Must do Modifications

[d.hark]

Saw Jason Quinn on a show and he opened a new spoon and he said you must add a split ring to it right out of the box or it just wouldnt work right. Why they dont do this from the factory is beyond me?? So I thought I would start a thread to get some of you guys' must do modifications to off the shelf lures. If you think a certain brand or specific lure needs hooks changed, split rings added, or whatever else you can think of post it here for everyone to see.

[jasone]

I think they corrected it with this year's model (someone correct me if I am wrong).  But I think that just about everyone that buys a rattletrap changes the hooks out.  

J

[jrhennecke]

I replace the hooks on all my Bomber crankbaits with Gammies.  

[jrhennecke]

I think they corrected it with this year's model (someone correct me if I am wrong). But I think that just about everyone that buys a rattletrap changes the hooks out.

J

The Set-Lok hooks that come on them now are the best hooks to ever come on a "trap"

[.dsaavedra.]

I replace the hooks on all my Bomber crankbaits with Gammies.

really?

thats suprising. i love the excalibur tx3 rotating trebels that come stock on bombers. great hooks!

as for me, i usually dont do much modding of my lures :-/

[fishnaddiction]

yea i also like the Tx3    

[Avalonjohn44]

Things I do that I thought up:

-I use a sharpie on a lot of my cheaper cranks, sometimes just add a red lateral line or a gill.  

-I have used a nail polish sharpie to put eyes on the bottom of a couple of johnson spoons.  I stole this idea from a TV show.

-I carve notches from the backs of a zoom super flukes with a razor blade to make the back tail wobble.  

-I have melted square lipped crankbait bills to point down to make a shallow bait into a wake bait.

Things I do, or plan to do, from reading here:

-I plan on coloring a couple of my clear crankbait lips blue, there was a post on it recently.

-I have sliced the ends of a senko to give it a slightly different quiver (it didn't seem to matter).

-And now I'll add a split ring to a spoon.

[fishnaddiction]

Things I do that I thought up:

-I use a sharpie on a lot of my cheaper cranks, sometimes just add a red lateral line or a gill.

-I have used a nail polish sharpie to put eyes on the bottom of a couple of johnson spoons. I stole this idea from a TV show.

-I carve notches from the backs of a zoom super flukes with a razor blade to make the back tail wobble.

-I have melted square lipped crankbait bills to point down to make a shallow bait into a wake bait.

Things I do, or plan to do, from reading here:

-I plan on coloring a couple of my clear crankbait lips blue, there was a post on it recently.

-I have sliced the ends of a senko to give it a slightly different quiver (it didn't seem to matter).

-And now I'll add a split ring to a spoon.

wow nice tips  i have to try a few of them

[Shadcranker]

I'm a big jig tinkerer-

Depending on the jig out of the package, I usually:

- thin the weedguard

- trim weedguard to in-line with the hook point

- trim the skirt to in-line with the hook bend

- turn the skirt so the secondary color is centered on the jig (usually right in line with the hook shank)

- if the skirt material is not laying right, I'll often replace the skirt

Some others:

- always add trailer hook to spinnerbiat and buzzbait

- usually dip tail of tubes and lizards in chart dye

- always change hooks on traps

- always put a red hook on the front ring of a topwater bait

- almost always insert a nail weight in a fluke to keep it from jumping out of the water

- always use a swivel when fishing a floating worm to make it fall a bit faster and reduce line twist

- always spray craw imitations with Bang Pure Craw

- always add a small glass bead in front of Horny Toad type baits to keep grass from balling up on the nose

[Branuss04]

I like to change out the trebles on certain baits that don't come with gammies or owners.  

As far as jigs, +1 with shadcranker.

Certain swimbaits, I like to add red gills.

[detroit1]

I usually swap to a red front treble, not because i catch more, but i bought a bunch and might as well use them.  :-/ On 3/8 oz to 1/4 oz. cranks i go up 1 size on the front treble. On 1/8 oz., i go up 2 sizes (front) and remove the back hook. I also remove the linetie ring unless i can't get a cross-lok snap in the eyelet.  If there's room, a larger split ring on the front treble of smaller cranks.If i think the color is too bright, i fade it with the sun. Bargain - bin "uglies" get a repaint.Weight cranks (not jerks) to suspend.

