I am on a vacation in the sunshine state this week. The goal? To catch my biggest bass. So, I committed to throwing big bait in search of a giant. Today I had a huge fish take my megabass I Slide 185. He came off right beside the boat. After further inspection I realized the rear treble hook was gone and the split ring was twisted and open. So I cut the lure off and replaced it with my 2nd Megabass I Slide 185. After regrouping I hooked into a second fish. The fish jumped throwing the bait back at the boat. And, again after checking the bait one of the rear trebles had a hook missing. 

 

I was crushed after the first fish. I was mad after the second. I've always heard to change your hardware. But, I always assumed that was over the top on a bait that was pricy from the start. Today I learned my lesson the hard way. I am defeated and disappointed. However, I did find a little redemption later in the day with a nice fish on the R2S S-Waver 168. 

It’s a funny thing paying $$ for baits that have such failing hardware.

Rig your treble hooked swimbaits with dual (2) quality Owner split rings and treble hooks. The split rings should be like a chain link so they allow the treble hook to twist in lieu of being twisted. The hook will hang down lower by 1 split ring length and improves hook to strike ratio.

Tom

15 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

It’s a funny thing paying $$ for baits that have such failing hardware.

Here are a few photos. 

On 12/6/2019 at 6:13 PM, kykayak said:

I am on a vacation in the sunshine state this week. The goal? To catch my biggest bass. So, I committed to throwing big bait in search of a giant. Today I had a huge fish take my megabass I Slide 185. He came off right beside the boat. After further inspection I realized the rear treble hook was gone and the split ring was twisted and open. So I cut the lure off and replaced it with my 2nd Megabass I Slide 185. After regrouping I hooked into a second fish. The fish jumped throwing the bait back at the boat. And, again after checking the bait one of the rear trebles had a hook missing. 

 

I was crushed after the first fish. I was mad after the second. I've always heard to change your hardware. But, I always assumed that was over the top on a bait that was pricy from the start. Today I learned my lesson the hard way. I am defeated and disappointed. However, I did find a little redemption later in the day with a nice fish on the R2S S-Waver 168. 

I recommend these for you 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Hyper_Wire_Split_Rings_Stainless/descpage-OHWSR.html

 

btw - what is the tackle you're fishing these baits on ?

 

A-Jay

Abu Ike series swimbait rod with 20# invizx. 

 

On 12/6/2019 at 6:42 PM, kykayak said:

Abu Ike series swimbait rod with 20# invizx. 

 

Sounds about right.

btw - these are both great treble hooks.

 

A-Jay

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Stinger_Treble_Hook_2X_Black_ST-41/descpage-OSH2XBC.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Stinger_Treble_Hook_3X_ST-56/descpage-OST3X.html

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll have to pick some of this stuff up. And, be better prepared next time. 

It stinks after spending all the money on them, but swimbaits are no different than almost every other bait I buy. As soon as they come out of the package, the stock hooks come off and upgraded hooks go on.

 

I'll echo A-Jay on the hyperwire split rings and Owner hooks. The trick with glide baits is getting the right weight to keep the proper balance to not effect the glide of the bait. A digital kitchen scale can be a big help.

Don't over look using 2 split rings that act like a swivel preventing big fish from getting leverage on the hook. I learned this trick from a stripe bass angler back in the 90's when a big striper destroyed my wooden Huddleston at Castaic. 

I also use Owner terminal tackle STX-58 Zo wire treble hooks and split rings,prices but worth it.  

Tom

 

megabass lures are predominately made for finesse style fishing. If you try to horse a fish at all while hooked on a megabass, you will bend the hooks or open the ring. When you do change the rings and hooks, take into account the light hardware they use is to get the most action out of the lure, and upgrading you will lose some of that.

Owner Zo wire hooks are lighter weight and 2x stronger then hooks that weigh the same . The dual size 3 split rings hold up to 30+ lb stripers. Big bass go where they want to, no finessing them after being hooked. If you don't control big bass you lose them.

Tom

Good advice. What do you guys suggest regarding the S-Waver 168? Change the hooks and rings? If so what size of each? I have caught some 35" pike and a few 3-4lb bass on mine so far with no issues.

On 12/6/2019 at 8:31 PM, kykayak said:

Here are a few photos. 

It looks like the split ring is still in original condition in this photo. Did the ring open or did your hook break off?

It's hard to see in the photo. But the split ring was bent into an oval and opened up. 

21 hours ago, waymont said:

Good advice. What do you guys suggest regarding the S-Waver 168? Change the hooks and rings? If so what size of each? I have caught some 35" pike and a few 3-4lb bass on mine so far with no issues.

S-Waver 168   ST-56 Hooks Size 2, Hyper Wire Split Rings size 4

S-Waver 200   ST-56 Hooks Size 1/0, Hyper Wire Split Rings size 5

 

And totally agree with the double split-rings!

Wow... some really nice discussion here.  Also being new to the swimbait game- With all of these hook options is it more important for the weight to be correct or the size? It seems like there are endless options in regards to- 2x, 3x, 4x, 38,41,56, and zo wire.  Please let me know if I got this right:

 

So the 2x,3x,4x are all just stronger than a like hook of the same gauge.

 

The 38,41,56 is the gauge of the hook

 

And finally Zo wire is 20% thinner than a standard hook at that gauge-  is the zo wire 38 actually 20% smaller than a 38 or is it 38 size and 120% stronger?

 

TIA

On 12/6/2019 at 9:25 PM, WRB said:

Rig your treble hooked swimbaits with dual (2) quality Owner split rings and treble hooks. The split rings should be like a chain link so they allow the treble hook to twist in lieu of being twisted. The hook will hang down lower by 1 split ring length and improves hook to strike ratio.

Tom

X2.

 

Pro's secret that was told to me many years ago.

 

I am just too lazy to make the change.

 

However, I have been known to do this on Rat-L-Traps' back hook fishing lakes.

 

No idea if it helps but I did land a number of lake bass using this setup.

 

I don't do this on rivers as I have lost the Rats to snags. In fact, I remover the rear hook on rivers to avoid snags.

You should contact megabass. Equipping a 7” 2oz bait w/Hardware that fails that easily is flat unacceptable to me. Much less for a $60 bait. 

19 hours ago, dgkasper58 said:

Wow... some really nice discussion here.  Also being new to the swimbait game- With all of these hook options is it more important for the weight to be correct or the size? It seems like there are endless options in regards to- 2x, 3x, 4x, 38,41,56, and zo wire.  Please let me know if I got this right:

 

So the 2x,3x,4x are all just stronger than a like hook of the same gauge.

 

The 38,41,56 is the gauge of the hook

 

And finally Zo wire is 20% thinner than a standard hook at that gauge-  is the zo wire 38 actually 20% smaller than a 38 or is it 38 size and 120% stronger?

 

TIA

2x is double the strength of a regular hook or 1x. Hook strength goes up the ladder one rung at a time;ie 2 times as strong, three times as strong, etc. 

 

The Zo wire 38 is 20% smaller in diameter than a plain 38.

46 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

2x is double the strength of a regular hook or 1x. Hook strength goes up the ladder one rung at a time;ie 2 times as strong, three times as strong, etc. 

 

The Zo wire 38 is 20% smaller in diameter than a plain 38.

Yeah makes sense... I just wasn't sure if the weight is effected by the 2x,3x,4x hook as it is the same size but different strength.  

 

I would think that the hook weight is more important and should be put on packages...