assists hooks-size
 

hi again ,
sorry dumb question here, can someone help me with the size of assist hooks i need to purchase to suit a whiting surface lure,(bass day sugar pen.)
thank you paul

This link claims to have the perfect size for Bassday Sugar Pen - the site is blocked on my work computer - so I can check it out later

https://isofishinglifestyle.com.au/c...t-hook-size-10

Hook sizing
 

I have always had problems with a standard sizing, as I find manufacturers vary. The hooks Larry linked are Atomics and the blurb says "size 10" ?
Attachment 114412

For my whiting lures in the past, I have used the Ecogear ZX spares, but the pack doesn't list a hook size. In the pic below the top two are ZX, the purple ones from a BM member who sells on ebay ($9 for 10 posted) and the bottom set is from Oceans Legacy, which are listed as #6. They are all the same size.
Attachment 114413

I actually prefer the #4 from Oceans Legacy for my whiting now (no pic sorry, run out), smaller and seems to get better hookups. This brand also include UV threads..and a far superior build quality.
Attachment 114414

The purple ones you can get from Crabcrusher (BM name), also sells a slightly bigger set for bream, on ebay, here:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/zx-style...rdt=true&rt=nc

Nice one Mark - and that point you make about different sizing is well worth making - it doesnt take much weight to turn a floater into a suspender and a suspender into a sinker.

If the rings are too big or the hooks too heavy - it may change the action of the lure - so its worth keeping an eye on how the lure performs with new hardware

jury is out for me on assists,so far there aint much if any benefit
cheers nereus

assist hooks
 

thanks so much for the reply

I tie my own assists using Daiichi 2171-B hooks in mostly size 6, but do tie 8's for smaller than usual lures. All the pre-made ones I've tried seem to have extremely brittle hooks and the points keep snapping.
Old spinner baits are handy for the dangly rubber bits.

Yeah I like the sound of that - what knots do you use to attach the hooks - and what do you make the assist cord out of -

the videos I've watched use really simple knots with a dab of super glue - and heat shrink over the knot for the really heavy line classes

And Budget - If you do decide to make your own and dont have any old spinner baits lying around - you can just buy the skirts on ebay or ali express - the ones below are $3.10 USD or ($4.34 AUD) for 12 bundles on ali express

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/12-B...b9f8ad89724d-0

or these dudes on ebay sell in single lots for $1

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lots-Fis...frcectupt=true

[QUOTE=yellow door 1;694010]Yeah I like the sound of that - what knots do you use to attach the hooks - and what do you make the assist cord out of -

Good find on the spinnerbait tails. I know some guys just use plain old rubber bands.

I use old braid I have laying around, anything between 30 and 50lb works for me.

I don't know the name of it but its a knot my dad taught me years ago that's kind of a cross between a snell and a nail knot.

1: Place the line through the hook eye and lay along the shank
2: Pinch line to hook shank down near the bend leaving about 100mm tail
3: Leaving a loop between your fingers down at the bend, wind the line 4 or 5 times around the shank and braid back towards the hook eye.
4: Place the tag end through the loop and pull up tight.

Hope that makes sense. Its kind of like a snell but its locked off better.

[QUOTE=Green Hornet;694012]Ahh yeah - rubber bands would be sweet - either hit up the postie for some free fat red ones and cut them up into strips or grab a bag of colourful ones.

Thanks for the info on the Braid and the knot used.

The knots I've seen are are super simple - yours sound a bit more trust worthy

[QUOTE=yellow door 1;694013]
If you recall we were discussing assist hooks on larger metal lures a while back.
I use 100lb assist cord for them and attach to the hook double thickness with a simple thumb knot and bind the tag to the shank with a bit of fly tying thread. A drop of super glue locks it all in place and I've never had one fail.
More traditional fishing knots don't work with the cord because its roughly textured and doesn't slide like mono or braid.

[QUOTE=Green Hornet;694014]Yeah the thumb knot is what I was thinking of.

I use the ready made Decoy DJ54 Dancing Jack assist hooks for whiting. I use them on the atomic pop 50 and the sugapens . Use the size small (S) the smaller size (SS) are just too tiny and don't hang on to the fish. They are super sharp and hardly ever lose a fish once hooked up.

assist hooks
 

hi there and thank you for the information,as luck would have it i went to the fishing shop they recommended exactly as the good dr. has suggested.cant wait to give them a try.