The agony of defeat: A Hook Nightmare!

[PhishLI]

 

Hello All,

 

Lots of ice 'round these parts lately. I found some nice open water late this afternoon on the north side of a spillway. It's only a couple of feet deep in this particular spot. The water was like glass. I chose to drag a finesse jig then a 2.8 paddletail. No luck. Just on the edge of darkness a freezing breeze blew in, got a little chop, so on went a jerkbait. The Shadow Rap 11 slow sink in perch has been money recently, so I started there. I was fishing with a MHF stick with 12lb copoly, so I set the drag pretty loose. Second cast: jerk, jerk, pause, Bam! I thumbed the spool as line flew out. Cinched down on the drag just enough to get some pull. Got her in close enough for a good look. A mondo. I'm still letting her pull some drag, then poof, she's gone. With hands raised to the heavens I cried "why, god, why?"

 

Fingers frozen I reeled in the lure. I figured it was spit, but nope. The middle treble had bent out. I like the action and sink rate of this lure, but I now know I've got to upgrade the hooks. Any suggestions for replacements that'll be stronger and not upset the current balance of this lure?

 

P.S. About 15 minutes later I landed a cutie. Maybe a pound and a half. I felt better. Life is good.

 

 

 

[FCPhil]

I can’t speak to the weight, balance issue but I would check out owner st-41s. They are the stickiest sharp hooks I have seen and pierce with very little pressure. Also they are strong but not brittle. I have bent out size 4 with 30 pound braid on a log but just barely (and saved my glidebait). One thing you should know is they have fairly small barbs which potentially means they can be shaken free more easily if you don’t keep a good amount of pressure on them. 

 

If the hooks are not the perfect weight you can also tune them with different size split rings. 

[The Bassman]

6 hours ago, PhishLI said:

 

Hello All,

 

Lots of ice 'round these parts lately. I found some nice open water late this afternoon on the north side of a spillway. It's only a couple of feet deep in this particular spot. The water was like glass. I chose to drag a finesse jig then a 2.8 paddletail. No luck. Just on the edge of darkness a freezing breeze blew in, got a little chop, so on went a jerkbait. The Shadow Rap 11 slow sink in perch has been money recently, so I started there. I was fishing with a MHF stick with 12lb copoly, so I set the drag pretty loose. Second cast: jerk, jerk, pause, Bam! I thumbed the spool as line flew out. Cinched down on the drag just enough to get some pull. Got her in close enough for a good look. A mondo. I'm still letting her pull some drag, then poof, she's gone. With hands raised to the heavens I cried "why, god, why?"

 

Fingers frozen I reeled in the lure. I figured it was spit, but nope. The middle treble had bent out. I like the action and sink rate of this lure, but I now know I've got to upgrade the hooks. Any suggestions for replacements that'll be stronger and not upset the current balance of this lure?

 

P.S. About 15 minutes later I landed a cutie. Maybe a pound and a half. I felt better. Life is good.

 

 

 

I know the feeling.  At least if you never saw it you can make it anything you want.

 

Edit. Reread and I guess you did see it. Oh well, it's 3:30 AM.

[Deleted account]

I'm that guy that fishes most baits with stock hooks until they actually need changing, cause most are adequate and work fine, and the first thing I do with the Shadow Raps and Shadow Rap Shads is change those POS hooks out. Also don't hit the bill on anything harder than Jello®. I wish they wouldn't work as well as they do.

[WRB]

Center hook only, that is unusual the other hooks didn't make contact.

Set the drag 1/3 the line lb test, 4 lbs for 12 lb line. Never tighten a drag during fighting fish, use your thumb to add a little more pressure.

Rapala uses VMC hooks for reference.

Tom

[PhishLI]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

Center hook only, that is unusual the other hooks didn't make contact.

Set the drag 1/3 the line lb test, 4 lbs for 12 lb line. Never tighten a drag during fighting fish, use your thumb to add a little more pressure.

Rapala uses VMC hooks for reference.

Tom

I agree, it was odd. I saw it and it was mouth hooked. Must've been by the slightest of margins. Mr or Mrs bass was heavy and that hook just gave way.

 

Yes, rookie mistake. In my defense, I was was worired it was going to run towards the girders near the spillway and wrap me up. Anxious and frozen stiff I made a panic move. We win or we learn.

12 hours ago, reason said:

I'm that guy that fishes most baits with stock hooks until they actually need changing, cause most are adequate and work fine, and the first thing I do with the Shadow Raps and Shadow Rap Shads is change those POS hooks out. Also don't hit the bill on anything harder than Jello®. I wish they wouldn't work as well as they do.

Any replacements you've had luck with?

23 hours ago, FCPhil said:

I can’t speak to the weight, balance issue but I would check out owner st-41s. They are the stickiest sharp hooks I have seen and pierce with very little pressure. Also they are strong but not brittle. I have bent out size 4 with 30 pound braid on a log but just barely (and saved my glidebait). One thing you should know is they have fairly small barbs which potentially means they can be shaken free more easily if you don’t keep a good amount of pressure on them. 

 

If the hooks are not the perfect weight you can also tune them with different size split rings. 

Thanks, Phil! I'll check out the Owners.