Willard...nice after 2 PM

[Tin-Can]

Couldn't stand it anymore yesterday. Was looking so nice outside, left work early, got to WB South and on the water about 2:40 PM. Came out the south marina, ran out to where depth dropped down to 10 ft. and made a right turn. Had a "modified" lure I wanted to try out. Bought some of those soft Storm Swim baits in shad colors last year. Have had several hard hits on them, then whatever it was would release. Figured it out a few weeks ago. Watched a nice walleye hold on to the swim bait tail all the way to the boat, then open it's mouth, look up and me, and I swear I could hear it do the naa,naa,naa thing at me and take off.
I did a pretty rough modification to the lure by adding a trailer hook.
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Just a #1 Mustad bait hook poked into the tail. Some 10# Stren looped thru the hook eye, then tied to the lure eye. Sure looks rough, but it sure worked ! 10 minutes on the water yesterday running toward Freeway Bay, 2.5 - 2.9 mph.

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Wiper #1 kept

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On the water 40 min. Wiper #2 kept

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On the water 1 hr. 4 min. Wiper #3 kept

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Wiper #4 CPR

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Wiper #5 CPR

Sat at anchor in Freeway Bay an hour or so. Soaking worms. Got a double hit. Both rods bouncing and drags screaming. Tightened up the drag on one rod, and reeled in the other (Wiper #4) Had my limit in the livewell already, so let # 4 go. Went to the other rod, and I guess while working with #4, that one un-buttoned and split. Decided my Storm Swim bait modification test was good enough, and headed back to marina. Just off the feed lot in 9 ft water running at 3 mph, hooked up # 5 and did the CPR thing there also.

Final score for about 3 hours on the water 2 hits and misses (1 Wiper, 1 Crappie) 5 Wiper boated, 2 released. 3 Wipers now residing in the freezer for next fish fry.

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[RockyRaab]

I'd be worried that the trailer would change the tail action. Look into a trailer hook made for spinnerbaits. They have a larger than standard eyeand come with a short piece of plastic tubing. Slip the tubing over the trailer hook eye and then stick the main hook through the tubing and eye. The tubing keeps the trailer hook from coming off, and also holds it steadier.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmt8AAfu89o
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[Springbuck]

Looks like it worked! I have added trailer hooks to things like that, too. Maybe they bit in spite of it, and maybe you actually improved the action! I have taken even stronger line and just tied a hook to bend of the main hook and it worked. Doesn't interfere with main hook. Also once used a needle to thread heavy line through the bait and tied that to the eye shank, then added a small treble that came out low and back on the belly.

Just in case you want to try version 2.0 later.
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[utahgolf]

nice!! I'm a swim bait nut and always have to rig up stinger hooks......It looks like it worked for you but if you didn't like the action of the tail and what not, the way I run my stinger hooks is to tie leader to the shank of the hook and tie on a small treble and I stick one hook right into the spine of the tail. a small treb wouldn't mess much at all with the action.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000ff]One other suggestion is to make your stinger hook a red one. There are now red versions of popular spinnerbait stinger hooks...and more than a few guys have been pleased with the results.


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[utahgolf]

the only problem with a spinnerbait trailer hook is that those soft plastic tails foul a lot easier on them. nothing more frustrating than wasting casts.
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[Tin-Can]

All you guys, thanks for the additional suggestions. I never figured I was the first or only person to try something like this. Since I'm not casting this swim bait, I'm not too worried how it casts out. But I'll remember that for the ones that I do cast. Since I am usually trolling this one and only at Willard for Wiper, and because of the water depth (or lack of it), and speed it is trolled at most of the time, this swim bait does more nose diving and bouncing off the bottom that running with tail action. TD, the red hook idea I will have to give a shot. I've replaced many of my lipless crank bait trebbles with "Bleeder" trebbles, and they have had a variety of increase in hits.
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[Springbuck]

Exactly like that, except I tied them on with line about 3/8" from shank to eye. Those stick out rigid in the back, better.
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