super strike darters - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

american spirit · 10-12-2013, 08:41 AM

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.

Liv2Fish · 10-12-2013, 08:47 AM

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.

tlapinski · 10-12-2013, 09:29 AM

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.

jon2465 · 10-12-2013, 09:41 AM

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

tlapinski · 10-12-2013, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon2465

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?

jon2465 · 10-13-2013, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlapinski

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

Surf Caster · 10-15-2013, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlapinski

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

ivanputski · 10-12-2013, 10:06 AM

He would be the super strike poster boy...

jon2465 · 10-13-2013, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanputski

He would be the super strike poster boy...

as a matter of fact he is lol

chefchris401 · 10-12-2013, 10:18 AM

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

american spirit · 10-12-2013, 11:21 AM

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?

GattaFish · 10-12-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by american spirit

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.
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Mike P · 10-12-2013, 11:46 AM

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.

Higgie · 10-13-2013, 06:20 AM

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

tlapinski · 10-13-2013, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgie

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.

Higgie · 10-13-2013, 07:52 AM

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

GattaFish · 10-13-2013, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgie

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

tlapinski · 10-13-2013, 08:25 AM

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.