Hooking Up On Plastics

[Robbo63]

Hi,
Been using plastics for the first time over the summer and have been catching a feed most times out. I use 6lb braid, 1/8 ounce jighead - depending on current and a 2/0 hook. Have been using a variety of plastics - generally around the 3 inch range.
What I have noticed is that many of the flathead I have caught are lipped and I seem to drop many in the first couple of seconds after they hit the plastic.
I was wondering if my hook size is an issue or I am striking far too early. I would also like to know some quality brand jigheads/hooks to use.

Thanks
Graham

[Kleyny]

Lip hooked is good.

IMO if your getting hit and dropping them they could be hitting the tail of the plastic so i would slow the retrieve down more. Or the other option is put a stinger on but this will impede the action of the lure.

neil

[nedoleboy]

gday graham.i usually use a 2/0 for 4" plastic and a 1/0 for 3" curly or paddle tail and a 1 for stick baits.i like the finer gauge hooks like the sqidgey ones for good penetration and i like the bait keeper on them.other brands like owner are ok .depending on depth i will fish from 3.5g for shallow up to about 9 g for over 10m.if soley fishing for flathead fish a bit heavier so you can stay in contact with the bottom .
generally flathead will eat your lure after you do your jigjig and it lands back on the bottom.as its sinking wind up your slack line and you will feel them sit on your lure.strike and load up your rod and give them absolutely no slack or the jig will fall straight out. i just start crankin evenly.if its a littlie it will just come ..if its a biggie your in for some drag wrenching action.you will still drop the buggers but when you do immediatly stop and let the jig fall straight back to the bottom.let it sit for a few seconds and if they are on the chew they will hookup straight away.hope this helps.ned

[nedoleboy]

gday graham.i usually use a 2/0 for 4" plastic and a 1/0 for 3" curly or paddle tail and a 1 for stick baits.i like the finer gauge hooks like the sqidgey ones for good penetration and i like the bait keeper on them.other brands like owner are ok .depending on depth i will fish from 3.5g for shallow up to about 9 g for over 10m.if soley fishing for flathead fish a bit heavier so you can stay in contact with the bottom .
generally flathead will eat your lure after you do your jigjig and it lands back on the bottom.as its sinking wind up your slack line and you will feel them sit on your lure.strike and load up your rod and give them absolutely no slack or the jig will fall straight out. i just start crankin evenly.if its a littlie it will just come ..if its a biggie your in for some drag wrenching action.you will still drop the buggers but when you do immediatly stop and let the jig fall straight back to the bottom.let it sit for a few seconds and if they are on the chew they will hookup straight away.hope this helps.ned

[Robbo63]

Why do you believe a lip hook is good? Other than protecting the leader if it goes further down.
Thanks
Graham

[Robbo63]

gday graham.i usually use a 2/0 for 4" plastic and a 1/0 for 3" curly or paddle tail and a 1 for stick baits.i like the finer gauge hooks like the sqidgey ones for good penetration and i like the bait keeper on them.other brands like owner are ok .depending on depth i will fish from 3.5g for shallow up to about 9 g for over 10m.if soley fishing for flathead fish a bit heavier so you can stay in contact with the bottom .
generally flathead will eat your lure after you do your jigjig and it lands back on the bottom.as its sinking wind up your slack line and you will feel them sit on your lure.strike and load up your rod and give them absolutely no slack or the jig will fall straight out. i just start crankin evenly.if its a littlie it will just come ..if its a biggie your in for some drag wrenching action.you will still drop the buggers but when you do immediatly stop and let the jig fall straight back to the bottom.let it sit for a few seconds and if they are on the chew they will hookup straight away.hope this helps.ned
Thanks for the reply. I have been told when u feel the weight of the fish to wait a few secs before striking.Do u agree with this?

Thanks
Graham

[Kleyny]

Lip hooked is good for release ( if required), good for leader protection which in my opinion is a big one when chasing flatties with light leaders. Flatties will rub through 20lb leader without to much trouble IMO.

I would have to say that at least 90% of my flattie hook ups are lipped. This give me confidence in my hook up and capture rate.

Its not very often i loose a fish once hooked and i fish with 6lb-10lb when chasing the flatties due to rub offs.

neil

[Robbo63]

Lip hooked is good for release ( if required), good for leader protection which in my opinion is a big one when chasing flatties with light leaders. Flatties will rub through 20lb leader without to much trouble IMO.

