10XD Hook Replacement

I learned the hard way about not replacing my hooks on a 10XD. I lost a few big ones and knew I had to do something about it. After doing some online research and asking around, I switched them all to the Mustad KVD 1x Strong 2x Short Triple Grip trebles in the 2/0 size. The shorter shank allowed me to go up in size and they didn't tangle together.

The 10XD is a fun bait to throw and don't be afraid to throw it just about anywhere. I was able to catch smallmouth on it as well as a few big walleye. It works anytime you want to reach deep bass with a crankbait. I was even catching small, 1.5lb smallmouth on it so it works for more than just monster fish.

Having the right gear is crucial though. A normal cranking rod might not be enough to handle it. Here is the setup I'm now using for it.

• Abu Garcia "Ike" Series Delay Cast Rod 7'10" MH 
• Abu Garcia REVO Winch Generation 3 Casting Reel 
• 15lb Seaguar AbrazX Fluorocarbon

Randy Howell Signature Series Do-It Molds

Over the past few years I have started to pour my own jigs and weights.  I decided to start this little hobby as a way to pass some time in the winter and stock up on things that I tend to lose a bunch of. Dropshot weights, football heads and shaky heads are things that I lose all the time. I have found that it is much easier to pour huge quantities at once and it also saves quite a bit of money in the long run. 

My latest molds from Do-It Molds are part of the Randy Howell Signature Series. They came out with a cool underspin and the Finesse and Magnum Shaky Head jigs. I chatted with Randy today for another article I am working on and asked him for the story of theses new molds.  It was interesting to hear the backstory and after chatting with him, it makes tons of sense.

Some Finesse Shaky Heads during my last pour session

The molds he put together with Do-It Molds are things he has been using for years with the help of one of his buddies who makes custom pours for him.  He brought it to the market with Do-It because he wanted a big shaky head he could use with a big baitcast rod and heavy line. It also had to have a big hook and land fish better than the rest of the shaky heads on the market. "The Magnum size is really the perfect setup for ledge fishing and power fishing. I'll use a 7.5" Yamamoto Kut Tail for the Magnum Shaky Head and for the Finesse Shaky Head I use a 5" Yamamoto Pro Senko or 6.75" Long Pro Senko. That long hook on both of them is just so much better for hooking fish," Howell said.  

He also talked about something that everyone who uses a shaky head has witnessed, they tend to lose fish. Howell claims that he gets much better hooksets the 7/0 or 8/0 Gamakatsu 604 round bend heavy wire hook.  The lighter finesse shaky head allows for a Gamakatsu 111 in a 3/0-5/0, which is just as stout compared to other shaky head hooks.

The other key to this mold is the recessed line tie.  "Most of the time when you break off a shaky head it is right at the knot and this solves that problem.  The design is also very weedless and goes through brush really well," he added.

Here are some specs on the two shaky head molds:

• Randy Howell Magnum Shaky Head Jig 
• Sizes: 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4 
• Hook: Gamakatsu 604 

• Randy Howell Finesse Shaky Head Jig 
• Sizes: 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 
• Hook: Gamakatsu 111 

Randy on his signature series:

Iaconelli's winning techniques: VMC Rugby Head

After last week's Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Delaware River, VMC sent out a press release about some of the tackle Mike Iaconelli used to win. It included much of the "Ike Approved" lineup. I was most intrigued about the Rugby Head, it sounds like a great improvement over a regular shaky-head. I have seen it, but haven't used it yet...maybe it is time to check it out.

Here are a few snippets from the press release:

Rugby Head Survives Some Serious Scrums

When the bite “got tough” on the first and last day of the four-day tournament on Ike’s home water, he tempted up some fish with a fresh twist on the finesse tactic of shaky-heading. Targeting hard-bottom current breaks, he threw a flaked blue-black straight-tail soft-plastic worm rigged on a 3/16 oz. VMC Ike Approved Rugby Head.

“That Rugby Head is a special head on a shaky-head set-up, because it gets through tough cover easily,” Ike explained. “Your more-traditional shaky heads can really get snagged in the rocks. I don’t want to be battling that thing. I want it crawling over the rock. And I was able to do that on the river and have it account for a few of my keepers. And that was important.”

A cross between a traditional round-ball-head jig and a football-head jig, the Rugby Jig is “the most versatile jig out there,” Ike said. “And if you look at it, it does look like a rugby ball.” An extra-wide-gap hook with an offset just below the jig head secures Texas-rigged soft plastics on the Rugby Jig, creating a lifelike presentation even at rest.

They also just came out with the Swinging Rugby Head and it is now available.

