questions. I wanted to know how to set up the double treble hook rig.
Here’s what I learned: Start by pulling the tag end of line through the head of the jerkbait. This can be done by tying an overhead knot on a small straight shank hook and threading it through the nose of the bait. Make sure to pull several inches of line through, so there’s enough line to work with.
Then, take a #6 or #4 treble hook —I prefer the Owner Stinger ST-36, because of its stick points— and tie it to the tag end of your line.
After the treble hook is tied on, place a barrel swivel over one of the treble shanks. Make sure to place a small plastic keeper over the treble hook point the barrel swivel is on, so it can’t slide off. Then, attach a split ring to the bottom end of the barrel swivel. Finally, attach a second treble hook to the split ring.
Once the double treble hook harness is rigged, push the top treble hook into the head of the bait.
Then, sink the rear treble hook closer to the tail. That’s it. Now you have a deadly open-water jerkbait rig that will help convert those missed strikes into hook-ups.
BE FLASHY
Suspended bass often relate to cover, like standing timber and submerged dock cables. One of the most effective ways I’ve found to catch suspended bass around cover is with a paddle-tail swimbait.
I’ve noticed, however, swimbaits are more popular than a few years ago. Now, savvy weekend anglers fish them as confidently as seasoned tournament anglers do, so I’ve looked for ways to modify my
swimbait to continue getting bites when fished behind other anglers.
I’ve discovered by adding flash to my swimbait it will continue to produce, even when fished on pressured waters.
There’s many ways to add flash to a swimbait, but one of the easiest is using the Owner Flashy Swimmer. What makes the Flashy Swimmer, well, flashy, is the #3 hammered nickel willow leaf blade attached to the hook’s molded weight. I prefer the ¼-oz model, because it has a 5/0 hook that fits most small to medium-sized swimbaits.
After adding a 3.5” Yamamoto Swimbait to the Flashy Swimmer, I stick the hook point into the swimbait’s back for a weedless presentation. I will, however, leave the hook point exposed when fishing in open-water.
The best retrieve speed is slow and constant, like reeling a spinnerbait in dirty water. I want the bait to
move just fast enough so the
blade spins and the tail kicks.
Bass, especially spots, will often
hit the bait once, twice, or even
three times or more, before
finally committing. When this
happens, I continue the same
retrieve speed as when
I felt
the
initial
strike.
This
takes
patience
and
self-
control,
but
leads to
catching
more fish.
SPRING 2016
15