I have had tremendous success throwing the 6th Sense Flat 75X flat sided squarebill crankbait so far this spring (I even caught a 26 lb 2 ounce bag using it so far). However, I have also lost about 6 of them due to snagging in brush. The way this bait is currently setup it comes through brush horrendously compared to a Strike 1.5 or even a Spro Little Jon.

 

The stock hooks on this bait are pretty big so I am wondering if I can change them out to something different that might find snags a little less often. All I know about the current hooks are that they are VMC black nickel. I have included a picture of the hooks, maybe someone can help me identify/describe them a little better, as well as suggest an alternative that might not snag as much. Thanks!

 

**I have both a hound dog plug knocker and a lure retriever pole and have still lost that many. Have saved way more.

I've taken the back treble off in the past and had success fishing it in spots where you'd normally hang quite a bit. 

You could try CoverStrike hook guards; TW.

Tom

44 minutes ago, WRB said:

You could try CoverStrike hook guards; TW.

Tom

Do those work well Tom?

You might try changing out the hooks and going with some that are one size smaller and have the short shank.

29 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

You might try changing out the hooks and going with some that are one size smaller and have the short shank.

Do you suggest any short shank hooks specifically?

Hard to tell for certain, but the hooks look like short shank EWGs already. They would be better than round bend for coming through cover, but might also be worse for popping free of cover once snagged. You could go smaller, but you risk missing some fish if you go too small. Crankbaits coming through cover has a lot to do with design of the bait, and it might simply be a poor design for heavy brush.  Might have to use a different bait in specific cover instances. Also, the bait only runs 5' deep. How do you lose half a dozen baits in this case? Are you simply throwing it into areas where you can't get a boat to it to retrieve when hung? 

5 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Hard to tell for certain, but the hooks look like short shank EWGs already. They would be better than round bend for coming through cover, but might also be worse for popping free of cover once snagged. You could go smaller, but you risk missing some fish if you go too small. Crankbaits coming through cover has a lot to do with design of the bait, and it might simply be a poor design for heavy brush.  Might have to use a different bait in specific cover instances. Also, the bait only runs 5' deep. How do you lose half a dozen baits in this case? Are you simply throwing it into areas where you can't get a boat to it to retrieve when hung? 

On 10-lb Invizx the bait will run almost 10 feet. I didn’t believe it until I was snagged and had to extend my lure retriever (15’) all the way to reach the bottom when it was snagged. This has happened several times.

 

I think you are right that it is probably more about lure design than hooks for getting snagged (the angle it runs in the water), but I think it is at least worth a try with some different hooks.

3 hours ago, Bass Turd said:

Do those work well Tom?

I don't know but would help. The OP is using a flat side crankbait not designed to wobble through light brush cover and can't see why the Cover Strike hook guards wouldn't work, they snap on the original hooks and can be removed.

Tom

IMO, downsizing the hooks is going to cost you fish. The stock hooks appear to be short shanks, so unless you can find shorter ones, switching them out is moot.  As Tom mentioned, you're using a flat sided crank in an area that it isn't designed to be fished.  I've used SK's flat sided cranks in wood cover (not brush), but I also carry both an extendable and standard lure retriever. Removing the rear hook can reduce hang-ups, but will likely reduce your catch rate.

Where you're fishing it is likely the reason for its success, more so than the tight wiggle. My advice is to stick with a fat body crank for brush and use small split rings and short shank hooks. 

14 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

IMO, downsizing the hooks is going to cost you fish. The stock hooks appear to be short shanks, so unless you can find shorter ones, switching them out is moot.  As Tom mentioned, you're using a flat sided crank in an area that it isn't designed to be fished.  I've used SK's flat sided cranks in wood cover (not brush), but I also carry both an extendable and standard lure retriever. Removing the rear hook can reduce hang-ups, but will likely reduce your catch rate.

Where you're fishing it is likely the reason for its success, more so than the tight wiggle. My advice is to stick with a fat body crank for brush and use small split rings and short shank hooks. 

