When using live pogies do you hook the stinger hook in the fish or let it hang loose.
I always hook the stinger near the tail of the fish but I was watching a tv show the other day and the guide said he did not hook the stinger to the fish but let it hang loose.
He claimed, and it made sense, that the hook would trail along right where you would hook it anyway and that the live bait could swim more normally
Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI
If you ask 10 5 will say hook and 5 will let is free. I have used both and everyone know how many big kings I have caught.
Big Dummy
let it free. it lets the pogy swim more naturally as you said
“ats a nice 'un 'ere”
Personally, I do not like any hardware showing, so I hook both hooks deep in the fish as far as possible, with no stinger. But as already stated, to each his own.
Tprice, i’ve seen it done both ways many of times and here’s what i’ve gathered from working on a charter boat for the past four years. When we live bait, we hook the stinger in the tail of the pogey. To me it looks more natural that way than to have a live bait swimming and beating that trailer hook back and forth the whole way. When dead baiting cigars, I have decided to let mine hang and rarely ever miss a bite with the dangling stinger. IMO that foulhooked fish are much more common for whatever reason when i have a the trailer dangling. It all comes down to choice and preference though…
Reel men wrestle does
When we get lucky and have some stupid pogies come around, I leave the stinger hook in the pogie and occasionally I will put a rig out that will have two stingers and if we are dealing with short or non-agressive strikes I will leave the 2nd stinger hook out. Try it all!!!
2895 Triton CC
t225 Yammies
Car washer…how many big kings have you caught?..Regardless of the fact or fiction of the above answer there are many variables to rigging live baits. Weather is the number one factor. Big pogies, I use a 3 hook rig. Nose hook, treble in the body and one free. All baits have different hook techniques and if you are just using pogies, you are limiting yourself in certain depths of water. Tight Lines, Robert.
Robert Olsen
I think you have missed the point MR Knot. I am the KING of the Snake King even more when I Fish the Trail. As my freind T2S stated my point, try it all. By the way I have watch the leader board more that once when you were sporting a snake yourself.
Big Dummy
Just kidding with you, the comment you made about everyone knowing how many big kings you have caught was humorous and I thought I would add a little to the conversation. Everyone knows that catching the big ones are luck to some extent, especially during a tournament, When you are fishing the trail, you need to weigh a fish regardless if it is a slob or snake. Accept my apology if I offended you Car Washer.
Tight Lines, Robert.
Robert Olsen
i’ll tell you this much your bait acts more natural with the hook hanging but you foul hook a lot more kings that way. your bait swims better with steel cable but you get more strikes with single strand,just thought i’d throw that one out…
green grass and high tides forever
jhp----- Murrells Inlet