Evergreen SB125 topwater bait

[Eddie101]

Bought this bait just because; 1) it looked good 2) it was on sale

 

It looks attract enough to catch fish, but IMNSHO, it has too many hooks. It will be a complete mess if the middle hook gets involved when a fish is hooked, and I'm thinking about removing it for good. My Qs to you experts are; will it kill the action if I remove the middle hook, and will it be just as effective w/o it? 

[papajoe222]

I’m guessing you don’t throw many baits with three trebles.

it can be tricky landing a fish, but other than that, I, personally, don’t see a reason to eliminate any hooks.

If you feel differently, I suggest removing the front hook as that will give it a nose up attitude. Removing the middle one shouldn’t have much effect if you add a second split ring to the hanger. 

[Dwight Hottle]

Your other choice is just cut the hook points off just past the barb & leave the rest of the middle hook on. 

[rboat]

I have removed the center treble on many baits and it does not affect the action. I find it easier to release the fish with less damage to them and less chance of a hook in your hand. I have never seen any negative side and do not lose any fish with this modification.

PS. I only do fishing for fun, If you are fishing for a paycheck in a tournament,  you may want that extra hook. ?

[FishTank]

I have two of the Shower Blows, one of the 125 and one of the 77. Both are like a walk the dog popper. It is the sort of a bait I go to when everyone else is fishing topwater.  It's different once you get the action down.  I only caught a few fish with them but they are effective. It makes a different sound from everything else. 

 

I would also guess that taking a hook off would definitely change the action of the bait.  I would leave it be and be prepared to use a pair of pliers. 

[RDB]

I would not mess with it…that’s an excellent topwater as is.  There are a number of similar pencil popper style baits (I.e. the Berkley Cane Walker) and they are all 3 treble baits.  I have caught a lot of bass on them and the more hooks I can get in the fish the better.  They will almost always have 2 hooks in them by the time you land them.

[iabass8]

Ive thrown the 125 SB for years for smallies and LM and it has been exceptional to say the least. One of the best walkers I've thrown. Leave it alone and use pliers.........

[padon]

1 hour ago, iabass8 said:

Ive thrown the 125 SB for years for smallies and LM and it has been exceptional to say the least. One of the best walkers I've thrown. Leave it alone and use pliers.........

i agree . get some pliers and a rubber net. the shower blows is a beast!

[looking45]

3 hours ago, iabass8 said:

Ive thrown the 125 SB for years for smallies and LM and it has been exceptional to say the least. One of the best walkers I've thrown. Leave it alone and use pliers.........

I use Showerblows also but I replaced the trebles with inline hooks. Hookup ratio didn’t change and a lot less problems when using a net

[Eddie101]

12 hours ago, looking45 said:

I use Showerblows also but I replaced the trebles with inline hooks. Hookup ratio didn’t change and a lot less problems when using a net

What size of inline hooks - and the brand  - do you use? Any pix of your modified lure that you can post? Thank you, sir!

[Eddie101]

On 6/25/2022 at 11:57 AM, papajoe222 said:

I’m guessing you don’t throw many baits with three trebles.

it can be tricky landing a fish, but other than that, I, personally, don’t see a reason to eliminate any hooks.

If you feel differently, I suggest removing the front hook as that will give it a nose up attitude. Removing the middle one shouldn’t have much effect if you add a second split ring to the hanger. 

A bit too pain to remove those treble hooks especially when more than one hook got the fish, and I feel bad for the fish as well. I guess I'm a softy. lol. I've never removed the front hook before so I may give it a try. Appreciate those feathered hooks you sent me a while back, and they do work! Much obliged, sir. 

[looking45]

2 hours ago, Eddie101 said:

What size of inline hooks - and the brand  - do you use? Any pix of your modified lure that you can post? Thank you, sir!

I’m using VMC 7237BN in-line hooks in size 3/0. They replaced #4 trebles. They look big but the gap on an in-line hook should be the same size as any two points of the treble it replaces. I’m using two split rings on each hook so they line up properly on the bait. Front hook faces forward, back hook faces back. The photo is too large to post, no idea how to make it smaller

[NavyToad]

I say leave it as is and get a decent pair of pliers. Go fish with it first and then if you think the third hook is too much, remove one. Just keep in mind that the reason you caught the fish in the first place might be because of that 3rd hook.

[looking45]

1 hour ago, looking45 said:

I’m using VMC 7237BN in-line hooks in size 3/0. They replaced #4 trebles. They look big but the gap on an in-line hook should be the same size as any two points of the treble it replaces. I’m using two split rings on each hook so they line up properly on the bait. Front hook faces forward, back hook faces back. The photo is too large to post, no idea how to make it smaller

Trying to post the picture again. If it doesn’t work, I give up

[Eddie101]

6 hours ago, looking45 said:

Trying to post the picture again. If it doesn’t work, I give up

So, I see that your middle hook is MIA as well.  The lure looks pretty good to me, and thank you for the pic.

[looking45]

Thanks, I painted the bait in a trout pattern because trout are planted in a lot of

lakes here and that’s a good portion of the bigger bass’ diet. IMO, the bait doesn’t need three hooks. I tried three hooks and never hooked a fish on the middle hook. One less book to get in the way I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you try the inline hooks