Pointers for using unweighted softies

[LakeConjolaFish]

Whats the best hook for using SP without weighted jigs?

Do you want the SP to sink at all?

Do you let it just float on top or work it?

Is it good over oyster racks ?

Jim

[Grant]

Whats the best hook for using SP without weighted jigs?

Do you want the SP to sink at all?

Do you let it just float on top or work it?

Is it good over oyster racks ?

I havent done alot of unweighted plastics because no tackle store around here sells the proper hooks. Think mustard make a worm hook that creates a keel underneath the SP. Also depends wether the softy is salted (re:sinking) or not, and if the fish a surface feeding or midwater.

Oyster racks are extremely rare around this way so I will let others answer that.

Grant

[LakeConjolaFish]

G'Day AG,

Salted, thats a new one to me. Can you explain that a bit more.

It's bream that I would like to target with unweighted SP's.

I have thought of taking the lead of a jig head but think the heat would affect the hardness of the hook.
I have tried to bend a few hooks but they are brittle and snap.

I have tied (using a fly vice) some very small SP holders on to some shanks and they look good and stop the SP sliding but I would like that bend in the hook if I could do it.

Jim

[Bream Master]

We've got the special worm hooks in stock guys, I've just not had time to put the page together yet. We also have the special bullet weights to thread onto the line when you are fishing weedless.

The weight of some plastics does help them sink (Ecogear are naturally sinking), which gets them into the zone. Heavily salted plastics will also sink due to the added weight.

Fishing weedless (the hook point is sitting just below the outer skin of the lure) is awesome when fishing deep inside snags etc. You can drag the plastic over logs and branches without snagging it. I'll get busy on the page so we can put the hooks and weights in the online store this week.

Warren.

[Grant]

I have tried bending an mustard abberdean (?) but using a 2 1/2" paddletail but it would keep swimming to the side like belly rolling alot.

Salted plastics sink slowly, both ecogear and squidgies but atomics float (ish) but I have had no success with it

Grant

[bluefin]

try this..

Guys, try the mustad worm hook for sure.
I've experimented a bit with making my own jigs.
I've successfully bent aberdeens, long shanks and some others which i don't know the name of.
The worm hook i used and crimped a split shot on the bend, as this negates the need for glueing the split shot.
Hope this helps!

[LakeConjolaFish]

BlueFin that pic looks great, whats that saying "a picture tells a thousand words" well thats what your pic did for me.

Thanks Mate, I am fairly busting to get a bream with that rig, it just "seams great" with no lead weight, even more finesse!

Thanks Again,

Jim

[LakeConjolaFish]

KingPin, does the mustard worm hook take kindly to bending?


Jim

[Stevo]

LakeConjolaFish

I used to bend alot of my own hooks before buying a jig mould etc, i found mostly all the hooks would snap like this.

The best way was to heat up the in a naked flame and they go red and bend perfectly, i made plenty Mustad aberdens this way and caugh my PB bream on one , other people say they snap but its personal experience, its the easiest way to bend a hook in my opinion.

Stevo

[LakeConjolaFish]

AG, what about the Aberdeen does that bend without the fatefull "snap" sound ?

Jim

[LakeConjolaFish]

Stevo, I'm on my way to my shed to try that with the portagas, do you have to heat them up again after there bent and quench them to re-harden the metal or just use them after there bent and don't worry about the extra bit of metalurgy.

Jim

When bending the hooks, it is crucial to apply a constant level of pressure and slowly bend the hook to the desired angle. You can go well past 45 degrees with this method.
THe worm hook need no bending as it is already in the right shape from the packet. There is a kink just below the eye and is perfectly suited for use with sp.
Have a look at the charlie brewer sliders jigs on this sight for more pics.
Also, check the back of an atomics pack

[bluefin]

Back again had to do some work!

The hook is a chemicaly sharpened forged off set hook with a turned eye, these are actually bait holder hooks I had lying around! They are fairly heavy with flattened sides (forged) which helps them sink slowly, and they don't spin at low speeds!!!!!!

Saying all that, I haven't caught a fish on one, but they do look good in the water!!!!!!!

[Stevo]

LakeConjolaFish

Mate i just heated with a blow torch hook in vice, bent them and put them aside,, i did nothing like re heating etc.

Stevo