super spook hook upgrade

After tusseling with a smallish schoolie stripe, I noticed that the POS stock hooks on my Super Spook were bent. I got some #2 owner and gamakatsu from Bay Tackle, but at least the gama's are too big to change out all three locations w/o tangling.

I should've check http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/askgary/archive.html

"Q  Could you please tell us what style and size replacement hooks you would use on the Lucky Craft Sammys and lucky craft ripbaits. Also what replacement hooks would you use on the Zara Super Spook and Smithwick Roques ripbaits. Do you know where the new size 3 and 5 Gamakatsu treble hooks can be purchased. I haven't been able to find them even on the internet.

A  When it comes to replacing hooks, I like to up-size if possible without changing the action of the bait.  I am a firm believer in Gamakatsu trebles.  Its hard to tell you what hooks to use on what baits because there are all different size Sammys and ripbaits.  On the Super Spook, I will usually replace the two end #4 with #2 leaving the #4 in the middle.  If you change out the middle hook, they tangle too often.  With Gamakatsu's new size, #3, I have been playing around with all #3's on Super Spooks.  It's working very well.  Up-size whenever you can.  It will help you catch some of those slapping fish that aren't eating the bait.  I alternate between round bend and EWG style hooks.  Always remember the round bends are stronger and the EWG's have a little bit wider gap.  Any store that carries the Gamakatsu hooks can get the #3 or #5.  Another hook that you might consider is the 2X strong trebles.  For big fish or stripers, these are awesome.  They are not heavy enough that they change actions on baits.  Almost a must with swimbaits. "

I'm thinking of leaving the #2's in, and experimenting with some weight on the middle eye to see the walking effects. 6 points seems like plenty, anyhow.

mikechin

On Super Spooks, I take take the middle hook off completely and use Gamakatsu #2 Extra wide gap treble front and rear. I use 50 lb. braid line and need the hooks to straighten out if I hang up,but you really gotta pull to bend them. I'm not  sure you could bend them from a kayak.

Excalibur trebles work good in hooking em.  Haven't had em (up to 15 lbs so far) pull the hook straight.  When they get hooked on the Spook, they are generally hitting the bait in the middle.
 
It always surprises me how many times they boil on the Spook without being hooked.  How can they smack 9 hook points and not get hooked?  However, with the Excaliburs, I get more hook sets.  The Ex looks fragile, but they do grab em.

Walk the dog!   

Excalibur trebles work good in hooking em

I have good luck with them also but they make me nervous they distort pretty easily only hooks I have seen that sharp are the Owner Cutting Points.

Yeah, the Excaliburs look flimsy and easy to bend, but the way they are angled and their sharpness may have something to do with their ability to not let go once they connect.  That could be a pain (literally).

Sometimes those big bulky hooks may be working against themselves because the hook points may not penetrate all the way through fast enough before the fish reacts.  When that happens, the fish, by using leverage at the point, can bend some mighty thick hooks.

I'm using #2 Gamas on the head and tail, plus a small leadshot on the middle to experiment with more/less tail down action. It seems to work well (i.e., I haven't screwed it up totally)

One annoyance is that there seems to be a hairline crack on the top of the Spook, and after a half hour or so it sits noticeably lower in the water, making walking a bit harder. I've tried patching it with some Flexament, but it fell off; I think I'll try aquaseal next.

mike

The Spook is one of my favorite lures to use for top water action.  Have caught many fresh and salt water predators with them.  Seagulls and birds of prey will attack them.  If you fish at night, be ready to reclaim one from an owl.  Sometimes just getting a good walking the dog action is satisfaction in itself.

The most important thing for me when walking the dog is a particular spiting of water, I call it wagging tail and head, immediately in front and back of the Spook.  In time you will be able to hear a "chik, chik" sound to know that the Spook is happy.

Yeah, any changes to the float level of the Spook will change its action.  Even a line change will effect how the Spook "walks."  I can't prove it, but the weight of the hooks and how they swing when walking the dog can effect the Spook.

I have not removed the middle hook before.  The fish seems to get hooked the most with the middle hook.  Let me know what your hook success rate is after the change.   

I tried the #2 Gama only on the middle eye, and 3/4" mono bits to hang splitshot on the ends. I wanted a heads-up angle, so I stuck two on the back versus one shot in front. The walking looks good, and on a recent outing I got 3 blowups. The first two I felt the weight of the fish, but they came off after a few seconds. It's possible I flubbed the hooksets from buck fever. On the 3rd hit I really struck back hard, and gave absolutely no slack during the tussle. When I got the striper to the yak, I found that the hook was embedded on the underside of his head, in the throat area about where the gill plates terminate. Maybe the fish are swatting the Spook with the heads during the initial strike?

The single barbless treble was easy to get out with a pistol-grip DeHooker, I never had to touch the fish or take it out of the water. No trip to the ER, hurray!

So my stats so far are:

3 trebles - two hits, one landed
2 trebles - two hits, one landed
1 treble - three hits, one landed
mikechin