How Many Of You Use Weighted Hooks On Your Fluke Rigs?

[Tugmaster]

So, I just started fishing with Super Flukes. I'm trying to absorb as much as I can on the subject. I was watching a YouTube video where the guy was really into using a weighted swimbait hook for Fluke fishing. I went down to Dicks and picked up some 4/0 16/th oz. Gammy swimbait hooks. I'm gonna give them a whirl this weekend.

Does anyone else use these? I know there are a ton of different ways to fish them and a weightless Texas rig seems to be the most popular.

Thanks, Todd

[Mike L]

I have,

But I'll only use a belly weighted hook in open water.

When in thicker vegetation I use a nail weight in 1/16 or 1/32 oz.

A finishing nail works just as well also.

Mike

[Ratherbfishing]

The less weight the better.  If you have to use a weight, put a split shot several feet ahead of the lure.

[flyfisher]

i only use those type of hooks on rivers when dealing with current.  never felt a need to weight them otherwise because they will sink, just slowly and that action alone helps with catching in my opinion and teaches you to be patient lol

[smalljaw67]

I never use weight, the weight kills the gliding action  and even a small amount of weight hampers the action. Instead try using a size 6 or 8 crane swivel tied 10" above the fluke, it will add a little weight and keep your line from twisting.

[Jolly Green]

I use 1/16th oz. weighted hooks only for fishing around a current, otherwise the slow dropping tail-flutter of a weightless fluke is my preference.  If you're new to flukes, don't sleep on the 4" Jr. size.  I kill 'em on plain old white rigged on a 3/0 hook.

[TheSmilingSwordsman]

If I want a weight I just use a heavier swivel.

[Jrob78]

I never use a weight with a Fluke.  For me, the slow fall and gliding action is what makes the Fluke a great bait.  If I were going to weight a Fluke I would put it on a jig head.  I will use a Fluke on a split shot rig or C-rig but the weight is still off the bait a bit.

[shanksmare]

If the hook is properly weighted the super fluke will still fall with a gliding, tail fluttering action ... only a little faster and with a little more action. I use a 3/0 1/8th oz weighted EWG hook (either an H & H Flutter hook or a BPS vertical drop hook) with good results.

 

Most weighted swimbait hooks don't work well since the weight is too concentrated in one spot (?my belief?). This causes the fluke to fall like a rock instead of with the desired gliding, fluttering action.

 

You can always try testing various hook sizes and weights in a swimming pool or clear water scenerio to see if you are achieving the desired results.

[Bankbeater]

One more "no" vote here.  A weight will make the fluke lose that death spiral as it sinks.

[Catch and Grease]

I put a fluke on a split shot rig once and it worked pretty good!

[ww2farmer]

I use the vmc drop dead hooks in 1/16th oz.

[Big Swimbait]

I will sometimes use Gene Sisson's Dangleberry Rig. The sliding weight on the hook shank gives the bait a different darting move with every rod movement. Google it because the forum won't let me post the link.

[mod479]

I use them a lot in the rivers I fish, can really make them dance without busting outta the water on surface. I don't like screw on swimbait hooks for flukes. I use 1/8 and 1/4oz keel weighted superline EWGs. Still spirals down fine for me, just not as slow... with a D-shad it sinks so fast it will flap the straight tail. Take your time rigging them up or you'll be wasting baits. If it spins when you just reel it in slow, its not rigged straight. Had more luck this season with weighted hooks than weightless, last year I killed them nose hooking weightless on a 1/0 gammie dropshot hook. Really depends on what "fluke" style bait I'm using. Zoom fluke I tend to run weightless on a skip gap, TS Schooling minnow I use weighted hooks, D-Shads I use both.

[BasshunterJGH]

I use the Yamamoto d-shads. They're more dense then the flukes so you don't need any weight to keep them under the surface in my experience.

[Tugmaster]

I tried the weighted hooks yesterday. No where near the same action as weightless! I switched back to a regular EWG hook. Had a great day! Todd

[Crankinstein]

I never use weight, the weight kills the gliding action  and even a small amount of weight hampers the action. Instead try using a size 6 or 8 crane swivel tied 10" above the fluke, it will add a little weight and keep your line from twisting.

X2 on this. A great technique for making it easier to cast weightless flukes and other weightless baits. Makes it easier to switch out leaders too. A Palomar knot or an improved clinch knot is just easier for me to tie than one of the line to line knots. I use a large barrel swivel most of the time.

[lavbasser]

There was an interesting article about Lee Sisson's weighted hook rig for fluke fishing a few years ago in Bassmasters. It was called the Dangle Berry rig. You can find it online.

[Felix77]

I use the vmc drop dead hooks in 1/16th oz.

x2

[Bassun]

It looks like I may be one of the exceptions as I tend to fish the fluke shallow and fast, usually getting more hits off of the twitching and gliding vs deadstick falling.  I almost always fish them with unweighted hooks, tied directly with no swivel, etc.  However if I am trying to fish the fluke deep, I use a belly weighted hook. 

 

I don't find it as successful overall, but if I need to fish deep I have better success with the weighted hook vs no wieght, but I think that is more of a reflection on how I tend to fish the fluke as if I am having to go deep, then that means my preferred haunts are not holding fish.  Usually if I am having to let the fluke just drop, I end up grabbing a worm or some sort or a jig.

 

I will say that pegging a small weight, or using a nail weight does work great if you have fish holding deeper in grass.  I find the extra weight at the head seems to pop through the grass better and I usually end up dragging less back with each retrieve.  I think that it is actually because the forward weight keeps the twitches less sharp and deadens the action a bit, but that in itself seems to keep me from wraping up in as much grass.  So I guess I agree with most, actually, that no weight is my prefered method most of the time; but I think there are times when weighting a fluke the right way makes all the difference.

[.ghoti.]

I'm with flyfisher on this one. Keel weighted hooks in current, other wise unweighted.