Head Biter? Catching Mike Tyson bass ...

[Craig]

We are in a major drought here and all our waters are extremely low, leaving the usual shore based structure  high and dry. I’m having to fish deeper than I usually do so am doing a total remake of my lure that glides tight to the bottom.

 

Now that I’m using urethane instead of wood I can do a line through and I though it would be great to try out a theory I’ve been toying with for a while now…

 

I’ve noticed a few fish getting in front of my lure and just biting the head. I presume they are trying to take the lure head first due to the dorsal spines. To try catch these head first biters I have included a backwards facing hook.

 

It’s a line through with pop out hooks, so once the front hook is set it will swivel around and face the right direction.

Would be great to hear your guys thoughts on the backwards front hook concept!

[Mason]

Really cool idea. I’m just wondering if the hooks will block the hookset unless the fish bites directly between them

[Craig]

Really cool idea. I’m just wondering if the hooks will block the hookset unless the fish bites directly between them[/qupote]

Good point. My thinkingh though is that the head biter generally just takes the head - it's a more tentative bite. Hopefully the "Choker" bite will also try crush the lure, as oposed to engulfe the whole thing.

I could try put the first hook on the bottom if it does prove to be a problem.

I could also add a stinger on the back section.

[Mason]

Or maybe a slightly smaller hook on the front so it doesn’t interfere with the normal hookset.

[danthefisherman]

Very cool concept, Craig! And the nose hook can act as a sort of weed guard as well!

 

I don't really get how it's a line thru though...do you thread the line through the first hook and tie to the second?

[Rod Bendhard]

Although it looks really cool, I feel like unless you were vertically jigging you will never get a hookset. You will be pulling the bait in the wrong direction. Maybe just having the hook way up close to the front of the bait will remedy to head biter scenario.

[Craig]

To reduce the potential for the front hook stopping a normal hookset I changed it to a small treble. I still might try the big hook in front some time if the treble works. (Thanks Mason).

 

Dan: I've put something in the line hole at the nose in the attached pic. The line goes internally (roughly in line with the red dots) and comes out right in front of the back hook.

 

Garret: If the lure goes in head first it must exit in the opposite direction. My plan is that those backward facing hook will get a bit of purchase. If you just have a jig style top hook you will definately miss the fish.

 

Going to ask some fish their opinion this weekend...

[chadlass]

I like the treble much more -- the lower profile seems like it loses most of the negatives of that first large backwards facing hook.