Author Topic: Hooks... (Read 4149 times)

SeaFlea · « **on:** October 13, 2008, 09:09:45 AM »

A good number of my fishing cronies have always told me to replace the "standard" hooks on my lures. In the past 5 or 6 years that I've been fishing the Mega-Bait JB110 I never had a problem with the hooks so I figured; "Why screw-up a good thing?".

Yesterday was the answer to the previously asked question!
I took the time to handle some personal obligations on the bay side of Spemaceti Cove and once completed I decided to troll my favorite lure... Took a hit & a half!! Rod almost doubled back on it's self, drag was peeling out nice a steady but the pvc pipe I had used for a trolling tube was flapping in the breaze! Seems as though Mr. Fish hit so hard he pulled the cheap azz crate apart! I managed to hold onto Mr. Fish for a minute or two; long enough to get the bow of the yak pointed towards him, then watched him go air-borne! Back in the water I started to take back some line he had taken and, to my horror, felt the line go slack! I retrieved the lure (!) all knots intact but two of the three hooks that make up the treble on the belly hook had been straighten!! Not completely straightened but enough to see that I didn't have a hook!! (To add insult to injury; while I was retieing [sp] my next lure I watch a big 'ol fish do a roll right next to the yak! Woke me up, quick & in a hurry!) Yes I tried to make a couple more trolling passes but its tough holding the rod between your legs & paddling!!
Lesons learned:
- replace the factory hooks if the even look flimsy, picked up some Mustad HD #2 on the way home(!), and
- make sure the equipment on the 'yak will stand up to larger fish when you're hunting larger fish!

Here's a couple pics of the treble in question:

Didn't means to be so verbose, my apologies... Hope the point was made though!

Bucktail · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2008, 09:58:39 AM »

SeaFlea,

I feel for you, man! It stinks to lose a big fish due to no fault of your own.

BTW, that JB110 is a hot little bait (especially in that color)!

However, you're right. Those hooks Megabait uses are very thin. They are really like freshwater hooks. And, unfortunately they cost you a good fish. $:-\$

Some manufacturers do use quality hooks. Yozuri is one that always seems to put sharp, strong hooks on their baits. As a matter of fact, I'm sitting here looking at a 5" Mag Minnow (same size as a JB110), and it's got some nice, sticky, heavy duty hooks on it. Then there are others that it seems like they use whatever hooks they have in stock that day, so it's like pot luck with them! Still others, it depends on the size of the lure they are putting them on (i.e. little baits = little hooks).

The other thing you have to look at sometimes is the split ring they use. Putting a better quality hook on an inferior split ring can be just as bad.

FWIW, although I've used Mustads and others, I like the Gamakatsu 4X trebles for my replacement hooks. They are extremely sharp and very strong.