALCON]

Most of my lipless crankbaits are Rapala Rattlin Raps, and they use the same size hooks, front & back. The Rat-L-Traps that I have, the front hook is bigger than the rear.

Falcon

[Randall]

I don't use a rear hook at all. Just one big number 1 or 2 hook on the front will land more big fish.

[Matt Fly]

I don't use a rear hook at all. Just one big number 1 or 2 hook on the front will land more big fish.

Randall,

  So you remove the back hook on all cranks?     Can you eloborate on the theory of why or how you feel this helps land more big fish?

I see the pictures you post,  Grasshopper ready for lesson.

Matt.

[foul hooked]

Randall -

I'd be mighty interested in hearing about your 1 hook method. I'll take all the good advice/ideas I can get.

Thanks in advance.

[Randall]

Fish usually get the whole trap with no problem with the exception of hot water later during the summer when they sometimes just slap at the bait. So there is no reason for the rear hook. Its always best to use the biggest hook you can get the fish on since bigger hooks are harder for the fish to throw and you dont have to worry about how you play the fish and the fish jumping. Most people use a soft rod to keep the fish on when it pulls and jumps. I do just the opposite and use a heavy action rod and big hooks so I can take the fight to the fish and don't have to worry about pulling the hooks out of the mouth of the fish. Also If you get a real big fish it will win the battle on a trap with smaller hooks most of the time because they don't penetrate as deep and the bite of the hook isn't big enough to fit around the jawbone of a big fish where most hooks stick at. On crankbaits I upsize hooks alot and sometimes will only use a front hook If I am catching real big fish. I use the same graphite heavy action rod and just set my drag loose. When I set the hook my thumb is on the spool for a solid hookset then I let the fish take drag to wear its self down. If it trys to come to the surface I pull hard so it can't get up at all which you can't do with small hooks or a fiberglass or soft rod. I just prefer to take the fight to the fish on crankbaits and rattletraps instead of trying to adapt to what the fish wants to do and hoping it stays on as it jumps and pulls with small hooks.

[crankybaits]

I don't fish the real "rat-l-trap" brand, but i do fish the Yo-zuri ratlnvibes(well worth teh 8 bucks).  I replace only the front treble hook with a sureset hook.  The thing rattles like crazy and contrary to theories i don't notice anymore snagging of grass than out of a normal treble hook.  I used to replace both the backs and the fronts, but it got to a point where the back sureset hook was damaging the fish too much.  I don't really think it matters because most of the fish that i catch are hooked on the front hook, like the fish is grabbing the first from the side and not chasing it straight from the back.  I've actually started using this on all the lipless cranks i have.  

If you haven't tried these sureset hooks yet, you are really missing out.  They have greatly increased my catches.

[Grey Wolf]

Thanks guys for all you info. I find your post's very helpful on the hook thing.

[jomatty]

randall

why would it not be better to still just have a small stinger hook on the back of the bait?  im not saying your wrong as im sure you know much more about this than me but i dont see what in your theory makes a smaller back hook completely useless or in the way.  even in ideal conditions where most fish are eating the bait whole there can be one or two that change their mind at the last minute and dont commit.

i think of the back hook kinda as a just in case, stinger kinda hook.  if they eat it how i want them too i wont need them, but im still wondering what harm they do and why you like to remove them.

thanks for clarifying and a very interesting post,

matt

[Gatorbassman]

randall

why would it not be better to still just have a small stinger hook on the back of the bait? im not saying your wrong as im sure you know much more about this than me but i dont see what in your theory makes a smaller back hook completely useless or in the way. even in ideal conditions where most fish are eating the bait whole there can be one or two that change their mind at the last minute and dont commit.

i think of the back hook kinda as a just in case, stinger kinda hook. if they eat it how i want them too i wont need them, but im still wondering what harm they do and why you like to remove them.

thanks for clarifying and a very interesting post,

matt

I asked Randall this question one time and if I remember correctly he said that the fish can use that back hook the gain leverage and pull off all together.