Swaver 168 Mod Videos?

[TotalNoob]

I've seen several youtube vids where guys take and file down the front edge of the joint on each side, the idea being this creates space to provide a wider glide.

 

What I haven't seen is a before-and-after type vid showing the difference this modification makes. 

 

Has anyone tried this mod or can anyone speak to whether or not they found it to actually increase either their follower rates or strike/catch rates? 

 

Also interested if anyone has found any good/proven mods for the 168 that they're confident in recommending?

 

I'm wondering if adding a feathered treble or smearing a gel-based scent might help seal the deal and convert a few followers into eaters?

[Bluebasser86]

I filed mine and it made a huge difference in the range of motion and the glide. I used a Dremel and grinder wheel to do it.

Not a fan of feathered trebles and haven't ever tried scent on them.

[fishwizzard]

Interesting, it never occurred to me to try and mod them.  How much material is being removed?  

[TotalNoob]

45 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Interesting, it never occurred to me to try and mod them.  How much material is being removed?  

It doesn't look like much. This is one of the vids on it (they're all basically the same), it's a little unnecessarily lengthy IMO but he does actually provide a fairly neat little trick toward the end for checking that both sides of the joint open up to the same angle.

 

 

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I filed mine and it made a huge difference in the range of motion and the glide. I used a Dremel and grinder wheel to do it.

Not a fan of feathered trebles and haven't ever tried scent on them.

Do you feel like the added range of motion resulted in more followers and/or more strikes? 

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, TotalNoob said:

Do you feel like the added range of motion resulted in more followers and/or more strikes? 

Definitely