I would have to say that at least 90% of my flattie hook ups are lipped. This give me confidence in my hook up and capture rate.

Its not very often i loose a fish once hooked and i fish with 6lb-10lb when chasing the flatties due to rub offs.

neil
Neil,
I use a 12lb leader and it doesn't take long for it to need replacing. As a matter of interest what size hooks do u use?

Thanks
Graham

[HeadBanger]

G'day all, just slightly off topic, but what exactly is a stinger hook? And what makes it better than using a normal hook?

Thanks,
Kaidon:freak:

[Kleyny]

Neil,
I use a 12lb leader and it doesn't take long for it to need replacing. As a matter of interest what size hooks do u use?


Thanks
Graham

I use a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook which is around the same size as a 2/0 mustad. (from memory)



G'day all, just slightly off topic, but what exactly is a stinger hook? And what makes it better than using a normal hook?

Thanks,
Kaidon:freak:

A stinger hook is an small additional hook that goes behind the main hook

neil

[flatzie]

Your big problem here is striking. Dont strike! Sounds strange but you dont have to and I learned this from the guide who started me off on SPs. Just lift your rod and apply even playing pressure. Don't wind like the blazes, reefing and jerking the rod, trying to waterski the fish back to the boat.
cheers
Flatzie

[Kleyny]

I was wondering how long before you found the thread Flatzie.

neil

[Robbo63]

Your big problem here is striking. Dont strike! Sounds strange but you dont have to and I learned this from the guide who started me off on SPs. Just lift your rod and apply even playing pressure. Don't wind like the blazes, reefing and jerking the rod, trying to waterski the fish back to the boat.
cheers
Flatzie
Once you feel the weight do u need to wait any period of time before lifting the rod?

Thanks
Graham

[flatzie]

Flathead especially almost always take it on the pause between twitches, like when you are winding back up your line.
So when you start to pull the SP forward again it is already in their mouth. Striking can easily pull it violently out of their mouth. Its all actually a natural flow of working the rod, they are on and you just start to play them. They often take awhile to realize they are hooked and then they will start to run.
See my thread on this in December i detailed this very clearly.
Anyway Im off to prep the boat I =m out after some early in the morning
Cheers
Flatzie

[Robbo63]

Thanks for the great advice!
Cheers
Graham

[Damned67]

Graham,
Judging by that flattie in your avatar, it would seem that it's you that should be giving us advice!!!

[Coochin]

Hi Robbo63 ,
Flatzie is the right guy for info on SP fishing . We caught up around 12 months ago to swap a few tactics and I have seen first hand how good he is on the Flathead. I have since followed his advice on lures , jig head sizes etc and have been scoring a few Flatties regularly using plastics . Good fishing . Coochin.

[Coochin]

Sorry doubled up.

[Robbo63]

Graham,
Judging by that flattie in your avatar, it would seem that it's you that should be giving us advice!!!
That was a really enjoyable 10 or so minutes. She went 90cm and a lot of her didn't fit in the landing net. She was about the 5th fish I had ever caught on plastics. The Bega river at Tathra has been producing quite a few this size (and bigger) over the summer. After a few pics she happily swam away. She took the plastic a long way down and the leader needed attention afterwards. Going to be hard to beat this one, but it will be fun trying.
Cheers
Graham

[Robbo63]

Hi Robbo63 ,
Flatzie is the right guy for info on SP fishing . We caught up around 12 months ago to swap a few tactics and I have seen first hand how good he is on the Flathead. I have since followed his advice on lures , jig head sizes etc and have been scoring a few Flatties regularly using plastics . Good fishing . Coochin.
I think I certainly got advice from the right guy!!!
Cheers
Graham

[nedoleboy]

Thanks for the reply. I have been told when u feel the weight of the fish to wait a few secs before striking.Do u agree with this?

Thanks
Graham


mate if your feeliing the weight of the fish you are already on...dont give him any slack. i do the jigjig ,wind up the slack line then if their is no wind you can feel the jig hit the bottom or the the thud of a flattie jumpin on...oh yeah ...the big ones can feel like a big weed clump b4 they know they are hooked. do not try and shake them off like i did the first time.luuckily she was well hooked.couple of photos and back in the drink.
head down the bega river a few afternoons a week when theirs no crowds and it wont be long b4 your tellin us how to do it.ned