Softener Question

[Jester]

I have a friend that likes to fish shaky heads on 10 lb line. I gave him a few 6" skinny carrots to try out this weekend and he said that he loved the action of the regular CCM plastic. The problem he has is that the plastic was too tough for him to get a good hook set on 10 lb line. Should I add softener to the CCM regular plastic and if so how much or use the CCM soft formula? I'm guessing he is wanting the plastic soft enough for the hook to be able to tear through the plastic when he sets the hook. Not sure if this is possible or not. I've never used the soft plastic or the softener so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dennis

[andrewlamberson]

Ummm...something is amiss.... I use 8lb test most of the time...with no issues. Maybe he shouldn't be trying to set the hook...with an ultra light rod???

Seriously...I would be more inclined to look at the rod...or super stretchy line....than the plastic. I use regular and I find it hard to believe that the plastic could have any effect. If he wants to stay with 10lb (or less) he is probably going to have to go to a medium action rod (or heavier) or an open hook (jig).

The other thing is....does he run the hook all the way through the worm...and then "skin hook it"?? The hook point should be all the way out of the bait...sitting flat on the top of the worm and just barely hooked into the top of the worm to protect the point from weeds.

The more I think about it ...I think it's a rigging issue...the worm should push down the hook...not the hook tear through the bait.

[Jason]

Andy nailed this with the rigging.

Jason

[superharmonix]

Andy nailed this with the rigging.

Jason

X2.  The first time I ever skin hooked a bait, I thought to myself, "What a concept!  I wonder how many fish I lost that would have been in the boat?"

[ctom]

I use softener quite a bit in small, crappie/panfish sized baits but I wouldn't suggest it in any bass sized baits at all.

[Jester]

Cool. Thanks for the input guys. I'm not sure how he is rigging the bait or what size hook he is trying to use. He did say that the skinny carrot was much larger than the bait he normally uses. So it may be a hook size issue as well.

Thanks,
Dennis

[Justin9j]

Dennis, 

I don't use anything smaller then a 4/0 in my shaky heads with 5in skinny carrot.  And skin hook it like Andy said.  Don't have trouble on hook ups.  Before i started skin hooking I did have some trouble with hook sets.   

[floridagrimp]

anyone have pic of skin hooking a bait??

[Jason]

Here's a good pic:



and article on rigging from Bassdozer.com

http://bassdozerstore.blogspot.com/2012/08/shake-hands-with-bassdozers-flat-shakey.html

Jason

[floridagrimp]

I generally put hook on the side, barely getting a little plastic.



****I am working on a bait where u insert a small explosive charge inside bait and when certain amount of pressure is applied it goes off (u have to careful rigging it!)  sure, a few innocent fish get axed...and you lose a few ounces in tourneys with dead fish, but you can pick and choose a good limit most every time out!!...and the birds, raccoons, crabs,crawdads, et al  eat better with all the "floaters"