Did you use the Butch Brown rig on yours? I have a few and am contemplating rigging them that way. I was just wondering if people have had trouble with their hookup ratio using the stock hook.

That fish was actually caught on a bait rigged with a 2/0 owner on the belly.  Since then I've really gotten away from that.  That fish absolutely inhaled the bait.  The "bump" from the fish eating the bait didn't even feel real... 

My method for hook now is simple, I use one head hook on the top of the bait VERY similar to the butch brown rig, the only thing I change is I actually use a split ring on the head instead of the cable and crimp.  I was using that for a while and absolutely loved it, however I broke a fish off on that rig and it really didn't sit well since it was in a tournament.  We ended up with 31.37 for that day and that fish would have put that weight a bit higher.  I was REALLY not happy, so I just sick with a split ring instead.  I use a size 1 gamakatsu round bend, years ago I would have said that is not stout enough but I haven't had problems with it so I am sticking to it.  If you have more questions, please feel free to let me know.  I wish the fish still ate them here the way they did 5-6 years ago, things were truly incredible.

That fish was actually caught on a bait rigged with a 2/0 owner on the belly.  Since then I've really gotten away from that.  That fish absolutely inhaled the bait.  The "bump" from the fish eating the bait didn't even feel real... 

My method for hook now is simple, I use one head hook on the top of the bait VERY similar to the butch brown rig, the only thing I change is I actually use a split ring on the head instead of the cable and crimp.  I was using that for a while and absolutely loved it, however I broke a fish off on that rig and it really didn't sit well since it was in a tournament.  We ended up with 31.37 for that day and that fish would have put that weight a bit higher.  I was REALLY not happy, so I just sick with a split ring instead.  I use a size 1 gamakatsu round bend, years ago I would have said that is not stout enough but I haven't had problems with it so I am sticking to it.  If you have more questions, please feel free to let me know.  I wish the fish still ate them here the way they did 5-6 years ago, things were truly incredible.

 

I haven't looked at mine much yet as I haven't used them, but how did you rig the split ring on the top? Is there a piece on the top where you can attach a split ring?

I haven't looked at mine much yet as I haven't used them, but how did you rig the split ring on the top? Is there a piece on the top where you can attach a split ring?

I actually attach it to the line tie, plenty of room to still tie to the bait.  So on the line tie, you end up with a split ring attached and laying flat against the top of the bait, with your hook buried into the head of the bait (same as Butch's rig) then your line tied in front of it towards the nose of the bait.  Hope this makes sense.