06-29-11, 05:42 PM | #1 | |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Walking bait questions
Some walking baits come with a dressed rear hook and some don't. I was curious if you thought that the feathers effected the action of the bait. The reason I ask is I saw where Larry Dahlberg recommended cutting the feathers off his R2S Wide Glide bait. He said that it was one thing that got lost in translation when that bait was produced. It makes sense that any drag at the rear of a walking bait would negatively effect that action.
This is actually out of the review section at TW. Quote:
__________________
There are 3 kinds of people in the world…those who can count and those who can’t. HRN4L |
|
06-29-11, 06:27 PM | #2 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Webb City, MO
Posts: 6,387
|
I tied up some dressed treble hooks a few years back to add to a few walking baits that didn't have dressed trebles on them. I ended up taking them back off and replacing them with regular hooks because I couldn't get them to walk near as well with the dressed hooks.
Also I always tie to the nose of the bait and I don't use a loop knot. But to be honest I have given a loop knot a lot of consideration and I will probably be using one in this application one of these days to see if I can get any more action out of the baits. |
06-29-11, 06:33 PM | #3 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 2,427
|
Joe, most walking baits have better action when tied with a loop knot, but don't take my word for it, prove it to yourself. I have also found that hollow bodied frogs like the Spro or Koppers can be made to walk easier if you trim some of the legs off, kinda the same theory as the feathers on the trebble thing. I have also noticed that line makes a difference in the ease of walking a bait. I find that mono in easier to use than braid, can't explain why, just seems to be easier to me.
__________________
They call me Ishmael |
06-29-11, 07:54 PM | #4 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: IN
Posts: 8,308
|
I tried the dressed treble and didn't like it either. I definately either will add a split rong or a duo lock snap to my walking baits!!!!!! I get much better action that way.
__________________
Just one more cast, and then some! |
06-30-11, 12:20 AM | #5 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Thanks for the responses. I guess the key is going to be trying a few different things on the water. This gives me a good excuse to learn to tie a loop knot.
__________________
There are 3 kinds of people in the world…those who can count and those who can’t. HRN4L |
06-30-11, 06:59 AM | #6 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: IN
Posts: 8,308
|
One more thing I meant to add to my answer. Most of the pros who fish walking baits add a split ring to where the hook is attached to the lure. This is supposed to aid in hookups and make it harder for the bass to throw the lure. I've never done that myself but if you find your loosing fish on topwaters, it might be worth a try.
__________________
Just one more cast, and then some! |
06-30-11, 10:37 AM | #7 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 1,119
|
I use DuoLock snaps on my spooks. The only downside is that on occasion it give the hooks a chance to get tangled in the line.
|
06-30-11, 04:11 PM | #8 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Posts: 229
|
I also hate snaps
I put split rings on all my surface baits. Got sick and tired of line getting tangled in the front hooks of not only my walkers, but EVEN MORE with my prop baits.
Dressed trebles are great on chuggers, maybe OK on some prop baits, but not on walkers. |
07-01-11, 01:42 AM | #9 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Webb City, MO
Posts: 6,387
|
Here is a tip that I use on all my walking baits to keep fish from throwing the hooks, Joe I hope you don't mind if I post this in your thread but it seems to kinda go hand in hand with the subject. Some walking baits have a split ring that attaches the hook to the bait and some don't. I will always add split rings so that I have two split rings between the hook and the bait, this way when a fish jumps and turns, the hook will actually just spin rather than give the fish leverage to throw the bait. I had a problem a few years back with losing fish on a spook and I read this tip I believe in an issue of Bassmaster and since then I have had a lot better success with keeping fish buttoned up.
Also topwater baits are the only baits that I don't add Triple Grip treble hooks to. I used to but I had problems with schooling fish just slapping at the bait and not getting hooked. I saw a video that said that the hook points on a Triple Grip being turned in a little will hurt hook up percentages of fish that just slap at the bait. It said to use big round big treble hooks and these fish will hook themselves more often when they just slap at the bait and again this drastically improved my hookup percentages. |
07-01-11, 09:49 AM | #10 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Good tips Kory! I saw a fishing show where John Crews said basically the same thing about the hooks. He said he uses Gammy EWG's on most everything but uses round bends on topwaters and 1 or 2 other things, for the same reason you describe.
The 2 split ring idea would probably translate well to other big hard baits too. I will have to remember that.
__________________
There are 3 kinds of people in the world…those who can count and those who can’t. HRN4L |
Disclosure / Disclaimer
Before acting on the content posted, you should know that BassFishin.Com may benefit financially and otherwise from content, advertising, links or otherwise from anything you click on, read, or look at on our website. Click here to read our Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer. |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|