Changing Hooks on a Rat-L-trap

[RiskKid.]

HELP!!!!!!

On the advice of many on this forum and fishing buddies I decided to change the hooks on my Rat-L-Traps. I went to BPS and got some Gammy treble hooks so I'm all set to go.

I got some cheap circle ring pliers but I think they are not made for a circle ring this small.

Any advice to help me get this done will be most appreciated. I am a frustrated mook with fat fingers and short fingernails.  

[CJ]

Yeah,I use split ring pliers.I feel they are a tool for any angler.Should be a groove on one side and a wedge on the other that points at the groove.The groove side will hold for the wedge to seperate the ring.

[cart7t]

Those Rat-L-Trap rings arent' that hard.  Here's how I do it.  Using your fingernail, open the ring up just enough to start threading the old hook off, before you push the old hook too far, start threading the new hook on right behind it.  Now, work the new hook on around the ring, it will push the old hook along as it goes.  Bingo, the old hook comes off and you're done.  

I just redid hooks a couple weeks ago on a bunch of lures. This method worked better than the split ring pliers I had.  

[castaway]

I use needle nose pliars , rather than split ring pliars.For those Oval split rings, I use a tip of an old willow leaf blade to keep the split ring opened enough to start onto the lure eye.Once the split ring is started, I remove the blade tip and complte installing the new hooks as cart mentioned using the needle nose pliars toturn the split ring if needed. Ivan

[bugman]

I agree with cart7 about pushing the old hook out with the new It's not hard to get the old hook started. Also what size hooks do you replace with on the 1/4 oz trap? I have been using Gammie #4 & #6. It seems that they are a little long an sometimes the hooks catch each other.

[Gorgebassman]

I have the same problem short fat fingers and not nails. I have a pair of split ring pliers but they dont handle the small rings so I took a cheap pair of needle nose pliers and and a file and filed me a wedge on them and then took them to a grinder and carefully ground the pliers down till they were small enough to work on the small split rings.

[Chris at Tech]

Did you get the 'weird' looking split-ring pliers, or the ones that look identical to a pair of needle-nosed pliers with the small tooth on the end?

I started with the weird ones...then I bought the needle nosed looking ones and no problems since, even on Traps.

[RiskKid.]

Did you get the 'weird' looking split-ring pliers, or the ones that look identical to a pair of needle-nosed pliers with the small tooth on the end?

I started with the weird ones...then I bought the needle nosed looking ones and no problems since, even on Traps.

Yep, I got the wierd ones......guess I'm headed down the same path as you.....more $$$$$$....that #@%**#$ baitmonkey........does it ever end  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[senko_77]

The best hook modification you can put on a rattletrap is to get a large #1 VMC or Owner, and stick it on the front and not keep a hook on the back.  This makes the bait more weedless, you can penetrate a big fish's mouth easier, and you lose less fish because there wrenching power is gone if there hooked on two hooks.

[RiskKid.]

Thanks guys....project now complete!   I used a combination of many of the ideas. I like your idea Senko77. That will have to wait til my next Trap purchase. Another successful story proving why this is such a great forum.