Upgraded trebles this off season, did I make a mistake?

[pauldconyers]

I am a BIG fan of SK RES and I bought a bunch this off season. I even went as far as to upgraded the trebles on all to Mustad KVD short shank triple grips. Bought a dedicated rod for this and dedicated to switch from my braid and learn to use fluero. So far I am SEVERALLY regretting all this and I hope my problems are more a matter of where I am fishing and not the decisions I've made.

 

Wanting to take advantage of the spawn I've been going out to a local wildlife place called James Reed which has 8 or so good sized ponds. A lot of big girls have been pulled out of there this spring! They do not allow boats so it has been all bank fishing. My frustration is over 2 trips now I have lost 5-6 new RES with all upgraded hooks and that adds up! The hooks are so strong they will not bend out and release from the hidden obstacle and also no longer using braid I am unable to pull or jerk it out of the tree limb or whatever and it has frustrated me to no end!! I keep telling myself if I was on a boat and not on the bank this would not be happening. But I have fished there before with stock hooks and braid and did not lose NEAR this many. I guess I am just questioning my thought process or if I should have used cheap-o options instead. I am not really asking any specific questions here but any thoughts? I understand if I throw it in the middle of a lay down I get what I deserve but it has been out in what I think is fairly open water only furthering my level of frustration!

[WRB]

Go back to braid before making any more changes to your crankbaits.

What # test Fluoro line?

Sometimes brut force only makes the problem worse, try jiggling the lure free before trying to rip it out of a snag.

Tom

[A-Jay]

Baits that get hung up have very little to do with hooks and a whole lot to do with the cast & the retrieve.

If you're constantly losing baits - you're probably going to be better off fishing a different presentation.

I like RED's as well, even change / upgrade the hooks on my cranks - every one.

But hanging them up and not getting them back isn't the hooks fault.

Save the lipless presentation for a different day /place.

Perhaps try a swim jig with an appropriate paddletail swimbait or craw as a trailer.

They are definitely fish catchers and considerably less prone to hanging up.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[pauldconyers]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Go back to braid before making any more changes to your crankbaits.

What # test Fluoro line?

Sometimes brut force only makes the problem worse, try jiggling the lure free before trying to rip it out of a snag.

Tom

12# Seaguar InvizX. I am sure at first I felt what felt like a potential bite then somewhat set the hook. I then will sort of "jiggle" it up,down, left, right and such. Then I will walk the bank one way or the other and try to get at it from a different angle and see if that does anything. Then at that point figuring I've got nothing left to lose I will go to the power game. A lot of times with braid on I can pull it out because the stock hook will bend.

[WRB]

Good size and high quality FC line, the problem for me is it's FC line. I refuse to use it for crankbaits do to unreliable knot strength performance. You will be better off using 12 to 15 lb Big Game mono IMO to give you  better knot strength.

Tom

[pauldconyers]

5 minutes ago, WRB said:

Good size and high quality FC line, the problem for me is it's FC line. I refuse to use it for crankbaits do to unreliable knot strength performance. You will be better off using 12 to 15 lb Big Game mono IMO.

Tom

Even thought I am new to making a know with FC I am GUESSING the line is breaking versus my knot giving. If it were the knot when I reel back the line it would kind of be "crinkled up" and not a clean cut, right?

[WRB]

If the knot flattens the line during clinching tight it looks like a flat curl, good knot and it breaks clean. The difference is with FC it's nearly impossible to get 12 lb knot strength using 12 lb FC line and easy to get 14 lb knot strength using 12 lb Big Game.

Tom

[Harold Scoggins]

Homemade lure retriever.

[papajoe222]

Are you regretting the upgrade due to lost baits, or because you think the upgrade was a waste of time and money?

Just a suggestion if loosing the baits is the issue; Cut the lead (bottom) hook from the front treble. This will all but eliminate hanging up on timber. Some anglers can feel when a crank is approaching an obstacle by the increased tension of the line as it passes over it. Another reason braid is sometimes a better line choice for cranking.

[Bluebasser86]

I agree with @WRB, fluoro is a complete waste of money for cranking. Good mono or copolymer is cheaper, and more consistent. Big Game or PLine CXX are great lines for cranking. The Pline will drag a whole tree in too. I like 15lb for traps, but you could bump it up to 17 or even 20 from the bank unless you really want long cast. The added diameter will not only be stronger, but it will help keep the bait up higher with a slower retrieve. 

 

JAR gets a ton of shore pressure and along with quite a bit of wood, you're dealing with lots of fishing line in the water. You're likely losing a good number of your baits to heavy catfish line and braid along with brush. There's nothing you can do if you hang in that mess. 

 

Look at it from the other side though. Switch back to those flimsy stock hooks so you can straighten them when a bait hangs, then you hang a big fish and lose it because the hooks straighten. Is that worth getting some baits back? It completely defeats the purpose of going to me if I'm not going to be prepared to land the biggest fish I might encounter.