NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums
NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports and Information => Tips, Tricks and Things to Consider => Topic started by: Bucktail on August 25, 2009, 10:14:23 PM
-
After posting "Rigging the Bucktail Stinger: 101" (http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=12538.0) last month I received a PM from a member asking me how I made them. Well, I explained that I didn't make them. I simply bought them "pre-made" and looped them onto my bucktails. What could be easier? Several manufacturers sell quality assist hooks, including Owner, Gamakatsu, ProFishCo, Williamson, etc. The only downside to these is the price. Assist hooks can run upwards of $3 a piece!
Faced with that situation when I first started using them, I began a search for some cheaper versions. What I found were a couple of brands that seemed to be the answer. However, while I did save some money, the hooks were just not up to par with the bigger name brands. And, while they did the job, I wound up having to sharpen each of them right out of the package. :P
So, after receiving the PM, I decided to find out just how hard it is to make these hooks. What I discovered is that they are almost ridiculously easy to make! ;D
All you need is some Kevlar cord, a pack of your favorite hooks and the ability to tie an overhand knot! Since I'm a fan of Gamakatsu hooks, and I had a few packs of their "Live Bait" hooks laying around, those are the ones I chose to use.
If you'd like to make your own assist hooks the video below will show you how. The Kevlar cord can be purchased through several different sites:
JDM Tackle (http://www.jdmtackle.com/product_list.php?category_id=154)
Saltywater Tackle (http://www.saltywatertackle.com/product_listings.php?CateID=25)
Ron's Tackle (http://bigronstackle.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=215)
Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack (http://www.unclemikesrocketshack.com/Recovery_Devices/Cords/Cords.html)
Here are a couple of pics of the ones I made. I used 8/0's for the my Butterfly jigs. I will be making some with 6/0's and 9/0's as well. For my fluke bucktail stingers I used 5/0's.
Good Luck! t^
-
t^ Nice job Bucktail
-
Very nice! TT^
-
t^
-
Nice Bob... t^ grtn
-
Good job! Saving money. t^
-
t^
-
t^ t^ Great Thread Bob t^ t^
-
Great post and info Bob t^
-
Nice job and great info! You are the tackle man ;D.
TT^
-
Nice work Bob. t^
-
Nice job Bob.
-
Excellent. I've taken a pass on buying pre-packaged cause I couldn't justify $6 for three hooks. Don't get me wrong, some how I've justified spending upwards of $8 on a spro.... go figure
Thanks!
-
Nice post Bob. Where do you get the kevlar?
-
Excellent. I've taken a pass on buying pre-packaged cause I couldn't justify $6 for three hooks. Don't get me wrong, some how I've justified spending upwards of $8 on a spro.... go figure
Thanks!
Yeah, I hear ya Jeff. It's hard to pay that much for a hook. The Kevlar works out to about $ .50 per assist (partially due to the shipping). :P That plus the cost of your hook is the bottom line. The Gamakatsu hooks I used are kind of expensive, but if you buy them in packs of 25 you can get them for less. Standard VMCs or Mustads will work as well. I just prefer the sticky sharpness of the Gamis. ;D Either way it works out to be less than the "pre-made"! t^
Nice post Bob. Where do you get the kevlar?
Joe. Angler's Pro Shop (http://www.anglers-proshop.com/product_view.php?product_id=80)
-
UPDATE
For those interested in trying this, I just found another place that sells Kevlar at a much cheaper price!
What I bought cost me ~$16.00 (including shipping) for 5 meters (which is around 16'). Average cost = $1.00/ft
This place has it for ~$20.00 (including shipping) for 100'!
Average cost = $.20/ft t^
Or, if you figure the average size assist hook requires about 6" of Kevlar, it works out to only $.10 a piece (plus the cost of the hook).
Here's the link http://bigronstackle.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=215 (http://bigronstackle.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=215)
-
Thanks Bob for the great info and the links. This method is so much cheaper than buying them already made. I like to use whole squid at times for bucktailing fluke and I found some of the assist hooks I bought were too short to reach the tentacles without bending the whole squid. This made for an unnatural looking squid. With this method you can vary the length if you are going to use a big piece of bait.
You forgot to add the cost of the super glue into your calculations. LOL rofla
Tight Lines,
Bob G
-
Bob,
Thanks for the info. Particularly on getting the Kevlar. Just started looking at local shops up here in CNJ and nobody carries it. I thought Effinger's might but the guy looked at me like I had three heads. Your last post looks like a steal.
-
Patiently waiting for the UPS guy to arrive with the kevlar and 65# braid I ordered. TT^
-
The have some on EBay t^
-
I just got this on Facebook about 16 min ago...
-
I bought a package of shrink tubing to protect the knots. I'm not sure if it's really necessary. But, I noticed that the ends were fraying on the assist hook I used on my bucktail last time out. Might help them to last a bit longer. t^
-
This is good stuff Bob.. well done t^
-
That's a good trick...
