FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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While watching the Cowboys, they are playing poorly, I checked the blog and found this interesting question.

Hey Doug, still love your reports and stories . When you tell how you rig a bait or thyme if hook /jig you use. I would be grateful if you would include a pic of what it should look like too. Just for us novices who are trying to figure this thing out. Lol.
Great stuff again as always. And especially since it’s about the salt!
Thanks
Ed

I am not expert by any means but here is a quick primer on a big subject that might help you some.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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The Baits

I will get this out of the way as far as color goes.  Your choice, but at least a light and dark color in which ever size Knockin Tail you fish.  For me the Honeydew and the Pearl in the 4″, the Glass Minnow and the Nuked Glow in the 3.25″, and last the Halloween and the Pearl in the 5″.  See the pattern there?  But these are the colors I have confidence in and of course those are not the only ones I fish.  Yours may be different so fish the color you want that you have confidence in, it will put more fish on the line.  It comes down to where and how you use it.

First let’s look at some of the characteristics that set the Knockin Tail apart from other plastics.  Of course the rattle is the key.  There is absolutely no downside to the rattle and with the baits ability to rattle on the fall you have a deadly combination.  Plus it is surprisingly durable.  To achieve the right set up for the conditions requires several options whether using a jig head or the swimbait hook.  It is so important no matter what hook you use that the bait is straight on the hook.  Whether you are rigging the 3.25″, the 4″ or the 5″ think perspective.  Small bait, smaller hooks, big baits bigger hooks, sounds simple but your choice will definitely influence the action.

When deciding on which hook you want to use it is pretty simple.  The first issue is grass.  Have lots then the swimbait hookup is the way to go.  Less grass or deeper water the jig head generally comes in to play.  And if you want the Knockin Tail to fall face down, or stop level as you do in the winter, there are several options to get it done.

The Jig Head

4″ Knockin Tail jig heads, ball jig, and more of a swimming jig head.  Notice one similarity?  They are all screw locks.

One of the characteristics of the Knockin Tail I love is how durable they are but still have the tail action to rattle.  When you combine it with a screw lock you just might be able to fish all day with the same bait unless you break off, have done that many times.  No more body slipping down off the jig head as the hole gets wallowed out, finally ending up on the floor of the boat as you change plastics.  But here we go again, it must be straight on the hook, if not it might spin and believe me they just don’t like it.  And of course scale hook size it to the size of the Knockin Tail.

Options on the 3.25″ Knockin Tails.  Notice how short the hook shanks are for the smaller bait.  Most are a 3/0.

Jig heads generally run from 1/32 to 3/8th of an ounce when talking bay fishing.  I am a lighter the better kinda guy, but I use light line.  Head size often has more to do with water depth than anything else.  No matter the size Knockin Tail be sure the jig head you want lets it wiggle on the fall.  That is different from using a swimbait hook which you normally are reeling a lot more than hopping and dropping like you do with a jig head.  So there is a difference in which jig head you use when fishing 2′ or 8′.  With practice you will feel the tail doing its thing no matter the depth.

Here is the 3.25 as an example.  Carefully insert the hook in the dead center/middle of the head.  If you notice on top of the Knockin Tails is a barb slot, try to bring it out dead center at the beginning of the upper slot.

This is what it looked like when I put the jig head on the Knockin Tail.  Seems like a good marker for bringing the hook out is when it goes in about deep enough to come out in line with the end of the barb.  Then out and start screwing it on and when you are done it should/must be straight.  See the Honeydew at the bottom of the first picture above: almost perfect.  And notice how the hook does not go past the end of the body into the tail on either the 3.25 or the 4″.  Shank size does matter.

When hopping and dropping, the Texas Two Step, if you start seeing even a little twist looking stuff on your line your bait is spinning on the drop.  The fish do not like it spinning on the fall or running sideways on a steady crank.  As long as the tail is wiggling it is all good and the more you fish it the better your feel will be.

Swimbait Hooks

•  Drop Dead by VMC.
• Another rear weighted.
• The Slayer brand swimbait hook.
• Academy.
• Not sure where.

Here is quick tutorial on the difference.  Drop Dead – great in the winter when you want your bait to just stop or fall level.  The middle one is a Slayer which is my basic go to in swimbait hooks for general use.  The last 2 on the right are for when you want a nose down fall which at times triggers the strike.  An example:  Winter – on deeper water boat fishing you want it to fall nose down to keep contact with the bottom, but if wading in 2′ of water you might want it to fall level when you stop it on a steady crank.

But the swimbait hooks are still a screw lock, it just attaches at the eye of the hook.  Then exactly like you insert the hook it in a jig head make sure you sink the screw lock dead center into the head of the plastic.  Before inserting the barb through the tail take the hook and see where it will be in the tail when you have it where you want it then insert.  See the second one below?  I laid it down next to the body to see where to insert, it must be straight so when the bait swims or falls it does not spin.  Did I say straight?  Whether jig head or swimbait hook it must be straight he said again.

The 5″ Knockin Tail with swimbait hook options.  Notice the underside of the top bait, there is a reason.

Of course they are the hook of choice in the grass or if you plan on slow rolling on a steady retrieve.  I personally like to leave the barb exposed when slow rolling it without anything to get caught on.  Especially in fresh water as a swimbait for bass.  When you see the indention at the bottom of the head on the top one it makes sense.  When you set the hook the weight can slip in the indention increasing the chances of getting a hook in them.  As an example of hook size when fishing for big stripers in Arkansas or snook in the Everglades a 5/0 is a good choice, when trout fishing a 4/0 may be better.  And of course when talking the 3.25′ a short shank 3/0 is the better size.  It is all about matching up the hook, either jig head or swimbait hook, to the bait and the conditions.  It is not rocket science, just being flexible enough to give them what they want.  Listen to the fish.

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Hope this gives you a place to start, it sure is all I know and I am far from a pro.  There is a world of combinations but when it is all said and done, keep it simple.  A couple of colors, a couple of different size jig heads and swimbait hooks will cover it, and you will learn how the baits react to each.  You want to be able to replicate your technique, giving the fish what they want, with your favorite Knockin  Tail.  Sometimes fishermen get to concerned with doing this and doing that, the more you are familiar with what you like and use the better your results will be.  So good luck and thanks for asking.

I will try to remember to take a few more pictures occasionally illustrating what i am fishing.  And coming soon will be a how to for the applications of the Knockin Tail and spring freshwater fishing.  Tomorrow it is off somewhere, depending on the rain.  But as long as it is not a frog strangler or lightning, I will be on the water at daylight.   So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines