I've never gotten a fish on a Sweet Beaver, except on by accident (I had it rigged up, and my rod fell against the bank, and the beaver hit the water and a bass nabbed it...).  I know by looking at them and watching their action that they should work, so last night I headed out with just some beavers, and they finally produced.  I tried them t-rigged, c-rigged first, but got nothing.  Finally tried them weightless and got 8 fish over an hour and a half.  What was not so cool, is I would have landed 20 fish if I had hooked every one.  At first I was using a straight shank #3 Owner, and was missing a bunch.  Then I moved to a #3 Gammy EWG, and began catching, but still missing.  I tried a #4, but it was too big... Anyhow, I missed 150% more fish than I landed. I did not have the hook point buried, but had it resting in that little groove.  Don't know what I was doing wrong.  I detected bites no problem, and was setting the hook as hard as I normally do.  On several of the lost fish, I could see that I was yanking the bait completely out of the fish's mouth - they had completely taken it in.. .Help.

Also, I tried an experiment with the beavers...  I began throwing one without the claw section in front separated, and got no fish and no bites.  I pulled the flaps apart, and got some fish/bites.  I kept alternating, but if I left the claw flaps together, I didn't even get a bite...Anyone experienced that?

3/0 gamakatsu g-lock style hook.......maybe invest in some parasites that should help that, I've never tried them,never had a problem like this, but i have had knock off senkos that were too hard and couldn't hook-up, all you have to do is work the hook back and forth through the hook EXIT point to improve hook ups.

You mention #3 and #4 hooks. I assume you mean 3/0 and 4/0, but if not, then you need the larger hooks. I assume you use strong enough line and a rod with enough backbone for those hooksets.

Sorry, yes, they were 3/0 & 4/0...

It's the same rod I use when I fish most soft plastics other than frogs.  I use a med/heavy rod, 12lb red cast cajun, and slam the hook home on them usually... Should I switch to my frog rod?

What rod set up are you using on frogs ?

Jeff

I use them in moss with a 5/0 EWG GAMY hook and haven't lost a fish yet.

I slam the fish around here on beavers t-rigged on a 3/0 gammy wide gap SUPERLINE hook and a 3/8oz bullet weight, and I throw em on a 7' Medium Heavy action rod with 15lb. seaguar fluorocarbon or 50lb stren super braid for heavy flippin

The Sweet Beaver and the Paca craw are flat out the best soft baits I have ever used, I catch bass on them everwhere I go

What is your rod's power rating and the line you're using? It is possible one of those could be a cuplrit or probably cause if it is not the hook.

Also, try rigging them backward and weightless. They'll drift away from you on a slack line. Nice way to get into tight spots where other baits would float back toward the angler.

Sorry, yes, they were 3/0 & 4/0...

It's the same rod I use when I fish most soft plastics other than frogs. I use a med/heavy rod, 12lb red cast cajun, and slam the hook home on them usually... Should I switch to my frog rod?

Sounds like you're doing what you're supposed to be doing. That rod should be more than adequate for the job, the EWG (well-sharpened) are good, so I wonder about the line. I know nothing about that line, but I wonder if maybe it has too much stretch for that technique.

At this point, I'd try braid, just making that one change, and do what you're doing now and see if the line makes a difference.

the sweet beaver has been very productive for me over the years.

I generally use it as a flipping bait with a 1/2 ounce screw in type weight and pitch it right into the thick stuff.  Never tried one weightless, but will soon.

P.S.  I find that for any soft plastic bait that's not too thick that a 4/0 owner worm hook gives me much better hook ups than an EWG.

Rod is med-heavy, 6.5 ft Calico Jack/Hurricane.  Quick tip.  Line is 12lb Cajun Red Cast.  I'm going to try the larger hooks tomorrow...

I have caught a lot of fish on the Sweet Beaver, I use a 6.6 Allstar

M/H with 17 lb Stren and a 4/0 X-Point hook and 3/16 weight. I very seldom miss a fish. I'm thinking Line, But then again I use the Red line also at times. It could be small fish that you are losing.

Thanks all - it was the hook I think.  Switched to 4/0 straight worm hook, nailed 5 out of 5 today on the beaver.  My daughter got 3 on one as well...