TT^
-
You can get shrink tubing from Harbour Freight real C-H-E-A-P. t^
-
You can get shrink tubing from Harbour Freight real C-H-E-A-P. t^
Thanks Joe. $2.99 for 94" is a great price, considering I paid more than that for only 28".
Funny, I never heard of this place before. And they have a store right in Brick. t^
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98075 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98075)
-
Harbor Freight is great!!
TT^
-
They always have 20% off coupons floating around in some magazines. Added savings on cheap tools and stuff is always a good thing! TT^
-
You can subscribe to get their email offers. Usually one or two emails a week with 20% off or list of items on sale. They honor the coupons on line or at the store. t^
-
good deal. owner gorilla hooks in 5/070 work well for tuna. also look for the owner power chord. it is green and has wire through it. helps when bluefish get real pesky.
-
UPDATE
For those interested in trying this, I just found another place that sells Kevlar at a much cheaper price!
What I bought cost me ~$16.00 (including shipping) for 5 meters (which is around 16'). Average cost = $1.00/ft
This place has it for ~$20.00 (including shipping) for 100'!
Average cost = $.20/ft t^
Or, if you figure the average size assist hook requires about 6" of Kevlar, it works out to only $.10 a piece (plus the cost of the hook).
Here's the link http://bigronstackle.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=215 (http://bigronstackle.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=215)
Bob,
Just got my delivery of Kevlar from Ron's tackle. I'll tuck it away for some winter tying. Thanks for the link and great post. t^
-
Still waiting for my order. Ordered on Sept 1st and again on the 20th when I checked and the site said that I had no orders pending. 5hrug
Called Ron today. He told me he did not get my original order (funny, I got an order confirmation email with an order number). Nothing was charged to my bank acct.
He did say he got the order from the 20th and should be shipped by the weekend. Keeping my fingers crossed but it is good to know that someone got their order.
-
That sounds about right Joe. I ordered some from Ron before I put that post up. I got a phone message a couple days later in which he said he couldn't read my order. nts
-
You can get shrink tubing from Harbour Freight real C-H-E-A-P. t^
Thanks Joe. $2.99 for 94" is a great price, considering I paid more than that for only 28".
Funny, I never heard of this place before. And they have a store right in Brick. t^
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98075 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98075)
Been there a few times. grtn
-
Still waiting for my order. Ordered on Sept 1st and again on the 20th when I checked and the site said that I had no orders pending. 5hrug
Joe, I was beginning to wonder myself. I was just getting ready to contact them and I had a present on my home desk. Go figure. Good luck.
-
nice bucktail great idea
-
FYI. Just received an email that Angler's Pro Shop is out of business. :P
-
Umm... Just got another email today saying they will reopen December 1st. t^
-
Just got my line today from Ron's Tackle. Only took a couple of weeks, but at least I got it.
Bob, what hooks do you use for the stingers? I have Gamakastsu Octopus and the eye is wayyyyyy to small for the kevlar line to pass thru. I got the 300# line. 5hrug
-
The octopusses (octopi?) ;D are not the best for the assists. I would go with almost any brand "live bait" hook that you like. I used the Gamakatsu hooks and the 5/0 just barely allows for the double strands of Kevlar to fit through the eye. t^
-
Just curious. What color was the Kevlar you got from Ron's?
-
Yellow
-
The octopusses (octopi?) ;D are not the best for the assists. I would go with almost any brand "live bait" hook that you like. I used the Gamakatsu hooks and the 5/0 just barely allows for the double strands of Kevlar to fit through the eye. t^
Thanks Bob. I will see what I can pick up. t^
-
Thanks Guys, Just got some kevlar from Rons (yellow 300lb) Made about 10 setups ,under an hour. Used shrink tubing,they look great and it should keep the frays down. Thanks again Rich
-
Bellyup, I got the 300# kevlar in yellow from Ron also. Stuff seems thick as all get up. Can't get the doubled line thru the hook eye. What hook did you use with it?
-
Smallest was 5/0 gami. Take a small thin piece of wire bend in half loop around kevlar send tag ends through eye and pull works great. Rich
-
I used mig welding wire ,very thin
-
Gotchya Rich. Thanks. t^
-
Smallest was 5/0 gami. Take a small thin piece of wire bend in half loop around kevlar send tag ends through eye and pull works great. Rich
Just like I showed you on the boat. t^
-
Smallest was 5/0 gami. Take a small thin piece of wire bend in half loop around kevlar send tag ends through eye and pull works great. Rich
Just like I showed you on the boat. t^
Yup. t^
-
Only one thing to add, apply a dab of super glue to knot, the bitter end can be whipped using dental floss. Apply a dab to bitter end as you whip it and it will not come undone.
-
UPDATE
The link to Angler's Pro Shop (which showed how to tie an assist hook) was dead, due to their going out of business. So, I modified the first post. I listed several sites which carry the Kevlar and also linked a video showing how to tie them. t^
http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=13348.msg127850#msg127850 (http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=13348.msg127850#msg127850)