Manns Stretch 5+ Treble Upgrade

[Jackson 53]

I'm looking for recommendations on upgrading the trebles on Mann's Stretch 5+ lures. I've used these lures to troll for Flathead for years and have successfully hooked many fish but have always been nervous about how the small trebles would handle a really big specimen. Yesterday I hooked a very big Flatty on the troll in the Pumicestone Passage which ended in disappointment when the treble straightened like a paperclip. I had upgraded the original bronze hooks (which had rusted) with some Owner ST-36BC size 6 trebles but am now looking for stronger hooks that are less likely to bend but will still retain the action of the lure.

Any suggestions would be welcome and appreciated.

[chris69]

Try some Owner ST41BC 2x.

[Jackson 53]

Thanks Chris.

[Peter4]

You could also try Decoy Y-W77 trebles. They are a very tough, wide-gape but lightweight treble that we use on barra lures...

[robfish 1]

Hi jackson53...although we don't get the monsters down here on Mexico, we still get a few mean snapper to 4kg while trolling for flatties in PPB! I've been using the same lures, (and Manns 10+ and 79's) with success for years on them. I have been using both Gamakatsu single hooks and Decoy pluggin' singles on my lures for a few years now with GREAT success. Benefits are:

• Great hookup rate,
• Easy to remove,
• Good range of sizes,
• Even lighter than most trebles or doubles,
• Tough as nails,
• Great on bream hardbodies/stick minnows,
• Easy to tie a little Mylar for flash, and
• Actually improve lure actions!

I also do a lot of freshwater work, and find these hooks, (in appropriate sizes), dynamite for trout and redfin as well. Their only drawback is that they have a short shank, and as such, can't be used on too fat a lure, as you'll miss a lot of hookups when the lure pulls out of their mouth. On lures with a slimmer tail - no issues.
Check 'em out on MO's website.
Regards,
Robfish.

[Jackson 53]

Thanks mate. I will check them out.

[Jackson 53]

Thanks Peter. I'll look for some of these in the smaller sizes.

[Jackson 53]

Thanks Rob. What size Gamakatsu/Decoy singles are you using on the Mann's Stretch 5+? Do you rig them with the point facing up or down?

Regards, Peter

[robfish 1]

Hi Peter...I rig with the point uppermost, as it makes the lure snag-free and (almost!) weed free as well. I've found size 1's are the best in the black gamakatsu's, and occassionally use size 1/0 in the silver decoys. I often dress them up with a little coloured Mylar for extra flash, too.
The heavier wire doesn't affect the action, as I only run a rear hook - if the flattie's not big enough to engulf a stretch 5, I don't want him!

Bycatch on lures rigged like this have been: Snapper, Leatherjackets, Whiting, Salmon, Barracouta, even a 63cm Gemfish - way out of its normal deepwater habitat, as I was trolling for flathead on a dropoff from 2 to 5metres! Went like a kingie on 3kg tackle, too!

[Jackson 53]

Hi Peter...I rig with the point uppermost, as it makes the lure snag-free and (almost!) weed free as well. I've found size 1's are the best in the black gamakatsu's, and occassionally use size 1/0 in the silver decoys. I often dress them up with a little coloured Mylar for extra flash, too.
The heavier wire doesn't affect the action, as I only run a rear hook - if the flattie's not big enough to engulf a stretch 5, I don't want him!

Bycatch on lures rigged like this have been: Snapper, Leatherjackets, Whiting, Salmon, Barracouta, even a 63cm Gemfish - way out of its normal deepwater habitat, as I was trolling for flathead on a dropoff from 2 to 5metres! Went like a kingie on 3kg tackle, too!

Thanks Rob,

I'll give them a go.

Regards,
Peter