heddon torpedo, other topwaters

[jebar01]

I am experimenting with some top water baits(confidence baits).  I am thinking of changing the trebles out and going with a single hooks.  What hook should I consider plus, should I also add a split ring to the hook?  Plese advise.  Jim

[The Bassman]

I experimented with single hooks on several of my lures last year. Owner makes a single hook for lure replacement. Problem is that you need to go a couple of sizes bigger than the treble was and invariably the hooks want to interlock with each other. Adding split rings on a Torpedo will make the problem worse. The stock trebles aren't the best but with lures like this you're left with little choice given the way they're mounted. I'd leave them alone and just keep them sharp. My motive was to reduce fish mortality but the hassle wasn't worth it.

[fin]

A torpedo is too small/light. It's perfectly balanced off the shelf. If you start messing with it, it only goes downhill from there. Adding a split ring is enough to degrade the performance. As far as hookups go, my ratio with torpedoes is very high.

 

I'm experimenting with a Whopper Plopper 90. I've put a VMC 1/0 (which is tiny and light) on the tail with split ring. The WP90 was designed too heavy to begin with - it won't even float horizontal with no hooks at all. Put a decent size treble on the tail and it almost sinks. I won't know about the hookup ratio on it until we get some decent weather.

[Jigfishn10]

Most of my topwater bites are on the belly hook so I would leave the treble on the belly hook. I would definitely add a split ring. This is solely my opinion. The split ring gives the hook a little more range of motion and gets it  away from the body of the bait more. With the hook close the body of the bait, it give the fish a little more leverage to spit the hook.

 

You also have the ability to change out the hook faster should you need a sharper hook.

 

Good luck.