Rigging soft rubber baits - problem with hook tearing out.

[Keoeeit]

In a recent trip to some fantastic bass fishing in Florida, I was
turned onto an excellent soft-rubber bait, called the Super Fluke (from
Zoom Baits)

I've never gotten so many hits on one lure type before, under many
conditions (I find the same holds true with them up in MN now too).
However, there's a problem. The rubber is so soft that after only about
5-6 hard hits it's easy to for the hook to tear out of the body of the
bait, making the bait useless to re-rig it after that.

If I thread the hook through the center of the bait the bait lays
nicely and performs the best, but then the hook tears out the easiest.

If I thread the tip of the hook through the front, out the back, and
then down into the space in the center (a weedless rubber design), the
hook holds a little better but it's hard to get the bait to lay
straight and behave as well.

Are there any simple methods to rig these super-soft rubber baits so a
hook won't tear out so easily? Any specialized hooks or other simple
wire-wraps or something that could be used? I'm pretty creative, but I
can't seem to think of something that might help.

[Rick]

I have run into the same situation. Soft plastic baits do not last
long after being hit a few times. I also pour my own plastic baits and
started to add a little hardner to them to get them to last a bit
longer. You then have the toss up on do you use a harder bait so it
lasts longer or a softer bait to get the fish to hold a bit longer? If
the bait is expensive.. that can be a problem.. that is one reason I
started pouring my own plastic baits..
1. I can pour them at a lower cost per bait..
2. I can custom color by baits color/glitter to what works best in a
given area and not worry about whether the bait shop or Walmart has any
in stock.
The draw back for me is having a plastic that works well that I do not
have a mold for and have not been able to duplicate/create a mold and
is on the expensive side.
I've seen fluke molds out there and as I recall it is not a difficult
bait to copy.
If you fish alot.. might be an answer for you.
Rick

[76247texan]

Ok, here goes, this may sound really but if you use panty hose...dont laugh...I use that when I fish for Catfish using livers or punch baid...the odor is not stopped or sealed off and it holds your bait intact..

 

I know it sounds crazy...but it should be tried..

 

tight lines and wet hooks..

 

Mark

Rick <VARickb...@yahoo.com> wrote:

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[Keoeeit]

Thanks for the replies. Not sure I'd want to get into actually making
those baits, but that's always a good option.

I'll think more on a way where using some fine nylon-netting might
help. Maybe a strip of it laid along the bait to help distribute the
pressure of the hook against the soft-pastic or something. Would be
nice if they embedded a layer of that inside of the bait though, but I
suppose the mfg's are more interested in selling more than ones that
will last.