BigBendFishing.Net

This may not be the most intelligent question asked but I'm curious and would like input from other fisherfolk.

How do you put the hook in soft baits? Does the barb of the hook come up and out of the back or down and out thru the belly?

One other question - when would you fish with a cigar shaped CT instead of the more round one?

Sea Gurl

I hook down through the belly.

I always use the cigar CT for grubs, and live shrimp, oval for pins, or heavier weighted swim baits, like Tsunami or Storm.

Thanks.

And your hook placement?

SG

Not sure what your asking.

Using a jig head I feed the hook through and out the bottom with the bait stop against the back of the jig head.

OOPS - I didn't read where you had answered that question - I'm going to have to get those glasses yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SG

CS wrote:

I hook down through the belly.

Me too

As far as the float, I have both available. I work under the idea that CT/Equalizer/? floats provide two basic functions (other than float'n and suspending/presenting bait) One is visibility for me to see the strike and second, for noise/surface comotion. Sometimes the larger ones can spook fish when they are in a spooky mood. Use the cigar float during those times. I like the larger ones when the water is choppy or very stained.

Now back to the hook. If your drag'n it along the bottom or throw'n into the shoreline grass and want to avoid grass or hook'n a rock, I can see an advantage to hook'n back through the grub (fresh water bass style) and leaving the hook in the grub to make it weedless. You probably would not be able to tip the hook with shrimp, squid, or fishbites using this method.

My crew and I had this discussion last weekend while we were fishing. For artificials I was running the hook down through the belly. My partner was running the hook up through the back. I caught a mixed bag..trout, bluefish, and mackerel. He only caught trout and was bragging that it was the way the bait was hooked, he said... rig it through the back and only catch trout, rig it through the belly and catch "trash fish"...he doesn't like to eat mackerel or blues.....who knows? We were equal on the number of trout we caught....catching the "trash fish" put me ahead in the final tally!!

I agree with DS on the CT rigiing.

Sir Reel, CS hasn't said anything up to this point.
But now that ya'll have me in the conversation. With plastic grubs you have a paddle tail and a curly tail used predomantly on the Gulf.
The flat part of the paddle should always be on the oposite side of the exposed part of your hook.
The curly part of the tail on a curly tail jig always points away from the exposed part of your hook.
Having the hook on the oposite side lets the water flow smothly over the tail and gives it more action. If the hook was on the same side it would interfer with the flow to the tail.
Most likely didn't make a bit of sense to you, but I tried.

I fish cigar shape CT the majority of the time. The oval shape with live bait or rough water.

OH MY...

Sir Reel, CS hasn't said anything up to this point.

.... sorry bout that!! You know with so many Handsome devils on this forum.... I tend to get em confused No offense intended to any party

CS

I wondered also how that comment was attributed to you!! Gotta keep your eyes open on here. Sir Reel and I need to go to the Lions Club and go through the eye glass bin.

Thanks for your input but I didn't understand . I'll ponder it some more and see if it becomes clearer.

SG

Gurl, You'll have to hold your thumb and middle finger together on both hands with palms facing up and hum very softly.

In this way will you attain the answer you seek.

I'm not sure what ya'll are talking about. This is how I rig a SWA shad and a stinger tail grub. A curly tail I don't pay any attention to how it is oriented.

Ken K.

I REALLY LIKE pics - thanks.

GC

I thought you and your pal's observations were interesting. I, too, put the barb out the belly and always catch an array of different fish - but I wouldn't have it any other way in that regards! If the bait gets too torn up that way I put the hook out the back until it isn't usable anymore. I'll think more on what you said while I'm land locked this weekend!!

Catch one for me...this time

Sea Gurl

You should always put the hook out of the back bacause the weight of the jig head makes the jig swim through the water with the hook facing upwards, Hence making the grubs back swim in the upwards position also. This is the way they design most of the grubs to swim .
Fish Masterson

Fish Masterson,

Thanks for your input. I know now I've always hooked soft baits where they were going upside down in the water (or back down/belly up). Thinking of the barb as being "on top" will help me to remember which end's up in the future. But, in my favor, I have pretty good luck fishing so maybe the fish really don't care!

Appreciate it

Sea Gurl