So I am new to the Deps Bull Flat 4.8, what hook type/size are y'all using for them?  And how are you rigging them?  I know about texas rig and free rig, but was curious about other rigs? 

weighted beast hooks.  

 

i'm fishing the 3.8's and i use a EWG hook, and i put a tiny split shot on the line right in front.  it spirals down.  i'm impressed as all get out, but the fish think it looks dumb.  zero bites here domestically.  in Mexico, it on En Fuego.  

 

i think a weighted hook it would hang glider down.  

4/0 Haymaker  - 3/16 oz free rig

Haymaker and beast hook in 4/0 have been what I've used in the past.  

 

Not to derail, but I saw a Japanese video the other day with a guy swimming it on a football head.  Almost like the alabama shake for a swim jig.  Gave it a try with a 1/2oz head and got 6-7 fish, 5 on one bait.  Some fish smashed it, others just loaded up.  Definitely seems like an effective method.

 

scott

 

PS - this is the video I copied....

 

 

 

Deps recommends 5/0.

 

 

2 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Haymaker and beast hook in 4/0 have been what I've used in the past.  

 

Not to derail, but I saw a Japanese video the other day with a guy swimming it on a football head.  Almost like the alabama shake for a swim jig.  Gave it a try with a 1/2oz head and got 6-7 fish, 5 on one bait.  Some fish smashed it, others just loaded up.  Definitely seems like an effective method.

 

scott

 

PS - this is the video I copied....

 

 

 

I need to try this. 

6/0 mustad grip pin, it's not a giant hook... on a carolina rig

19 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Haymaker and beast hook in 4/0 have been what I've used in the past.  

 

Not to derail, but I saw a Japanese video the other day with a guy swimming it on a football head.  Almost like the alabama shake for a swim jig.  Gave it a try with a 1/2oz head and got 6-7 fish, 5 on one bait.  Some fish smashed it, others just loaded up.  Definitely seems like an effective method.

 

scott

 

PS - this is the video I copied....

 

 

 

I definitely need to try this too!
 

 i like to fish them deep in summer. i use 3/8 weighted beast hook. the glide to the bottom ina kind of spiral. lift it pop it a little bit and let it glide again.

On 6/3/2025 at 5:21 PM, softwateronly said:

Haymaker and beast hook in 4/0 have been what I've used in the past.  

 

Not to derail, but I saw a Japanese video the other day with a guy swimming it on a football head.  Almost like the alabama shake for a swim jig.  Gave it a try with a 1/2oz head and got 6-7 fish, 5 on one bait.  Some fish smashed it, others just loaded up.  Definitely seems like an effective method.

 

scott

 

PS - this is the video I copied....

 

 

 

 

Have a package not opened yet.

 

Original idea was a free rig. 

 

I like that football head idea.

 

Seems like that would work AMAZING!

@softwateronly

 

What jig are you fishing with?

 

I found a 1/2 oz football jig but the hook size is only 3/0.

 

Seems small with what everyone is saying.

 

Thanks!

44 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Have a package not opened yet.

 

Original idea was a free rig. 

 

I like that football head idea.

 

Seems like that would would AMAZING!

 

It has floored me with how effective it is.  Last year was my first year with it and I only free rigged it and beast hooked it.  Since I started swimming it on the football; I haven't gone back yet.  I throw it up toward the shallow; count it down 5-8' then start my retrieve.  I continuously light pop it with very short handle turns and it seems to almost hover in place or slowly descend while offering a panfish profile.  I try to trace the weedtops and the bass on my lake seem always willing to come up and get it.  This morning it was the deal; about 8-10 more decent ones.

 

scott

 

 

 

 

18 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

@softwateronly

 

What jig are you fishing with?

 

I found a 1/2 oz football jig but the hook size is only 3/0.

 

Seems small with what everyone is saying.

 

Thanks!

 

I have boss wreckingball and stand-up football jigs.  They are not heavy wire hooks; I'd guess it's a 5/0 medium wire.  Today was a 3/8oz standup head.  It's closer to fishing a jighead minnow than I previously thought.  You can trace the bottom, but they have a lot of drawing power fished mid-column.

 

scott

 

PS- I think a 3/0 is worth trying.  I'm not really setting the hook hard, I pop it from 2 o'clock to 1 o'clock; I feel weight, drop to 3 o'clock and start to reel into them and lift up to 12 o'clock.  Really high hook up percentage so far.  I fish it on a shimano PA 7'2H/F which is actually more moderate than it looks like on paper.

13 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

 

It has floored me with how effective it is.  Last year was my first year with it and I only free rigged it and beast hooked it.  Since I started swimming it on the football; I haven't gone back yet. 

 

 

Yeah it took about 1 second of watching the underwater video you posted to have me hooked.

 

So glad I found this old post.

 

Thanks again!

OK which one of you turds was just on Tackle Warehouse??????? LOL

 

Had the last one in my cart and someone just snagged it.

You guys don’t think that a 4/0 beast is too small for the 4.8”? 

50 minutes ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

You guys don’t think that a 4/0 beast is too small for the 4.8”? 

I only throw the 3.8, and I use a 3/0 Gamakatsu skip gap on it so a 4/0 should be plenty for the 4.8.

36 minutes ago, ElGuapo928 said:

I only throw the 3.8, and I use a 3/0 Gamakatsu skip gap on it so a 4/0 should be plenty for the 4.8.

Do you think the 6/0 beast would be too much? I dont have any 4/0s right now. 

4 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

You guys don’t think that a 4/0 beast is too small for the 4.8”? 

At Deps very own website, they recommend 5/0 for the 4.8"

3 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

Do you think the 6/0 beast would be too much? I dont have any 4/0s right now. 

I personally don’t like a hook that big, as it affects the action. That said, measure one up - if it fits lengthwise, give it a go.

14 hours ago, RRocket said:

At Deps very own website, they recommend 5/0 for the 4.8"

what about a 5/0 flashy swimmer with the blade removed?? Am i crazy?

22 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

what about a 5/0 flashy swimmer with the blade removed?? Am i crazy?

 

Or with the blade attached.

 

5/0 weighted pierce is my hook of choice.  The Owner should be fine. 6/0 Beast is a bit large but it works.

On 8/7/2025 at 1:04 PM, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

what about a 5/0 flashy swimmer with the blade removed?? Am i crazy?

Sure, why not? 

 

I do this all the time with Duo Realis Spin Hook (though not with the Bull Flat)