#8 trebles too small for 4.5 inch jerkbait?

[CroakHunter]

I have some bass pro xps hawk minnow jerkbaits. I noticed when throwing them the sink slowly in our slightly chilly water temps Here in indiana. Probably about 50 degrees. They come stock with #6 hooks but want a truly suspending bait for cool/cold water times. Should I try #8's or will they be too small for the fish that just slap at the bait? Or should I try a different line. I use 10lb copolymer right now. Have thought about using small diameter 10lb mono but would like to have the little more strength the copoly gives me. Thanks for the help.

[38 Super Fan]

8s are awful small, I'd stick with the 6s. I like a slowly sinking jerkbait at 50 degrees anyway.

[CroakHunter]

Kind of what I was thinking, may experiment with line to see if I can get a suspend when slow sinking isn't the ticket.

[smalljaw67]

Take the center hook off and try it to see what it does. If it rises try using an Owner ST-36 or a Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Nano Finesse treble hook in the same size 6, both of those hooks weigh less than the stock hooks on the bait you are using. You could replace all three but I think just replacing the center hook should be enough to make it suspend without sinking. One last thing, on the Gamakatsu hook, make sure it is the TGW Nano Finesse and not the Finesse MH, the MH will weight as much as the stock hooks and will keep the lure sinking.

[papajoe222]

Try the mono. I’ve been using 10lb. on my jerk bait/small crank combo for years. You’ll find that you get more action from the light line, too. If you’re fishing around standing timber, try XT or original Stren. There is a little more stretch in the mono, but I find that beneficial. 

[Deleted account]

10 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

I have some bass pro xps hawk minnow jerkbaits. I noticed when throwing them the sink slowly in our slightly chilly water temps Here in indiana. Probably about 50 degrees. They come stock with #6 hooks but want a truly suspending bait for cool/cold water times. Should I try #8's or will they be too small for the fish that just slap at the bait? Or should I try a different line. I use 10lb copolymer right now. Have thought about using small diameter 10lb mono but would like to have the little more strength the copoly gives me. Thanks for the help.

If they are slowly ( 4-6 cm/sec) sinking in the sink, they will suspend (not that there is such a thing) on the field (lake). I wouldn't go smaller than #6 hooks, but hey, try it and see how it works for you. 

[thebillsman]

You could try lighter hooks and downsizing split rings. Gama's got some light round bend trebles. If you went with a short shank you might shave some weight too. You could also do 8, 6, 6. 

 

After ordering a bunch of RC STXs I found that every bait suspended differently and almost drove myself crazy trying to tune all of them. 

[IndianaFinesse]

If you want to stick with the basspro jerkbait, then I'd recommend what @smalljaw suggested.  I used to own one of those jerkbaits though and never did well on it, I'd personally be done with it and splurge on a mb vision 110.  No messing with hooks to make it suspend out of package (aside from slight differences due to water temperature extremes) and they are fish catchers.  Mine has already caught in the neighborhood of 400 bass, including 3 of my top 5 biggest bass, in the last 2 months.  Several hundred more last year on the vision to.

[Angry John]

3 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

If you want to stick with the basspro jerkbait, then I'd recommend what @smalljaw suggested.  I used to own one of those jerkbaits though and never did well on it, I'd personally be done with it and splurge on a mb vision 110.  No messing with hooks to make it suspend out of package (aside from slight differences due to water temperature extremes) and they are fish catchers.  Mine has already caught in the neighborhood of 400 bass, including 3 of my top 5 biggest bass, in the last 2 months.  Several hundred more last year on the vision to.

Maker means nothing. my all stock trick darter sinks a lot faster than i would like, and i dont think a hook swap is going to get it done....My lucky craft baits are good so far, but i feel expensive just gives you a better chance at getting a good bait...

[OkobojiEagle]

18 hours ago, Angry John said:

 lucky craft baits are good ...

My wife accuses me of selectively hearing what she is telling me, but I don't think she's being fair...

 

oe

[thebillsman]

22 hours ago, Angry John said:

Maker means nothing. my all stock trick darter sinks a lot faster than i would like, and i dont think a hook swap is going to get it done....My lucky craft baits are good so far, but i feel expensive just gives you a better chance at getting a good bait...

 

I've got a dozen or so Trick Darters, love the shape and action but you're right they all sink about 4"/sec. I've had the best luck when retrieving them without pause. 

[Angry John]

42 minutes ago, thebillsman said:

 

I've got a dozen or so Trick Darters, love the shape and action but you're right they all sink about 4"/sec. I've had the best luck when retrieving them without pause. 

Ill give that a try as i am afraid to get hung up and loose that bait.  There by no means cheap and my first megabass jerkbait.  I have a pop max that i love but i may stick with duo and lucky craft.