Think Twice Before Changing Trebles

This winter I made a plan to replace some of the trebles on my hardbaits. I got some of the new TroKar trebles as a way to get my favorite baits that extra edge in sharpness. I'm also experimenting with other brands to find the best fit for all situations. Obviously different hooks weigh different amounts and they can affect the performance of a bait, but this video from TackleTour is a real eye opener.  Check it out and think about it before you just put any random hooks on your favorite baits.

Trokar Time

I tried Trokar hooks when they first came out and really liked them, but I haven't used them in awhile. They keep going strong and creating new styles.  I have decided to try out the new treble hooks and wacky rig hooks and am very excited about them.  Have you used the trebles?  I plan to add these to a few select hardbaits and see how they perform.

Holiday Gift Guide: Day 12 - AR Lures Treble Hooks

AR Lures has some amazing looking baits.  They are wooden baits, hand crafted and hand painted.  They are like a piece of art that catches fish.  I was really impressed seeing them at ICAST in 2011, and this year they again had some neat things.  One thing I liked was not a lure but a hook.

These treble hooks are super sharp Japanese hooks but they have a unique look to them.  I have added them to several lures and like the added flash they give off.  They chemically dip them for strength as well as attraction, the result is a cool effect.

ICAST: Something new that REALLY is unique

Being that ICAST is this week, there are many "new" things on the market.  Many of them are just a slight revision to an existing product with shiny new packaging and hype to go along with it.  One thing that genuinely has me intrigued is a new product from Zappu called the Abare Dama or "Wicked Ball".

This is what it looks like:

Any guesses?  This innovation is designed to give your hardbaits an extra action.  It's supposed to "kick" out your baits at unpredictable times.  It may be just different enough to get a few extra bites.  You can read more about it here.

Kumho Hooks now available at Tackle Warehouse

Kumho Hooks, the innovative new hook brand that is part of the Eco Pro Tungsten family, can now be found on TackleWarehouse.com.

These hooks were quite the hit at the ICAST show and for good reason.  They are really, really sharp and also feature the Reaper Keeper to keep soft plastic baits rigged correctly.

I have been using them for months and love them.  Check out what Gary Klein has to say about them.

Kumho Hooks and the Reaper Keeper

Angler's Select (parent company of Eco Pro Tungsten) recently announced the news that they are now the official North American distributor of Kumho Hooks.  Kumho is a big name hook company out of Korea and they make some of the best quality needle point hooks on the market.  Sure, sharp hooks are very important, but I think the one added advantage to these hooks over anything else on the market is the new reaper keeper system.  I was a curious (and maybe a little skeptical) to see how this would work until I actually got to see them in my hands, and after using them in the weeks after ICAST; I'm a believer!

Photo: Wired2Fish.com

The Reaper Keeper system works like a screw-lock hook does, but it is much easier to rig.  Basically you Texas-rig the plastic onto the keeper like you always do.  The Reaper Keeper holds the bait in place securely and more importantly...it's always straight.

The hooks come in a four models to fit whatever you want to use: flipping, creature baits, standard EWG worm, and a tube hook.

I think I'm most excited about these hooks for the flukes, senkos, toads and skinny dipper baits.  These are the baits that always seem to give me problems and end up coming back to the boat in a curled pile of plastic.  With this new system, I don't have to worry about it.  

Check out what Gary Klein has to say about the new hooks.

New Product Preview: The VMC Spinshot Hook

VMC has been around forever.  They make great hooks, but I have never really used them anyway else besides trebles.  They come on all Rapala baits and seem sharp.  The newest from VMC is the Spinshot hook and it is very unique.

It is designed for drop-shotting and is really like a cross between a barrel swivel and hook.  It is designed to be used with drop-shotting and that's about all it can be used for.  It was made to eliminate line twist when using this technique which is the worst part about drop-shotting. They also tout the fact that you can easily rig more than one hook on the line (where legal).  Seems like a pretty cool idea and I was eager to try it.  I have been testing it for a few days and have not seen much line twist.  I think it's a good idea and will work, but I'm still holding out though to make my final decision.  I'd like to see how much it costs and then determine if it is worth it.  I am also torn about having to make an extra knot for this.  It's like tying a Carolina-rig, because it takes time to do it and you have to tie two knots.  I'm fully confident in my knots, but it is still one more possible breaking point.

This brand new product will be officially launched at ICAST with the help of Mike Iaconelli.  The Spinshot comes in six sizes (1/0,1,2,4,6,8) and should be a hit with anglers across the world.

UPDATE: The Spinshot will be available from Tackle Warehouse on September 10th.

What do you think of the Spinshot?

Trokar Hooks: Does the Hook Live Up to the Hype?

