Just bought a stack of the $5 Atom swimmers and reverse swimmers from Joe.These are priced just right for my girlfiend's first full season.

To make a long story short does removing the middle set of trebles affect the action?

Three sets of trebles and a bluefish don't mix.I plan on crimping the barbs on the back set and would like to eliminate the middle set altogether.

I would swap out the tail hook - three trebles and beginners do not go together. Removing the tail hook does not really effect the action. Atom ain't what it used to be - these did not sell until I sold them at a loss.

Also - they are not really a good plug for a beginner to use. Use a single hook tin with a bent down barb or a Cocahoe-like jig or a bucktail jig in 1/2-1 ounce in the spring.

Unless your girlfriend is going to fish indendently (and this is almost never the case - she's just probably just being a good sport for going at all) I would not introduce her to fish-handling in year one. It's not often touched upon, but dealing with a caught-fish represents a fairly elevated skill.

When I guided I found that virtually no one with less than three seasons under their belt knew what they were doing with respect to fish-handling. If you go to the breachways you'll see people who have been fishing for decades who are terrible at it.

She definitely likes to fish.She got her own setup this offseason.After her first bass last year she's "hooked".She has expressed the want to fish independantly which would certainly require fish handling ability but I think we'll have to wait on that and see how things progress.

Last year she mostly used tins and Storms.Her first fish came on an old floating Scud with single hooks.She lost her share of plugs too which is the reason for buying a bunch of those Atoms.I just want to make them as user friendly as possible.

Old saying--on swimmers with 3 sets of hooks--"front hook is for bass, rear hook is for blues, middle one is for fingers".

I don't think I have a swimmer in my whole collection that has the middle hook on it--no real need for it.

I agree I take the middle set off most my plugs as well esp. atom 40 and even put a single hook in the rear.I do it for a few reasons one is safty for me and the fish the middle hooks tend to damage the fish more then anything.also there is less hardware hanging off the plug there for it looks more natural.

Old saying--on swimmers with 3 sets of hooks--"front hook is for bass, rear hook is for blues, middle one is for fingers".

She's on a keyboard for a living.A hook in the finger wouldn't go over well.

I think what'll try first is to remove the middle set,replace the rear with a siwash instead of crimping the treble.If the action is good I'll stick with that.

I remove the middle hook altogether, make add a 4/0 vmc up front )or 3/0).; and put a dressed single on the rear...and hold on tight !

Everyone seems to agree.86 the middle hook and replace the rear treble with a siwash(dressed or undressed?).I'd dress it myself.

When I guided I found that virtually no one with less than three seasons under their belt knew what they were doing with respect to fish-handling. If you go to the breachways you'll see people who have been fishing for decades who are terrible at it.

don't want to hi-jack the thread, but Joe, can you elaborate on this?
what are some common mistakes, etc...

I remove the middle hook altogether, make add a 4/0 vmc up front )or 3/0).; and put a dressed single on the rear...and hold on tight !
same here:chased: