Single hooks for jerkbaits?

[SloppySeconds]

I've been thinking about the standard cranking and jerkbait technique - using a softer rod to protect the trebble hooks. Does anyone have any experience trying single hooks on these baits? I'm thinking maybe you don't get as many hookups - but, maybe you would make up for it in fewer lost fish? If the fish were aggressively eating the bait, perhaps it wouldn't be so important to have trebbles at all? Maybe this might be a way to lose fewer fish and to remove hooks more easily? I was thinking some sort of offset bend octopus hooks might be good.

SS

[BassManDan]

It's worth takin a stab at.
I know walleye anglers will sometimes use single hooks on cranks and ripbaits.
My question would be does it really mess with the action of the crankbait. As long at the function is not totally ruined, a different hydrodynamic disturbance certainly might outshine the run of the mill cranks.

What my prove to be an issue is balance. The wire harness and the split ring attachment would cause the single hooks to sit to one side or the other.
My suggestion would be change your trebles with some wide gaps or the next size up round bends.

Good Luck,
BassManDan

[Cooch]

Many times when fishing "jerk baits", fish will swipe at the bait and not aggresively take it. I think this is more often what we experience using jerk baits, versus them getting hooked more. Take into consideration that if you have a minimum of two trebbles, versus 2 single hooks, with the trebles, you have 6 hooking points, versus 2 hooking points. This gives the angler a 75% greater chance of hooking each fish that bites. I personally, would not want to give up that advantage to a bass. They kick my butt good enough as it is.

Secondly as Dan mentions, these baits are designed and balanced with those treble hooks in mind. Many times when we change the componants, it drastically affects the action of the bait. Sometimes we can tinker with componants to correct this, other times not. A prime example of this is me having 4 LC Staysee ripbaits custom painted. Now with the extra paint and coatings, these baits sink arse end first the instant I stop jerking them. Now, they no longer suspend.

It sure doesn't hurt to experiment. In doing so, many times we'll run accross something that triggers way more bites and we enjoy greater success. Other times, like me having these four $17 baits painted at $10 a pop, I've waisted a $108, and we fall short of our expectations.

[MIKE TREMONT]

Hey Cooch, maybe you could try some of those little power bait hooks, that might get you back the buoyancy you're looking for . You got to forgive me I couldn't resist.
Seriously, you might be able to wet sand and then polish some of that clear off and get your baits to suspend again.

Thread jack: Have you decided where the WNC event is going to be held yet? Just trying to get my calendar in order.

[SloppySeconds]

I can definitely appreciate the desire to keep the baits running true. A jerkbait with good suspending action is critical - especially when the bite is tough and the water is cold. In this respect, it would be important to make sure the mods don't change the action.

However, that said - I have not been greatly impressed with the stock hooks on the LC Pointers - at least not for striper fishing. For bass, they are usually fine. I've find myself swapping them out for thicker wire hooks that don't bend out as easily. I usually replace the stock hooks with similar-sized Owner trebbles, but only two instead of three - since I don't want the bait to be any heavier.

I agree that the trebbles likely give you more chance at hooking fish. But when fish are aggressively eating the bait, I'm curious if it would make any difference with single hooks? I know that many steelhead guides prefer single siwash hooks when pulling plugs, since it makes getting fish out the net easier, and they can release them easier - while also claiming that they get just as many hook-ups....

So I guess the only way to answer the question is to get on a good bite and experiment!