Slot / No Slot

[TroutSupport.com]

What are your opinions on weedless baits with hook slots (I'm referring to a top hook slot, where the hook hides down below the plastic in a slot) vs no hook slot (buried point in plastic).

 

So far I've found that both tear pretty good. Ie. after the non-slotted design gets a few hook sets it tears and it's time for a new lure... I can usually work to get up to 4 fish on this version with about a 75% hook ratio.

 

Looking at trying a deep slot on the top to have the hook rest in. My concern is that it will only get 2 fish before it tears and doesn't hold the hook in. I am wondering what the hooking percentage is on it compared to a buried point like above (non-slotted). Seems like the hook gets buried in lure on hook set and there's more missed fish.

 

Any thoughts on this dilemma?

 

 

[mark poulson]

Get a worm welder, and repair it when it gets torn.

It's a nice problem to have.

[Bassinfool]

I prefer a hook slot personally, feel like I catch more fish this way than when I tex-pose the hook. When it tears, I heat up a small flat screwdriver with my lighter and meld it back together.

[Kajan]

     If your fishing specks and reds, Your hook up rate should be almost as good as with a jighead with a slotted lure. Now this depends on your lure and hook choice, also on how hard you make your lures. My lures are all my own design and I make and use slotted lures. Both belly and hook groove. We do not have any grass here as far as bottom grass. But using belly hooks, your fish in boat rate might be better because you rarely break off on oysters compared to jigheads, so your lure time in the water is increased and less time retying.

 

  On a side note, I test my lures in a bass pond, and not rigging the hook Tx style, I do not hook very much of the moss grass that is in the pond. I would say I catch more grass on the leader knot than on the hook.

[mark poulson]

I got my worm welder here:

 

http://www.iovino.com/index.php/wormizer-tools/proweld-wormizer.html

 

I used to melt my plastics with a lighter, but this is quicker and more accurate.  I carry two extra batteries in case the batteries go down while I'm fishing.

[TroutSupport.com]

Thanks guys. Good input.  I like the idea of the hook slot, seems like the hook will wiggle out and up every 4th cast or so... 

 

t

[TroutSupport.com]

like your thoughts bob. I guess that's why a lot of tackle makers will not do the slot so it allows for more variability in hooks sizes and types....