01-28-2004, 02:02 PM
[cool][blue][size 1]Most of us have experienced getting a lot more hits than hookups. Either that or losing a lot of fish before getting them in the net or on the ice, because the hook was not well planted.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]On some days fish seem to just nip at the tail on a lure, and drive us crazy trying to set the hook with nothing there. Savvy anglers often recognize this as a solvable problem and tie on a trailer or "stinger" hook. Bait fishermen also call it a "trap" hook, when rigged toward the end of a large bait.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I have been having a few E-chats lately with mackologists who are trying different stinger hook rigs on large jigs, to try to get some iron in more macks. Seems like the fish are getting smarter and more adept at slurping bait off our jigs without contributing some exercise to the fisherman in return. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Guys that use stinger hooks rig them several different ways. Some simply tie a treble or large single hook on a piece of mono and then tie it on the main hook...with the right amount of mono to place the added hook where it will do the most good. Others use stainless wire or coated cable with crimps.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I have successfully used a short length of heavy dacron line...left over from fly line backing...to premake several trap hooks with loops on the ends. After slipping a tube over the jig head, I add the stinger hook and hold it in place with a piece of rubber band or a bit of "recycled" plastic bait.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Strangely, the use of add-on hooks at the front of the lure can sometimes be just as effective as tieing on a stinger hook at the rear. Many predatory species are known for attacking their prey headfirst...to kill them quickly. I have even added a free spinning treble on the front of buzzbaits in the past, to catch bass that were hitting the bait from the front and missing the regular hook.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Thought it might be a good discussion to get other guys' thoughts and ideas on using stinger hooks. Where and when do you use them? How do you rig them? When do you prefer single hooks to trebles? Do you prefer mono, braid, cable or wire? Any other thoughts and observations?[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]On some days fish seem to just nip at the tail on a lure, and drive us crazy trying to set the hook with nothing there. Savvy anglers often recognize this as a solvable problem and tie on a trailer or "stinger" hook. Bait fishermen also call it a "trap" hook, when rigged toward the end of a large bait.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I have been having a few E-chats lately with mackologists who are trying different stinger hook rigs on large jigs, to try to get some iron in more macks. Seems like the fish are getting smarter and more adept at slurping bait off our jigs without contributing some exercise to the fisherman in return. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Guys that use stinger hooks rig them several different ways. Some simply tie a treble or large single hook on a piece of mono and then tie it on the main hook...with the right amount of mono to place the added hook where it will do the most good. Others use stainless wire or coated cable with crimps.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I have successfully used a short length of heavy dacron line...left over from fly line backing...to premake several trap hooks with loops on the ends. After slipping a tube over the jig head, I add the stinger hook and hold it in place with a piece of rubber band or a bit of "recycled" plastic bait.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Strangely, the use of add-on hooks at the front of the lure can sometimes be just as effective as tieing on a stinger hook at the rear. Many predatory species are known for attacking their prey headfirst...to kill them quickly. I have even added a free spinning treble on the front of buzzbaits in the past, to catch bass that were hitting the bait from the front and missing the regular hook.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Thought it might be a good discussion to get other guys' thoughts and ideas on using stinger hooks. Where and when do you use them? How do you rig them? When do you prefer single hooks to trebles? Do you prefer mono, braid, cable or wire? Any other thoughts and observations?[/size][/#0000ff]
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