Can I modify this lure to make it weedless?

[Pkfish49]

This Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Triple Threat lure is the most versatile lure that I've ever thrown.  I've caught Largemout Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Pickerel, Yellow Perch, and Pumpkinseed Sunfish with it.  Just about everything in my favorite lake goes after it.

 

The lake isn't very weedy, but some spots have a lot of some stringy stuff.  I looked at some pictures of lake weeds and I think it may be milfoil.  With these spots, at certain times, this lure gets caught up on one of these weeds almost every cast.   I'm not going to catch any fish with the lure covered in it, and even when it snags a little piece, it interferes with the diving action.

 

Is there some way to "hack" or alter this lure at all so it will stop catching the weed?  If not, can you recommend some weedless lure with a similar look and action?

 

 

 

[MichaelCopeland]

You could try removing the hook on the tail end of it. It won't make it completely weedless but it won't get hung up near as much. It will also make the fish have to get more of it in its mouth for you to set the hook, unless it snags itself on it somehow. I removed the tail hook on all my Rat-L-Traps. Don't use them much, haven't really found the right spots to use them fishing from the bank. I heard about it from FLW Pro Angler Mark Daniels Jr.

[Jaderose]

3 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

The lake isn't very weedy, but some spots have a lot of some stringy stuff.  I looked at some pictures of lake weeds and I think it may be milfoil.  With these spots, at certain times, this lure gets caught up on one of these weeds almost every cast.

 

 

 

Uhm......don't throw it there.  Lures are not all purpose.  I couldn't imagine how you could make a treble hooked lure weedless unless you could somehow modify it to look like this...

 

[WRB]

You can change the hooks to weedless treble hooks or cut the down facing hook so you have 2 facing upwards to reduce snagging weeds. Get rid of the snap swivel and tie direct. 

Use braid line to snap and cut through the weeds.

A Scrounger jig with soft plastic trailer like a sluggo will go through weeds with ease.

Tom

[fishnkamp]

Try fishing some paddle tail swimbaits like the Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper using a belly weighted swimbait hook or a Swimbait jighead.  They have great action and are rigged weedless.  The depth you want to run the bait can be adjusted easily by choosing a light weight belly weighted swimbait hook or the swimbait jighead.

 

[Pkfish49]

17 hours ago, WRB said:

 Get rid of the snap swivel and tie direct. 

Thanks for all of the advice.  How will tying direct reduce the frequency of getting caught on weeds?

[BrackishBassin]

Switching over to inline single hooks would reduce you snags significantly. I haven't read about many guys doing it on these forums, but it's fairly common with those of us that fish saltwater. 

[WRB]

5 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

Thanks for all of the advice.  How will tying direct reduce the frequency of getting caught on weeds?

Snap swivels add hardware that snags weeds.

Tom

[BASS302]

Are the weeds getting stuck on the hooks or are they getting caught between the bill and the line?

[fishwizzard]

22 hours ago, BrackishBassin said:

Switching over to inline single hooks would reduce you snags significantly. I haven't read about many guys doing it on these forums, but it's fairly common with those of us that fish saltwater. 

 

I have switched to single hooks on all my sub-1/4oz cranks and am slowly moving the rest of my cranks over to them.  I switched all my small cranks over because I got sick of super-dink white perch and sunfish murdering themselves trying to eat a crank half their of size.   I didn't really experience hook up issues so I want to move everything over to singles. 

 

It also makes releasing pickerel much easier for both myself and the fish. 

[Pkfish49]

15 hours ago, BASS302 said:

Are the weeds getting stuck on the hooks or are they getting caught between the bill and the line?

You think I remember?  I'll pay attention next time.

5 minutes ago, Bunnielab said:

 

It also makes releasing pickerel much easier for both myself and the fish. 

Pickerel are delicious.  If you're releasing keepers, more for me.

19 hours ago, WRB said:

Snap swivels add hardware that snags weeds.

Tom

Thanks,

 

I like the snap swivels because is easy and fast to change lures, but if the setup is responsible for too many snags, I can tie on direct.  I did spend the money to buy three freshwater poles, so I can be versatile and ready for a quick change.

 

I use an improved clinch knot to tie the swivel to the line.  Should I go ahead and use this to tie on directly, or do I need to learn another knot?

[WRB]

Get rid of the snap swivel and use a snap only. 

Tom

[scaleface]

Put weedless single hooks on it . I have thought about doing it on a lipless bait to fish through brush-piles .

[BrackishBassin]

1 hour ago, Bunnielab said:

 

I have switched to single hooks on all my sub-1/4oz cranks and am slowly moving the rest of my cranks over to them.  I switched all my small cranks over because I got sick of super-dink white perch and sunfish murdering themselves trying to eat a crank half their of size.   I didn't really experience hook up issues so I want to move everything over to singles. 

 

It also makes releasing pickerel much easier for both myself and the fish. 

 

All my saltwater stuff has been switched over. Haven't started on the freshwater yet, but all the lures I've made/painted all have the singles on them by default. Fewer snags, easier to release fish, harder to hook myself, and I avoid foul hooking bass that swipe at them. Feels like cheating.