Anyone Use Twistlock Hooks With Flukes?

[tcbass]

So after hearing everyone on here talk about how good Zoom Flukes are I went and bought some. Well, I used them today and they caught a few fish and had a ton of bites. There was a lot of small nibblers. I was impressed.

 

After my first fish which was also my first cast the Zoom got tore off from the nose and ruined. So perhaps not the most durable. It was only about a 3/4lbs fish also and a quick reel in. Not an extended fight where he had time to beat up the fluke.

 

 

So I switched to a Twistlock hook and caught about 3 more and had about  13 more bites from smaller fish that would move the tail up the hook, but the Twistlock hook stayed good in the nose. However, it seemed to me like the action might have suffered a bit. But I'm not sure.

 

 

 

Does anyone else on here use Twistlock hooks with their flukes?

 

 

 

 

Do you think using a Twistlock negatively effects the flukes action?

[Catch and Grease]

I use the weighted one and the weightless ones and I like them

[David D.]

I pretty much only use the weighted twist lock hooks with flukes

[tcbass]

I pretty much only use the weighted twist lock hooks with flukes

 

 

 

Why?

[Mr. BattleArmor]

And I pretty much only use size 4 EWG hooks for Flukes. lol, personal preference, and depends how you fish it. I have never had a problem with durability that warranted me trying screwlock hooks. 

[stk]

I use them for senkos sometimes too. I like to use a offset round bend 4/0 worm hook if I'm not using twist lock for super flukes.

[mprestonSEK]

I use size 4/0 Twistlocks when I am using a fluke. I seem to have a better hook up ratio when using them. As for it changing or hindering the action, I don't notice much of a difference.

[Cgrinder]

I've switched over to twistlock hooks for almost everything, fluke-style baits included. I'm currently using Owner Twistlock Lights and while they are a little pricey, they do an amazing job at not destroying your baits. The life expectancy of my Caffeine Shads has increased so, so much. 

[David D.]

Why?

Because the twist lock holds the plastic on better and keeps intact through more strikes in my experience with it compared to EWG hooks.

I use the weight because it keeps the bait lower in the water column so I can use a slightly faster retrieve without having the fluke riding the surface of the water.

Does it affect the performance? Not the Swim'n Caffeine Shads that I fish. The bass still hit them well and the tail action looks good to me.

[Getfit74]

I've switched over to the Owner Twistlock hooks for almost all of my soft plastics including flukes and see no negative impact on action. I wish a would have made the switch a long time ago, definitely get a lot more use out of soft plastics while using them.

[flyfisher]

I tried them once and didn't like them at all.  The action seemed to suffer and i wasn't catching as many fish.  I also didn't like the added weight on the nose of the bait as it seems to give them a more nose down, sinking presentation which ruins the normal darting, twitching, free falling action i like.  I have only used the weighted ones in current a few times and they worked well but i actually prefer to use a small bullet weight in those situations instead.

[Fish Murderer 71]

I use them with both weighted, and not...  I'll rage rig with them when I'm out of the other weighted hooks.  They work very well in my opinion.

[Sherlock 60]

Used them for Senkos the last two years and was disappointed. Hook up ratio seemed to go down and not as many bites. And the hook angle made it more difficult to skin-hook properly. Went back to Gammy EWG this spring and things are back to normal. But I will try Twist Lock hooks for swimbaits and flukes and see what happens.

[Mike L]

For Flukes I use a skip gap hook and use a nail weight.

They seem to run truer for me and I can adjust the angle and speed of the fall if I want.

Mike

[paul25]

I use the weighted one and the weightless ones and I like them

X2

[Scorchx1245]

Size three off shanks weightless.

[herruberraschen]

On fluke style baits I definitely think having the nose of the bait "naked" provides a better action. Especially, with Caffeine Shads. They don't give me that great shimmy on a gentle pull or swimming motion on a fast retrieve. 

[hatrix]

I use twist locks for almost everything. I will use normal off set hook not ewg on flukes when I need as little weight as possible. I wan it to keep sticking its nose up out of the water and twitch it really fast. It becomes a subsurface/top water and kills the fish. It's super good working it like that over grass that's up to the surface.

[CTGalloway21]

I only fish mine weightless near the surface.  deadly

[Big239Fish]

What am i doing wrong? From my experience twistlocks tear up plastics much quicker. As others have mentioned I like them for adding weight when needed, but a friend suggested hanging casting weights on the the shank, i'll be trying that soon. I personally prefer offset round bend works best with flukes, EWG wont hurt either.

That's what I do whenever I fish swim baits or flukes. Put a small casting weight dangling freely in the belly of the hook. Works wonders. Makes the bait fall dead flat on a semi slack line. Got the tip from him, tried I once, been doing it ever since.

[SweepTheLegAU]

That's what I do whenever I fish swim baits or flukes. Put a small casting weight dangling freely in the belly of the hook. Works wonders. Makes the bait fall dead flat on a semi slack line. Got the tip from him, tried I once, been doing it ever since.

 How often do you lose the weight?

[Big239Fish]

How often do you lose the weight?

Not often enough that I notice its a problem. I do lose one here and there, but mostly it slides right on up the line past the knot (if I dont have a twistlock hook) and stays up there until I have to re-rig. My main problem is remembering to stock up on twistlocks when walmart gets them...

[BasshunterJGH]

I use owner twistlock 5/0 and Yamamoto dshads

[John E]

Hi.  I generally use a Gamakatsu 3/0 or 4/0 EWG but I'm trying the Owner Twist lock hooks now.  I use them mostly for fluke baits (Yamamoto D-Shads and Zoom Super Flukes).  I have been noticing that my line and knots keep getting tangled in the spring mechanism and often have to re-tie after every fish.  Any thoughts on that or recommended best practices?

 

Thanks for all the excellent thoughts above.