Feathered trebles on walking baits

[Rodney Smith]

I read a good article this morning from Brent Erhler on top water baits. He mentioned that he swaps out the back hook for a feathered treble (and thins it out some) on his walking baits. Does anyone else do this and if so, does it generate more bites?

[Mike L]

I do, and yes I think it helps. 

Some I'll thin out but most I'll use as it comes. 

The feathers help to keep it floating. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[waymont]

I use feathered trebles for both poppers and walking baits.

[StretcherJockey]

I like feathered trebles on walkers but I recently put one on a Sexy Dawg Jr and it completely killed the baits ability to be walked. I tried several different cadences and rod positions and just couldn’t get it to work properly. Odd experience. 

[Team9nine]

Agree with most all above. I like having them on a lot of the baits, but they don’t work great with everything. Trial and error. 

[WRB]

There are feathered treble hooks that don't use chicken feathers and can affect the lures action in lieu of enhancing it. Don Iovino Owner nickle treble hooks tied with chicken white and white/chartreuse feathers with good results on Splash-It, Wooden Sammy, Vixen etc.

Also a standby for structure spoons.

Tom

[Junger]

Yes, most of my top water lure hits come on the pause. When I'm walking a spook or popper, and I give it that pause, the feathers on the rear treble fans out, similar to a fish's tail. I think it's a secondary action that can trigger a strike if they're just following and not committing.

 

I've been using the mustad feathered red hooks.

[deadadrift89]

For many years I always changed rear hook to a feathered treble on all my walking baits but over last couple I quit and have noticed no change in my catch rate. I don't fish poppers much so can't say on them

   

[JustJames]

I like it on anything that walk slow, think bubble walker/pop x but not on Sammy and yes Don Iovino Splash it is the best.

[papajoe222]

Feathers will slow the tail movement of walking baits and are best suited for ones you'll be working slowly and pausing often, or when you want to keep it in a small area, but still impart action. The feathers will collapse and then expand when the bait pauses. That can get you more bites.  The downside is when you attempt to work the bait fast. The added drag at the back of the bait makes it difficult. Thinning out the feathers gives you a little of both worlds, but I opt for no feathers on any of my Spooks.

[Bluebasser86]

I take them off my walking baits, I don't like how much drag they create and I don't fish walking baits slow enough to feel they have much effect.

[CountryboyinDC]

I'm glad that I read this just to learn from @WRB that Vixens still are being sold again.  It looks like they're more expensive now, but so is everything else.  I don't really know as I have an opinion on the feathered trebles, I don't always swap out my trebles, and some of my favorites have feathers (Rover), and some don't (Sammy).  Interesting some always make sure there's feathers, some take them off if the bait comes with them.

[Deleted account]

No feathers on walking baits for me, poppers yes, nearly always. Tie direct to poppers, always. On walking baits, tie direct, or a split ring depending on the actual bait. Loop knots are one of those things I never do.

[sll]

On a Pop'R are only for me. But I fish one of those as a walking bait and with a lot less forward movement than most do.