Spook jr. Help

[Bradfords Gone!]

Hello

I 'm new to the forum and need help with losing fish on the zara spook jr. I hooked 2 nice bass and lost both because they threw the hook. I'm keeping my rod tip down but still can't keep them on the line. I didn't know if I could modify the hooks if that would help. Also I am new to baitcasting. Thanks for any advice.

[rippin-lips]

Swap the hooks out for better ones. The factory ones are not very good. Grab a pack of size #4 Mustad elite round bends at your local Walmart for $6

[timsford]

Change the hooks and add split rings. Also maybe use a rod with a little more moderate action or switch to mono if using braid. Maybe even loosen your drag a little if you still lose fish. I always change out the hooks for mustad, vmc, gammy, or owner hooks and add quality split rings if it's one of the ones that don't have split rings. I use upgraded hooks and a fast or mod fast rod with mono and I lose very few fish

[primetime]

If you have an older one the Spooks used to come without split rings, and that is a reason why fish throw the lure at times. I know the Super Spooks I just saw at Walmart had split Rings on them , but if not,add rings, they help. Head to the Pradco website or Heddon, and find out what size treble hooks they put on the lure. If you can upsize, usually you can on a spook, I like to put Owner ST-41's on topwater lures since I throw spooks on heavy line, rarely use line under 15lb test except for small ones.

If it is a saltwater version, they usually have 3x Strong Treble hooks which are thick, strong, but also hard to get a good hookset unless you have heavy gear. Driving thicker hooks home is tougher, but crushing barbs can help, you don't want to set to hard and create a huge hole, if you swing too hard, fish comes at you full speed, and slack = frustration.

I would also use a line that has some stretch with treble hook lures, Mono is good, Fluoro is good as it stretches more and in clear water can help even though it sinks, and around structure. Mono Floats so do most co-Polys, if you are using braid, just make sure you set the hook based on how heavy your rod is, distance, and make sure the fish has it well. Most fish will either swim at you if you set hard, or if a good fish, fight hard and then once you turn them they usually come to the surface when all the trouble starts, which is when you see the big one's spitting the lure....If you see Pro's reeling in fish on TV, they drop the rod in the water, reel as fast as possible, then make sure they have some drag to let the fish make a run or two before getting it to the boat to avoid break offs. 

Some guys use slower tip rods etc..At the end of the day their is no doubt some luck involved, but making sure you have sharp hooks is important, stock hooks often come dull, if they can't scratch your nail, hit them with a file and that can help, crushing barbs can help on long hook sets as hooks drive in easier. 

Bigger Bass are good at throwing lures. Period. If fishing around cover, it is always a trade off, especially with treble hooks.

[Bradfords Gone!]

Thanks for the great advice. I will switch out the hooks and check for split rings. I am using 14# mono and I lost both fish on the head shake. The first fish did take drag and the second threw it right away. A lot of fun to throw but I'm still learning to use my baitcaster. 

[Molay1292]

Lots of great advice already, I would just add to be sure to use a sweeping hookset and not a typical reel down and jerk their lips off type set.  You don't want to create any bigger hole in their lip than necessary.

[JayKumar]

Molay is 100% right on the hookset.  Line looks okay, rod also real important -- not too stiff. Recommend the  Mustad KVD trebles:

http://www.***.com/Mustad_KVD_1x_Strong_2x_Short_Triple_Grip_Treble_Hook/descpage-MKVDEST.html?from=bblst

[Brett's_daddy]

Not to thread jack here but I couldn't find any of the Owner or Mustad hooks at Wal-Mart and instead got some of the size 4 Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp 3x red hooks...will these be an upgrade over the stock hooks?

[the reel ess]

The hooks on my Jr are awesome and came with split rings, not the clevis style that comes on larger Spooks. I don't know the hook mfg though. But my hooks are bronze. I look online and I see that's not the case in the pictures. Perhaps they've changed them.

Honestly, I think you just had bad luck on two fish in a row. Fish escaped trebles more than single hooks. Sharpen the hooks on it and let it go again.