I mostly throw it into rip rap jetties. However, along these jetties sometimes are submerged logs or out on the end of the jetties submerged brushpiles. I've actually tried throwing both an SK 1.5 and 2.5 and was not able to produce a bite. Switched over to the flat side and game on. On another day when I was out fishing a buddy tournament, the guy I was fishing with was throwing a fat body crank and didn't catch a fish. I was throwing the Flat 75 and I caught all of the fish we weighed (we ended up 4th out of 27). That was a little earlier when the water was cooler (upper 40's - lower 50's) so I suspect, that had something to do with why the fish only wanted the tight wiggle. Now that the water has warmed up to lower 60's the fat body may work again.

 

Just trying to find a work around for getting this bait through wood better. The fact just may be that the design of the bait doesn't really allow that.

 

Will try @WRB's advice and use the Cover Strike guards. What size do the hooks look? What size CoverStrike should I get?

Not familiar with the lure, guess would be size 4 or 2 ?

Tom

Been doing this for a long time.   Take wire cutters.  Cut off the barb etc on the front hook that hangs the lowest of the 3 so you now have only 2 hooks instead of 3.  It makes a big difference.  

I fish the same spots from shore. Sometimes I snag what I lost. I went there with a grapple and brought up a 2” x 10” board from the last bridge construction. I didn’t lose any more stuff there.

Try using the Owner single hook replacements, they should snag a little less.

12 hours ago, Deeare said:

Been doing this for a long time.   Take wire cutters.  Cut off the barb etc on the front hook that hangs the lowest of the 3 so you now have only 2 hooks instead of 3.  It makes a big difference.  

Thats your solution. I do it with rattle traps and my older discontinued Rick Clunns that I cant bear to lose...Works great. It also helps tremendously if you're trying to fish crankbaits in areas with a lot of filamentous algae

14 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Do you suggest any short shank hooks specifically?

I would recommend gamakatsu short shank hooks.

Check this out. But I've seen someone take the reel off the rod and sort of push the rod down the line to knock a plug loose. I wouldn't do that with a $100+ rod to get a $6 lure back.

 

Don't do it like vedio instructs! The Rod tip guide can snag a hook and now your Rod is snagged with a high % chance of breaking it off. Get lure knocker!

Tom

This video says remove the rear hook to use a lipless crank around wood.

The other option, which I don't see mentioned alot, is to replace the trebles with VMC "Inline" single hooks. I've been using them for a couple of seasons now on blade baits, so I know they work against snags. And I'm none the less for wear as far as hookup ratio goes. Just a thought.

M

28 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

The other option, which I don't see mentioned alot, is to replace the trebles with VMC "Inline" single hooks.

maybe because they don't sell them at TW....weird...not that there aren't other places to shop, but TW does get 90% of my business

There are suppliers of fine fishing tackle other than TW.

It's probably your bait @Dirtyeggroll I like them too, but they don't come through cover very well at all compared to something like a 1.5. I think the narrow design tends to wedge in stuff. I don't know if changing hooks is going to help you any. 

 

You might try to make some plug knockers with some 1oz bell sinkers and cheap snaps. When you get snagged just get as straight above the bait as you can and slide the sinker down the line so it bangs into the bait. If the initial hit doesn't knock it loose then try to lift and drop, work around at different angles because the sinker will be flopping around down there above the bait and jerking it all different directions and will often work it loose eventually. Just another option if the lure retriever isn't getting able to get down to the bait for you. Works when it's getting stuck in small cracks in wood or rocks sometimes. 

On 5/3/2018 at 3:08 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:

I have had tremendous success throwing the 6th Sense Flat 75X flat sided squarebill crankbait so far this spring (I even caught a 26 lb 2 ounce bag using it so far). However, I have also lost about 6 of them due to snagging in brush. 

 

1 stop complaining. most of us only dream of having access to water this good.

 

2 on a more serious note... buy a Jewel Bait Hound Dog Lure Retriever