Space Monkey Success!!!

[D4u2s0t]

Finally!!!!  At Big-O's advice I got some keel weighted hooks, and what a difference it makes!  Got 3 on the space monkey tonight, 1 just under 4 pounds the other in the 2-3 range, didn't bother to weigh them.  Also got one just under 5 pounds on a brush hog.  the keel hooks make more of a difference than I thought thy would.

[JellyMan]

I just bought some watermelon red flake space monkeys. I usually KILL em on the super brush hod but I have a feelin the monkey will take the bh's place with those ragin body parts lol.

Congrats brudda!

[SudoomFisher]

What size weight were you using with these?

[D4u2s0t]

1/8th keel weight on a 4/0 hook.  I've tried the space monkey so many times, and have only caught 1 sm on them.  I pretty much gave up to be honest.  But watching the way it moves with the weighted hook, it's a whole new ball game.  Only thing is that they tear so easily, got 1 fish and the monkey pretty much ripped in half... put a new one on, got a fish right away, same thing.  I can easily see going through 2 packs of these on a day where the hit is good.  I do however have a renewed confidence.

[Fishing Rhino]

Try the Owner twistlock, keel weighted hook.  You'll find the baits last longer.  

I started with the standard worm type keel weighted hook.  Often the monkey or toad would sail up the line during the fight.

Beat the heck out of the nose.

The Owner twistlock stopped that foolishness.  The other nice thing is that you don't have to retie when you change baits.  Unscrew one, screw another one on.

The one downside I can live with is that you will pick up a bit more gunk on the eye of the hook with the Owner.  All in all, it's one of those compromises that work for me.

[D4u2s0t]

Try the Owner twistlock, keel weighted hook. You'll find the baits last longer.

I started with the standard worm type keel weighted hook. Often the monkey or toad would sail up the line during the fight.

Beat the heck out of the nose.

The Owner twistlock stopped that foolishness. The other nice thing is that you don't have to retie when you change baits. Unscrew one, screw another one on.

The one downside I can live with is that you will pick up a bit more gunk on the eye of the hook with the Owner. All in all, it's one of those compromises that work for me.

I'm not familiar with the owner hooks, but I am using the poor boys hooks that also have the twist lock on them. I know what you mean about them sliding up the line, happens all the time on normal hooks. What's happening with the space monkeys is when the fish hits they're practically ripping the monkey in half. but it's staying put on the hook. It holds it very well actually.

just checked those owner hooks, i'm using pretty much the same thing.  thanks for the tip though!

[eyedabassman]

What color monkey do you guys like? :-?

[D4u2s0t]

I don't think color matters, I catch just as many fish regardless of color.  That being said, I mostly buy some variation of watermellon, just because I like the way it looks.

[MSPbass]

I get you're putting the Space Monkey on a weighted hook, but are you fishing it like a jig on the bottom or reeling it straight back in like a swimbait?

[Fishing Rhino]

I get you're putting the Space Monkey on a weighted hook, but are you fishing it like a jig on the bottom or reeling it straight back in like a swimbait?

I have had success with the monkey both of the ways you mention.

And, even with the weighted hook, I'll fish it on or near the surface like a topwater. It works better as a topwater or near the surface with an unweighted hook. You can work it slower on an unweighted hook, which results in a higher percentage of hookups.

You can do the same with the craws, and lobsters.

I've even fished the toads and shads that way, but their forte is on the surface.  I discovered they'd work as bottom baits quite by accident.  Thanks to a couple of backlashes, and fish picking them up while I was straightening them out.

So I tried a few more casts with each, just letting them sink, and caught a few that way.

You never know.  Don't be afraid to do the unconventional.

[rubba bubba]

And, even with the weighted hook, I'll fish it on or near the surface like a topwater. It works better as a topwater or near the surface with an unweighted hook.

x2.  As a topwater it has out-produced the Rage Shad for me.  It has worked with both a weighted or unweighted hook as top water, you just have to work it a bit faster with the weighted.

[MSPbass]

Thanks! I actually had a bag of these in my hand just yesterday, but decided to pass because I wasn't really sure what to do with them. I Went with some more YUM Money Craws, but it sounds like you can fish the Space Monkeys exactly the same as the MC; which is just about however you want. I like it.

[D4u2s0t]

I get you're putting the Space Monkey on a weighted hook, but are you fishing it like a jig on the bottom or reeling it straight back in like a swimbait?

I try different techniques, and then stick with whatever works.  Top, crawl it off the bottom, twitch it, pick it up let it fall, everything.