Missed Fish On Scrounger

[livin2fish]

One of my favorite lures is a Scrounger head with a Superfluke trailer.  Problem is, about half of the fish that hook up, end up shaking off before they get to the boat.  Try to cross their eyes and get them to the boat as fast as possible.

Tackle used:

M, MH, and H rods, mostly with fast action

6.3 to 1 and 7.0 to 1 reels

12 lb Fluro

Hook shapener

Trimmed blade on the Scrounger

No bent down barbs on the hooks

None of these has made any significant difference.  Hate to give up on the Scrounger since it can be thrown into weeds and brush and normally comes through without snagging.  Suggestions are appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

[Swampstud]

Might not need to cross there eyes with an open hook. Im slowly pushing all the light wire hooks out of my box, they flex to much on the 3# an up bass. Thats my opinion though, is the hooks on that jig thin? In my experience 12lb wasnt sufficient to bury the hook, i pulled alot of fish to the surface only to spit the hook. Cought the lil ones tho haha

[FishTank]

When I have tried the Scrounger, I tend to set the hook in the same way I set a hook on a crankbait.  I tend to pull the trigger a little slower and then rip it to the side.

[aavery2]

Might be the trailer, it is a lot of plastic and not much hook.

[nascar2428]

Try rigging it sideways, less plastic to go thru.

[quanjig]

Jump up to 15lb floro and try the method Fish Tank described, more of a crankbait hook set.

[WRB]

Take a look at Xtreme Custom Tackle Scrounger with larger size hooks.

Set the hook on a Scrounger by reel setting and firm rod sweep.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Take a look at Xtreme Custom Tackle Scrounger with larger size hooks.

Set the hook on a Scrounger by reel setting and firm rod sweep.

Tom

Like WRB said, crank like crazy to load the rod up and then lean into them, don't cross their eyes. The hooks on those scroungers are razor sharp, just have to keep tension on them and let the hook dig in. 

[NathanW]

Crossing their eyes and possibly horsing them in due to stronger/faster rod than you probably need. I went through the same deal a few years ago with tubes, started losing a lot of fish 3/4 of the way to the boat when I started preferring heavy and MH rods. Its a bummer because I would rather fish the stiffer rods. I would also acknowledge aavery 2's comment, that trailer may be giving the fish something to lever against.

 

I use a 6'10" medium action rod for scroungers that honestly is underpowered for its label. I cant recall if I have ever lost a fish on an exposed single hook with it and I am mostly fishing smallmouth.

[livin2fish]

Thanks for the quality suggestions.  Will give all of them a try. 

Stopping the crossing of eyes (reaction hook sets) may require a strong sedative, lol.

[quanjig]

My rod of choice is the 7'3" vendetta MH moderate with 15lb red label floro. When I feel the fish take the scrounger, I'm not easy about setting the hook but I don't "wait" on the fish either! A good hook set is required but I certainly don't "bubba" the thing!!

Info: Bubba is a buddy of mine that is know for his over the top hook sets!!