Hooking fish with big baits?

[aero320]

I was fishing the Cumberland yesterday with some big Skippys (14"+) and I had three good runs but failed to get a hookset. Is there some special method to employ?

[Travis C.]

Are you nose hooking or bridling the bait?

A treble stinger would aid in hookup but that means you are handling the bait more. You won't want them to run in that kind of setup instead set the hook quickly.

[GISJason420]

Just yak the line when you "feel the first bite" it's critical how you land the bait into the water, try slipstreaming into the environment just like your bait is part of it, I landed a nice couple basses with a single bait within 5 minutes, lost one since I didn't pull at the right time it hit right as soon it hit the water while I was letting it sink to the bottom.... But other 2 hit as soon as I reeled it in from the bottom. I swear by them Berkley swim shads, first I hit the spot with a 4" then move my way down to the 3" as some bass are scared of the 4" more than the 3" one.... But the bold basses always come out first and hit 'n fight hard....

[XxthejuicexX]

A very big circle hook if you are going to let them run with the skippy. Travis has a good set up too. I use a stinger set up like his when fishing for gar.

[gordonc615]

Originally Posted by GISJason420

Just yak the line when you "feel the first bite" it's critical how you land the bait into the water, try slipstreaming into the environment just like your bait is part of it, I landed a nice couple basses with a single bait within 5 minutes, lost one since I didn't pull at the right time it hit right as soon it hit the water while I was letting it sink to the bottom.... But other 2 hit as soon as I reeled it in from the bottom. I swear by them Berkley swim shads, first I hit the spot with a 4" then move my way down to the 3" as some bass are scared of the 4" more than the 3" one.... But the bold basses always come out first and hit 'n fight hard....

what color scheme are u using? I've got a couple packs but haven't opened them yet to try out

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[GISJason420]

Originally Posted by gordonc615

what color scheme are u using? I've got a couple packs but haven't opened them yet to try out

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I prefer the red-eyed w/ white scheme over the others Tho the pesky thing about them 3"s are they come off and tear up easily after just a bite while the 4" usually doesn't unless it's a monster hungry bass that hasn't eaten an live shad in days... Sometimes enough to bend the weight inside them to where they lose their realness in swimming while being reeled in. May be changing my setup around a bit as it can get expensive... Trying to match it up with a different rigging scheme as well if ya'll got ideas chirp in please

[brewer88]

Aero, are you saying you had a striper run away with a 14" skipjack??!! must have been a big un haha. I can attest to stinger hooks, I have had a lot more hookups even with 8" skips while using them. I tie a piece of line from my main circle hook to the stinger, usually 50lb braid or such. I've also used the method where you pass your main line through the eye of your circle hook then use a small clip weight just below the circle hook to keep the right length of line to your stinger and prevent the fish from bending in the current

[crosshairy]

I've never fished a bait that big, but I think a stinger treble hook is in order because the length of the bait far exceeds the mouth size of your quarry. If you get a fish carrying it sideways or just "mouthing it", they are likely to spit it out before your hook gets inside the lips.

I would use a piece of heavy fluorocarbon line tied to the main hook for the stinger, and embed a single hook of the treble in the meaty upper part of the tail, avoiding the lateral line where the nerves controlling the tail reside.

Use a landing net that is not made of nylon braided rope - the plastic ones that are basically hook resistant will help with tangles. You can rig the entire bait up without taking the fish out of the water if you practice, and it will lower mortality rates of the bait. Maybe another option would be to tie off one of those jaw-grabber pliers to the boat. Hook the bait in the mouth and rig him up while keeping him in the water, drifting behind your pliers (to keep both hands free for rigging).

Be careful - handling a bait that big increases the risks of getting hooked in the hand.

Worth a shot!

[aero320]

Originally Posted by brewer88

Aero, are you saying you had a striper run away with a 14" skipjack??!! must have been a big un haha. I can attest to stinger hooks, I have had a lot more hookups even with 8" skips while using them. I tie a piece of line from my main circle hook to the stinger, usually 50lb braid or such. I've also used the method where you pass your main line through the eye of your circle hook then use a small clip weight just below the circle hook to keep the right length of line to your stinger and prevent the fish from bending in the current

I actually had three runs on 14" Skipjacks with none of them connecting.

[TNBronzeback]

ive actually found alot of useful live bait rigging tips while watching some salt water shows. different hooks, methods of rigging live bait (most large baits too ofcourse) Worked wonders on hook-ups for musky, and big pike in MI land.
Ive used some scaled down versions for my sauger jigging this past year.
might be worth scanning the internet briefly ...never know what ya might find.

[brewer88]

Originally Posted by aero320

I actually had three runs on 14" Skipjacks with none of them connecting.

Well, I had thought that was too big of bait but I guess I was dreaming too small....I think I know what im doing this weekend.....

[aero320]

Here is a photo of one of the baits.


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[aero320]

Originally Posted by aero320

Here is a photo of one of the baits.


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This is a 55.5 pounder that was recently caught on an 18" trout!

[TroutFiend]

Trout are like striper candy!




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[GISJason420]

Originally Posted by TroutFiend

Trout are like striper candy!




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Dang Now I know what I'm gonna use next time I go out fishing... Them Berkley Shads are gonna be sitting in the tackle box! I'm gonna snag a trout and use it as bait!!!!