Osmosis
04-07-2010, 10:18 PM
As all of us that fish plugs know (or should know) an un-tuned or improperly tuned plug is wasted potential. Why not take a couple extra steps to ensure you're maximizing your ability to catch fish?
the part where you bend or twist (depending on style of plug) the eye that your duo-lock snap clips on to help the plug "hunt" or maintain symetrical wobbles without pulling off to one side or the other is relatively common knowlege
If you're getting frustrated with this step remember that a little goes a long way. Also if you're running sardine, herring, anchovy, or prawn wrap, ect on your plugs sometimes you need to trim or move the wrap to get the plug hunting or tracking correctly.
That's where most people's tuning stops.
First step, remember that not all plugs are fishy. I find it's about 1 in 4 or 5 plugs is a fish killer. the rest are so-so or fishless.
This next part has to do with balance and it may not be all that much weight, but it makes a difference in the overall performance if you take the time to do this step.
Some guys like different hook rigs other than stock. a couple examples are a belly siwash after a barrel swivel, and tail treble. some guys run both siwash. There are many configurations but those are both popular ones.
I did some testing with hook rigs and takedown to boat ratio's for the last couple years, mainly with kwikfish and flatfish. For spring chinook we've done best with two trebles. For fall chinook we've done best by taking the belly hook and split ring (not the screw eye) off completely and running a stock or one size larger treble on the rear.
I don't like the 9650 BZ trebles (the bronze stock trebles) except in size #3. The PS or perma steel (dull silver) hooks have great points though.
Since it's Springer season, here's a trick that pertains to having two trebles.
All of the hooks are attached at the factory facing the same way, one after the other. This puts four tines (4 hook points and the wire -more weight) on one side of the plug and only two hook points on the other. This makes the plug un-balanced right out of the box. Sure they catch plenty of fish that way but it's not the ultimate potential.
All you have to do is take one of the hooks off and rotate it 180degrees and stick it back in the O-ring.
Problem solved that easily, yet it's a step that many over look.
Remember to wash those plugs with lemon joy before you send 'em out there. And if you bait wrap them, take care of them that evening and wash them good. Nothing worse than letting a good plug get rancid.
Hope this helps some of you :D
the part where you bend or twist (depending on style of plug) the eye that your duo-lock snap clips on to help the plug "hunt" or maintain symetrical wobbles without pulling off to one side or the other is relatively common knowlege
If you're getting frustrated with this step remember that a little goes a long way. Also if you're running sardine, herring, anchovy, or prawn wrap, ect on your plugs sometimes you need to trim or move the wrap to get the plug hunting or tracking correctly.
That's where most people's tuning stops.
First step, remember that not all plugs are fishy. I find it's about 1 in 4 or 5 plugs is a fish killer. the rest are so-so or fishless.
This next part has to do with balance and it may not be all that much weight, but it makes a difference in the overall performance if you take the time to do this step.
Some guys like different hook rigs other than stock. a couple examples are a belly siwash after a barrel swivel, and tail treble. some guys run both siwash. There are many configurations but those are both popular ones.
I did some testing with hook rigs and takedown to boat ratio's for the last couple years, mainly with kwikfish and flatfish. For spring chinook we've done best with two trebles. For fall chinook we've done best by taking the belly hook and split ring (not the screw eye) off completely and running a stock or one size larger treble on the rear.
I don't like the 9650 BZ trebles (the bronze stock trebles) except in size #3. The PS or perma steel (dull silver) hooks have great points though.
Since it's Springer season, here's a trick that pertains to having two trebles.
All of the hooks are attached at the factory facing the same way, one after the other. This puts four tines (4 hook points and the wire -more weight) on one side of the plug and only two hook points on the other. This makes the plug un-balanced right out of the box. Sure they catch plenty of fish that way but it's not the ultimate potential.
All you have to do is take one of the hooks off and rotate it 180degrees and stick it back in the O-ring.
Problem solved that easily, yet it's a step that many over look.
Remember to wash those plugs with lemon joy before you send 'em out there. And if you bait wrap them, take care of them that evening and wash them good. Nothing worse than letting a good plug get rancid.
Hope this helps some of you :D