|
Treble hooks failing is as old as the books - there isn't a treble hook around that is guarranteed not to straighten or bend when attached to a plug. This is magnified when multiple trebles are used. When a big girl gets hooked on a plug adorned with multiple trebles the force applied to the trebles is tremendous. The trebles tend to work against each other AND the plug itself. I've even had strong trebles bent by "measly" 20 pound fish that were full of piss and vinegar. Add some rockweed to the mix and you'll have a set of "corn on the cob holders" in no time flat.
Straightened treble hooks is the most common cause of many of the cows I've hooked over the years in gaining their freedom (other than me putting them back).
The only consistant way to avoid this problem is by using a plug with one strong SINGLE hook. A small "stubby" needle with a single fethered hook was developed (by Pichney) just for this purpose. Most stubby needles on the market today are built too large - ideal size for this is 3 - 4 inches. Add a fethered hook and the profile is 6-7 inches. This will work fine IF the bass will take them.
Of course sluggos and live/rigged eels will also allow single hook presentations and a greater hookup/land ratio.
But sometimes they want full size plugs and if that's the case you have to put up with occasional straightened trebles. Better to hookup with a bunch and loose a few than to not hook-up at all.
Adding large heavy duty split rings to your plugs will also help on occasion - it will allow your trebles more room to rotate.
DZ
|