I had a lot of fun today with Z-Man's GOATZ creature bait. Thought I'd share a tweak I did with it that benefited in more than one way. I found that using the lure as an unweighted buzz toad made it want to roll a bit. So I wrapped the hook shank with fine lead wire to add just enough weight to keep the hook keeled. A little super glue kept the wire from loosening up. Then I realized a second perk from the mod. Now the bait sinks head first ever so slowly. I used this to my advantage on three misses today by doing a quick follow up and drop to catch those three bass. It's like reaching for a second rod with a soft plastic chaser. Z-Man recently came out with a frog version of this bait but I like the more slender profile.

 

Nice I used to fish with hard leg frog for awhile. The hook that I PMed you (3/0) actually for that and Zman jerk Shad. I add weight using solid lead core wire cut and climp down to size with pliers. Then secure with shrink tube.

5 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_SoCal said:

Nice I used to fish with hard leg frog for awhile. The hook that I PMed you (3/0) actually for that and Zman jerk Shad. I add weight using solid lead core wire cut and climp down to size with pliers. Then secure with shrink tube.

Gonna use the shrink tube idea. Thnx.

1 hour ago, Catt said:

I use these on small stuff. A bit undersized for these baits.

30 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

I use these on small stuff. A bit undersized for these baits.

 

I use the Pro BulletZ™

 

Ya might wanna look at the Texas Eye Jigheads. They have a swinging head design.

 

Z-man's website offers a large selection of jig heads.

 

Thanks @Catt but all of my fishing is in relatively shallow ponds so my focus is mostly from surface down to just above the bottom so baits need to be neutral to slow sinking.

3 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Thanks @Catt but all of my fishing is in relatively shallow ponds so my focus is mostly from surface down to just above the bottom so baits need to be neutral to slow sinking.

 

You have time to wrap wire around your hook shank but not enough time to file some lead off?

 

Z-Man has jig head designed to fit there lures.

11 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

You have time to wrap wire around your hook shank but not enough time to file some lead off?

 

Z-Man has jig head designed to fit there lures.

I found that screw locks in spite of their hassle with elaztech do a much better job of keeping the GOATs in place. Z-Man's one usable hook, the Chin Lockz doesn't retain the head of the bait like their smaller hooks do with finesse baits.

59 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

I found that screw locks in spite of their hassle with elaztech do a much better job of keeping the GOATs in place. Z-Man's one usable hook, the Chin Lockz doesn't retain the head of the bait like their smaller hooks do with finesse baits.

 

I ain't quite to the level of understanding as a @Team9nine I'm trying really hard. 

 

Another hook I find works really well is Mustad's Grip-Pin. 

I have a thin 1/8 oz. swimbait hook that does a good job of this.