Teeth Marks

[Jar11591]

Last weekend I went on a fishing/camping trip to a lake that is stocked with tiger muskie every year. I wasn't fishing for tiger muskies, I was targeting bass and doing very well. I was crushing them on a Rapala Skitter Walk in chrome color. In the pictures below, you can see the lure is covered in teeth marks that look like scratches.These are from bass destroying the lure. But there is also a perfectly duck-bill shaped gouge right in the middle of the lure that looks completely different than the bass teeth marks. I'm really having a hard time figuring out what this could be from. Is it possible this is from a tiger muskie? I did have a couple missed strikes and also had 1-2 come unhooked that I assumed were bass. No pike or pickerel are listed in this lake. I just have no idea what else this could be from. What do you guys think?

 

[A-Jay]

Bass teeth are more for holding prey not gashing it like pike & muskie.  Still enough bass can beat up a bait pretty good.

The more ripped up it gets - the better it seems to work.

Got to Love it..

A-Jay

[Jar11591]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Bass teeth are more for holding prey not gashing it like pike & muskie.  Still enough bass can beat up a bait pretty good.

The more ripped up it gets - the better it seems to work.

Got to Love it..

A-Jay

There are 2 places I don't mind having bass teeth marks. My lures and my thumbs!  Both have been taking a beating lately! Check out the back treble. (Yes that is a dried bass lip )

What would you say about the gouge in the middle of the lure? Have you ever seen a pike or muskie leave a gouge like this? I just have no idea what it could be from!

[A-Jay]

If you're addressing the puncture type damage (by the front hook hanger) on that bait - can't say for sure.

However, that is very indicative of the type of calling card a pike or muskie could leave for you.

A-Jay

[Scott F]

32 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Last weekend I went on a fishing/camping trip to a lake that is stocked with tiger muskie every year. I wasn't fishing for tiger muskies, I was targeting bass and doing very well. I was crushing them on a Rapala Skitter Walk in chrome color. In the pictures below, you can see the lure is covered in teeth marks that look like scratches.These are from bass destroying the lure. But there is also a perfectly duck-bill shaped gouge right in the middle of the lure that looks completely different than the bass teeth marks. I'm really having a hard time figuring out what this could be from. Is it possible this is from a tiger muskie? I did have a couple missed strikes and also had 1-2 come unhooked that I assumed were bass. No pike or pickerel are listed in this lake. I just have no idea what else this could be from. What do you guys think?

 

That curved mark is from your front treble hook. Drag the hook along the bait and see if the mark does not line up perfectly.

[Jar11591]

@A-Jay, I think the punctures are actually just a reflection or glare as the bait doesn't have any holes. Just looks that way. I had a hell of a time getting a decent picture of the mark I am reffering to, because this bait is so shiny. I realize now they still aren't the best pictures. I circled it on these pictures. All the scratches are definitely bass, but this mark I circled looks totally different. Its duck-bill shaped like a pike or muskie and is made up of what look to be tiny teeth marks.

2 minutes ago, Scott F said:

That curved mark is from your front treble hook. Drag the hook along the bait and see if the mark does not line up perfectly.

That was it! LOL Thanks! I have never seen that before!

[A-Jay]

That circular scaring is from your hooks .

 A-Jay

[Jar11591]

I knew there had to be a cause. I really had a hard time believing it could have been from a pike or muskie, but I had absolutely no other ideas. 

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

That circular scaring is from your hooks .

 A-Jay

Wow do I feel dumb!  I don't know how I've never seen that before, and I use Skitter Walks all the time!

You learn something new every day I guess! Thanks Fellas!

[MassBass]

called hook rash.

[mrpao]

Hook rash  happens to just about  all hard baits.

Use any lure long enough  and it'll  get scratched  up.

[Jar11591]

39 minutes ago, mrpao said:

Hook rash  happens to just about  all hard baits.

Use any lure long enough  and it'll  get scratched  up.

I have a ton of lures that are scratched up, but I've never seen hook rash so perfectly shaped. This must be due to the side-to-side walking the dog action of the lure. But even then, I have a bunch of Skitter Walks I have used for several years and don't have such hook rash. Covered in teeth marks and hook scratches, but not such perfectly shaped hook rash. Pretty cool! 

[Ratherbfishing]

On 6/12/2016 at 6:01 PM, Jar11591 said:

I have a ton of lures that are scratched up, but I've never seen hook rash so perfectly shaped. This must be due to the side-to-side walking the dog action of the lure. But even then, I have a bunch of Skitter Walks I have used for several years and don't have such hook rash. Covered in teeth marks and hook scratches, but not such perfectly shaped hook rash. Pretty cool! 

Just being jostled around in a tackle box over time is usually sufficient to create a half circle shape behind the forward treble hook. Most of my veteran lures (whether they've been used a lot or not) have at least the beginnings of this half circle hook rash. 

To be honest, I have not ever noticed major scratches occurring from the teeth of bass.  From a LOT of other sources, yes, but not so much by bass teeth.  Am not saying it can't EVER happen (results may vary) but just not much.

 

[Bluebasser86]

Yeah, you'll get that half moon ring on baits that get fished a lot and catch lots of fish.

[Jar11591]

40 minutes ago, Ratherbfishing said:

Just being jostled around in a tackle box over time is usually sufficient to create a half circle shape behind the forward treble hook. Most of my veteran lures (whether they've been used a lot or not) have at least the beginnings of this half circle hook rash. 

To be honest, I have not ever noticed major scratches occurring from the teeth of bass.  From a LOT of other sources, yes, but not so much by bass teeth.  Am not saying it can't EVER happen (results may vary) but just not much.

 

All the other scratches are from bass, they were destroying the lure all weekend. The only reason they're so visible is the chrome color of the lure. A lot of my chrome colored or shiny lures have scratches from bass teeth, which are a lot like sand paper. I'll have to look closer at some of my lures. I've never noticed the U-shaped hook rash, even on lures that are years old and have caught tons of fish. 

[soflabasser]

I agree with those that say the scratch marks on that lure was caused by the treble hooks(hook rash) and teeth marks from catching lots of fish on the lure. I got lures that are missing most of the paint and are among the most productive lures for me.

[Dwight Hottle]

On June 12, 2016 at 7:01 PM, Jar11591 said:

I have a ton of lures that are scratched up, but I've never seen hook rash so perfectly shaped. This must be due to the side-to-side walking the dog action of the lure. But even then, I have a bunch of Skitter Walks I have used for several years and don't have such hook rash. Covered in teeth marks and hook scratches, but not such perfectly shaped hook rash. Pretty cool! 

Musky fisherman often t- hook the front treble to minimize the front hook rubbing on the bait body during retreive. Bend two hook points 180 degree apart so they lay flat against the lure body.