I just found a great review of the Trokar Hooks by Chris from Thoughts of a Christian Bass Fisherman. It's a pretty detailed review and showcases the hooks positive and negative qualities. Check out the review and also check out his blog when you get a chance.

Trokar Hooks: Does the Hook Live Up to the Hype?

By: Chris Mcdonald

All anglers have faced the challenge of setting the hook on a fish, and coming up empty handed. At times we don’t set the hook hard enough, which allows the fish to come free from the hook. Trokar has come out with the sharpest fishing hook on the market to help us catch more fish. Trokar hooks are surgically sharpened and allow an angler to set the hook with less force. The three sided cut makes the hook sharpening process different from all other hooks on the market and allows an angler to set the hook with less force and still have a better hook up with that fish you are fighting.

I have always been a Gamakatsu hook man, but when I got a call from Eagle Claw to test out the new Lazer Trokar hooks, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. When the hooks arrived, the first thing I did was get in touch with Shaw Grigsby, one of the pros who helped design the hook shape and someone who uses Trokar hooks exclusively.

Grigsby told me that no matter how many fish you catch with it will never dull. To be honest I wouldn’t believe it if I had not put the Trokar hook to my own test. I took the Trokar TK 130 flipping hook and drove the point into a block of wood repeatedly. Then I took the same hook and used it to pitch and flip with. The hook still set easily into the mouth of the bass. According to tests, the Trokar hook needs less force to set the hook. This has shown in my own fishing experience. It seemed that every bass I caught on the Trokar hooks set themselves, even when pitching and flipping.

The high carbon steel that is used to make the hooks show it’s strength and stands up to the toughest logs and still comes back in the same shape as when you started. The Trokar B.A.R.B. works wonders as well. It holds the plastic in place, securely like nothing I have ever seen. With two barbs it keeps the plastic in place better then just one barb like on other hooks. This allows you to spend less time pushing your soft plastic back into place between casts. With 11 types of hooks there is a Trokar hook for every application.

Trokar hooks are also being used by lure makers as well. Wayne of Atomic Tackle Company (atomictacklecompany.com) even offers hand poured jigs with Trokar hooks you can order casting jigs in 3/8, ½, 3/4 and 1ounce with these awesome Trokar hooks.

There are drawbacks with the Trokar hooks. According to Grigsby “You can’t use the Trokar hooks for practice”. The reason for this is because you will not be able to shake the fish loose before getting it back to the boat. There is also the price of the hooks. A package of four hooks runs around $10. If you consider how sharp the hooks are and the fact that I have not lost a fish using the hooks, it is money well spent in my opinion. I believe that the hook lives up to what Trokar says, and that ten dollars may be the difference of winning a tournament or losing it. In that case, does the ten dollars really make a difference?

Now that I have tried the Trokar hooks and seen what they can do, I know that I cannot go back. The point on the hook is too good and there is nothing like it out there. So if you want a better hook up ratio and want to lose less fish, do yourself a favor and go get some Trokar hooks today.

Check out the Trokar website www.lazertrokar.com

Moto Hooks - A Wacky New Hook

Seems like tonight is hook night for TBrinks Fishing. I guess that's good since hooks are arguably the most important thing for fisherman. I was browsing the sites tonight and saw this new hook made by a company called Moto Hooks. They are hand tied Wacky Rig hooks and look like my all-time favorite Wacky hook, the discontinued W.W. Hook by Reaction Innovations. Gamakatsu announced the new Wicked Wacky hook recently, but I still haven't found them in stock. I talked to a Gamakatsu rep last month, and even he didn't know when they would be available. For now, the best bet would be to get something like the Moto, which is in stock. I know the hook style (Shiner) works, and it is a Gamakatsu so it's got to be sharp. Looks like I'll be buying a few packs of these in time for the upcoming spawn season down here in FL.

First Look - XPoint Hooks

Last week I talked about how I'm going to give the Trokar hooks another chance (only because they were half off). Unfortunately I haven't been able to really test them due to lack of fish catching (Thanks Lake Seminole). After I posted them, my Twitter buddy Chris Foley @flippin_foley sent me a message and said I have to try XPoint Hooks. I had heard of the brand, mostly from years ago when they offered a bounty prize for a world record caught on their hooks. I have never used them, but got a chance to test them out a little this weekend in my backyard canal. I caught several small fish on a Ultravibe Speedworm with them and now I'm becoming a believer. These things are super sharp thanks to their "four micro cutting edges". The website claims they are "seven times sharper" than other hooks. Even two times sharper if good for me, seven times is awesome. I also really liked the ones I tried out, they were the XGAP HD, and like the HD implies, they are heavy duty. Think about giving them a try next time your at your tackle store. Thanks again Chris!