what size hooks do you put on them?

last year i put on 3/0 4x strong VMC trebles. this year i put 4/0 4x strong VMC's on. didn't notice a huge difference... maybe they got down a little deeper. i was thinking of switching to 4/0 6x strong VMC's after a fish straightened out the 4x strong one's.

i guess my question is does it matter when you fish darters? like how putting heavy hooks on some swimmers will kill the action of the plug.

My brother changed to 6x on his north bars and the action remained the same. NBs have a bit more action than the SS bottle though. I don't think the SS darter would swim at all with 6x. I can't seem to make them swim right of the package.

Seems like VMC hooks have gone to chit. Almost everyone I know has lost nice fish to straightened hooks this year.

VMC 3/0 6X front and back with split rings. I have messed around with many different arrangements over the years and have finally settled on this set-up. Landed fish to the high 40-pound class on this configuration without any problems this year.

i have a good friend who swears by 5/0 with splits front and back and has multiple 40's, 5 50's and a 60...just a thought

i have a good friend who swears by 5/0 with splits front and back and has multiple 40's, 5 50's and a 60...just a thought

He has that score on the darter, or just in general?

He would be the super strike poster boy...

6x 3/0 on front with a split ring and 4x 3/0 on the rear with a split ring and crushed barbs

Is how mine are rigged


Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

thanks. i may get some of the 3/0 6x VMC's and give it a go.

anyone use that set up on the northbar bottle darters too?

4x VMCs are nowhere near as good as they used to be. Use 6x.

As far as 4/0 or 5/0, my opinion is that it won't make a difference with darters. Darters don't have a lot of swimming action. What you want a darter to do is dig and sweep side to side, and not ride up in the current. Heavier hooks might actually help. That being said, my darters have 4/0 6x trebles on the belly, and a tinned (not stainless) single on the back. Mustad stainless hooks have become extremely brittle. I hardly ever hook a bass on the tail hook anyway with darters.

thanks. i may get some of the 3/0 6x VMC's and give it a go.

anyone use that set up on the northbar bottle darters too?

SS. Same as T~

NB.
4/0 6x front and 3/0 6x rear. Never an issue. Load those NB's too. Once I fished my factory loaded NB I loaded them all.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

He has that score on the darter, or just in general?

all but 2 of the 50,60's i believe point is it's the darter hook set up works with many different configurations

He would be the super strike poster boy...

as a matter of fact he is lol

Loading your NB's?? Same idea as loading redfins??
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Loading your NB's?? Same idea as loading redfins??
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Yes. Bump them up to 3 ounces and drop a set of 4/0 hooks on her. Much better plug in my opinion.

Thanks Toby. Do you go with water or lead??
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Thanks Toby. Do you go with water or lead??
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Water is fine. The very limited few factory loaded ones were loaded with mineral oil.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I load all my plugs with mineral oil. I find it doesn't evaporate and when fishing late into the fall there is no chance of it freezing and breaking the plug from the inside out. I have had that happen when I used to use water. :smash:

VMC 3/0 6X front and back with split rings. I have messed around with many different arrangements over the years and have finally settled on this set-up. Landed fish to the high 40-pound class on this configuration without any problems this year.

Toby - which size splits are you using? triple rings?

Thanks