4 inch Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad (paddle tail /swim bait)
5 inch Saltwater Assassin Saltwater Shad (straight tail / jerk bait)
Can someone please provide some advice on the best way to rig these two lures for specks/reds so that they are snagless/weedless? I want to use something like an Owner TwistLock hook, but I am not sure which specific hook to use (Owner has a few different models and then there are lots of other brands as well).
And what size for each of the two lures?
Would a 3/0 or 4/0 be best for the 4 inch paddle tail and then a 5/0 for the 5 inch jerk bait?
I want to be able to fish both weightless and with weight. Can someone provide specific hook recommendations (brand/model#s) for both weightless and weighted (and how much weight)? Or is it better just to buy the weights separately and add them myself?
I am a novice at both saltwater fishing and fishing with artificials so any advice is greatly appreciated.
4/0 Ownner TwistLock for both with 1/8 oz. weight would be the best choice for a quality hook and ease of rigging. Gamakatsu also makes a superline bait jerker with a 1/8 oz. weight, but it is a little tougher to rig without damaging the plastic. Falcon Lures also makes some great flutter hooks that are poured on Gamakatsu superline hooks. 4/0 is best size unless you have a bait smaller than 4 inches like a Gulp! 3" shrimp; then 3/0 fits better. Both hooks come in non-weighted as well, but the paddle tail won’t swim very well with no weight.
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDY
4/0 Ownner TwistLock for both with 1/8 oz. weight would be the best choice for a quality hook and ease of rigging. Gamakatsu also makes a superline bait jerker with a 1/8 oz. weight, but it is a little tougher to rig without damaging the plastic. Falcon Lures also makes some great flutter hooks that are poured on Gamakatsu superline hooks. 4/0 is best size unless you have a bait smaller than 4 inches like a Gulp! 3" shrimp; then 3/0 fits better. Both hooks come in non-weighted as well, but the paddle tail won’t swim very well with no weight.
Thank you RADDADDY! This is very helpful. Is there a particular Owner# you would recommend? They have the #5132 and then one that they call “light” (#5167). Both of these hooks come in weighted and unweighted versions. It looks like the weight is more toward the front (eye) of the hook/lure in the #5132 and more toward the rear (bend)of the hook/lure with the #5167. How does the position of the weight effect the action of the lure? And which is better?
#5132 for saltwater applications. Weight more toward the bend works better for swimbaits and jerkbaits. I like the weight to be more toward the eyelet for shrimp imitations. To each his own, but learning through experimenting is what makes it fun!
Thank you RADDADDY…very helpful and much appreciated!
4/0 Gamakatsu (weighted or non-weighted) or a 4/0 Trokar