Hook slot or no

[2XL]

I saw a fishing show a while back where they were casting a jerk bait akin to the 4-5" Watz-it to shallow water (fresh water/river fishing) and twitching it back to the boat. I think that could be a good tactic to try on the local river here = I want to order one of the Watz it molds. I will be using a light jig to cast and vertical jig these baits but I don't know if would make any difference whether the bait had or didn't have a hook slot. My guess is that the slot is more a fishing technique related thing than anything but I really don't know.  Thanks for any input. 

[ctom]

I'd just order the bait slotted and if you want baits without the slot just leave the blade out of the mold and trim the flash. Or get a second plate and use a Dremel to remove the portion that creates the slot and use it as a plug.

[2XL]

So the hook slot is formed by an insert ?

[Muskygary]

Yes, On the plastic bait, the insert is usually a piece of metal. These baits (with the hook slot) are intended for fishing with a tex spose hook. If you want to use a jighead just put the jighead in the normal way. The hook slot will be below the jig hook and will not interfere with the jig rigging. There are some open pour swimbaits with the hookslot molded into the mold, but once again you can rig these either way.

[2XL]

Cool. Thanks guys

[pjmcla]

On the Wutz-Its the hook slot is an integral part of the mold.  Ctom and Muskygary are speaking about the generic layout of most swim / minnow baits.  And they are correct.  But with the Wutz-It  mold the hook slot is milled into the mold.  If you are going to use a jig head, the non-hook slot mold will provide for a firmer hook purchase; but, will make using the bait as a pure twitch bait more difficult.   The head of the Wutz-It is fairly large; and if you use some super glue, I am sure that you would not have problems with using the hook slotted bait  ( my personal opinion ).   

[2XL]

That's kind of what I thought as the pic of the mold looked like the slot was milled into it. I'm really good at over thinking things like this and in the end, the hook slot deal probably doesn't matter one way or the other anyway. LOL  I've been Jonesing for a new mold for a while now so I think I'll go with the 4" Watz-it and see what kind of mess I can make.
Thanks

[DF]

There is a great video from Marc on the Wutz-It here on his blog http://www.thelureofthefish.blogspot.com/  .

[pjmcla]

You will really like the 4 inch model.  It has a very minnow like look and action.  It is an excellent twitch bait ( only way I have used it ) but others do use it with a jig head.

[Partycrasher]

As the guys have said, you can still use them with a jig head even if you have the slot.  When I know for sure I am going to use them on a jig head (Lake Michigan Trout) I take them out of the mold and flip them on their back.  Then I hand pour some plastic in the hook groove which adds a little more substance to that area.

Its a great mold. 

Marc

[2XL]

I saw that video a while back DF. It's what first got me thinking how I could use a bait like that on the river. The fishing show I saw recently really got me thinking. I'm wanting to fish some of the bigger eddies on the river here. Depths can vary but nobody fishes them and I'm betting the Watz-it or similar bait on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig head with a 1/0 hook would work well if I twitch it while letting the current slowly move it along.

Good idea Partycrasher. That would be easy enough to do.

To those of you who fish this on a jig, what style head are you using ? I like Marcs idea of using a gliding style jig head.

Thanks for the input guys. I knew I could count on you guys to convince me to buy this mold. LOL

[Mike J]

I don't have the watz it but I've caught a lot of walleye and sauger on similar baits rigged on a jig head.  I mostly fish them vertical drifting with the current. Drop the jig and plastic to the bottom pick it up about a foot. Then give the rod tip 5 or 6 quick shakes up and down maybe 6". Then hold still for 30 seconds then repeat.  Fall walleye and sauger on the Mississippi River will hit this presentation pretty violently during the pause.

[Partycrasher]

The 1/4 or 3/8th ounce Bullet or Darter head is my favorite.  I've gone to 1/2 ounce when I am using them deeper than 25 feet on Lake Michigan.

Marc

[2XL]

That's how I fish Super Dos here Mike. Basically dead stick them. You're right, the fish just hammer those baits.

Can the bullet head mold JBS 6 A take a 570 or Matzuo Sickle  hook or does a guy have to use a 635 ?

[2XL]

Got the mold ( and a couple others lol )  the other day and can't wait to try it/them out.

Just a thought here but I'm wondering if a guy could stick a small rattle in the hook slot then shoot a little plastic over the cavity to seal it in?  It may be safer just to fill the cavity first then stick a rattle in. Or it may be just another lame idea = right up my alley. LOL