I have been conducting some research on switching out the trebles and rings on a few of my hard baits. In particular MirrOlure TT series. However I do fish other MirrOlure besides the TT series but primarily TT series.
I’m looking at switching to #4 black Gamakatsu
Any recommendations or ■■■■■■■■ on switching hooks/rings. Replacing all three, replacing front and back, or going with a stinger hook on the back.
Does anyone rough up the bait out the box prior to use.
Thanks for any ■■■■■■■■.
Can’t go wrong changing out most factory trebles although more and more these days are being sold with better quality hooks though, and the price reflects it. Personally I only replace the rings if they lose their spring retention and I feel there is a chance for the hook or the eye-bolt to get back through the slot. As far as a ‘stinger hook’, it’s not a horrible idea. Let the fush do the bait scuffing!
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
Maybe I’m missing something here, but what rings are you replacing on the TT series?
I change hooks on a lot of my lures. On the Mirrolures I usually go with a VMC 9650PS, which is a round bend treble or Owner ST46 trebles but those Gammies are good hooks too. I just prefer a tinned hook if I’m going to be using them in saltwater. Otherwise a good black nickel hook is preferred.
I’m slowly going towards single inline hooks on the majority of my hardbaits, but haven’t done it yet on Mirrolures. VMC, Owner, Decoy and now even Mustad are making them.
When I’m replacing hooks on any lure, I would change all of them unless the lure comes with good hooks, then I would only change them if dull or otherwise damaged.
One little detail I will tell you about that I really like, is using an oval split ring on lures that come with a split ring at the line tie. Although I have added them to lures that didn’t come with them too.
Not just any oval ring either. Worth Manufacturing, the folks who make spinner blades & lure components, make a ring they call X2, which is a magnesium alloy ring with a zinc plating. They’re lighter & stronger than similar size stainless oval rings, and they don’t deform as easily as stainless rings. They’re available in different sizes too. The main advantage is a smaller size can be used to replace the split rings (oval or round) that come on a lure without sacrificing strength, plus stronger than most snaps of similar size too.
I’ve been using them for maybe 15 years or so, and have never had one fail nor have I had a knot fail because it got in a gap in the split ring.