[Daiwa]

But I think that just about everyone that buys a rattletrap changes the hooks out.

I dont but what hook size should I change to?

Do you do it like the guys who posted above me?

I usually swap to a red front treble, not because i catch more, but i bought a bunch and might as well use them.  :-/ On 3/8 oz to 1/4 oz. cranks i go up 1 size on the front treble. On 1/8 oz., i go up 2 sizes (front) and remove the back hook. I also remove the linetie ring unless i can't get a cross-lok snap in the eyelet.  If there's room, a larger split ring on the front treble of smaller cranks.

What do you use to paint them?

If i think the color is too bright, i fade it with the sun. Bargain - bin "uglies" get a repaint.Weight cranks (not jerks) to suspend.

[SteveF]

Daiwa,

The trebles that I put on the Rat-L-Trap is a #4 and a #6, which is the size that comes stock, even though typically the Gammie trebles are little bit longer in the shank which I prefer.

Steve

[Curado]

I trim the skirts on all my spinnerbaits.

[ejtaylor822]

Don't know if it's a must do, but I trim the weedguard on jigs so that its just beyond end of the hook. Saw Stacey King do it and makes a lot of sense.

Trim the skirts on some of my spinners - just to change the form up some. Only cut the forward part of the skirt just in front of the hook when folded back. Saw KVD do it and I guess its as close to fishing like KVD as I will ever get. Does give a different profile in the water - a little bulkier profile up front - as compared to a non-modified spinner.

[WIII-60]

If a lure has a split ring to tie onto, I switch it out with an oval shaped ring. #3 for most cranks and jerkbaits, #4 or #5 for lipless.

It makes tying on correctly easier and I think it improves lure action.

[bmadd]

I like to tinker myself. Some things I do to different baits are:

Topwater:  

1) I had feathered trebles to any topwater lure that I will be using a pause with.

2) I too like to use red treble hooks on the front.

3) Whenever I buy Pop-Rs, I file the bottom lip to being flat. I also file the sides flat to give the bait an overall oval shape. When done right, this gives the lure a better spitting and walk-the-dog action.

Jigs:

Everything that has been said before I do pretty much the same.

Cranks:

1) I change hooks on traps, some Normans, and some Bombers. Also on my Daiwa Peanuts.

I like to experiment with lots of different baits. Sharpies are great tools and you should keep black and red in your bag or box if you fish hardbaits.

[Tokyo Tony]

These were mentioned, but the only two "must-do" mods for me are...

Trimming weedguard on jigs.  However, I've been using Jewel Eakin's jigs lately, and I don't need to trim those.  I think those weedguards are perfect.  Just wish they'd come with two sets of rattles.

Adding oval split rings (Lucky Craft brand rings are the only ones I've found) to X-Raps, especially.  I find that the split rings on on X-Raps are always bent slightly open, which is a little scary to me.

[surfer]

Super Glue the plastic around each eyelet or hook opening on Mattlures. It helps reduce tears and promotes longevity of the bait. But it's listed to do this right on his site. So why not do it at the factory?

No offence intended Matt and thanks for the new PB

[Zel]

I write my Name, Cell Phone Number and $10 Reward with a Sharpie on my Lucky Craft Lures, so when someone pulls one out of the trees or bushes, I can get them back for only 60% of the cost to replace them.  

[crappiekid24]

I modify some lures. I add split rings to spoons. I also replace split rings and trebles where needed. Some dont need replacing and some do. I also trim jigs and spinnerbaits.

[Tpayneful]

I changed the front hook on all of my crankbaits to a red hook.  Added a trailer hook to each spinnerbait.  Trim the weedgard on my jigs and then fan them out.  I drilled a hole in a Bomber long A, dumped out all of the rattles and epoxied the hole closed.

[GobbleDog]

I write my Name, Cell Phone Number and $10 Reward with a Sharpie on my Lucky Craft Lures, so when someone pulls one out of the trees or bushes, I can get them back for only 60% of the cost to replace them.

Has anyone ever called?  

[Zel]

NO... but I keep hopin' (and hangin' em)

[GobbleDog]

With my luck, some smart-*** would find it - "Just calling to say thanks for my new $20 lure. By the way, are you blind or something? What the hell were you casting at? Man, you stink!" ...click.