Tips and tricks you do to your lures

[delmuts]

Esox. I was looking some of the small size dogs ( i don't have the equip. to handle the bigger ones, and i usually get one or two new lures each year). I remember that many had trouble with the tails getting torn off. Is this still a problem, can you get replacements, and what is the best way to re-attach them?

[scsavre]

Carry a torch in the boat. Tail rips, torch it. Tail comes off. look for it floating, and torch. Or try they knife and torch trick listed above.

[DHanson]

Torch works ok. I recommend "mend-it." It works as a type of glue and is truly amazing. I buy it from Aaron at Musky Tackle Online.

[Esox_Magnum]

Mend it's the easiest, torch works to if you can find the tail. Try a Super D they hold up alot better. Del I got a couple rods I'm parting with that throw mags nice.

[cjac]

Esox. I was looking some of the small size dogs ( i don't have the equip. to handle the bigger ones, and i usually get one or two new lures each year). I remember that many had trouble with the tails getting torn off. Is this still a problem, can you get replacements, and what is the best way to re-attach them?

Hey Del,

Crazy that a 9" bait is called small, eh? I've caught many fish on the reg sized Dawgs for sure, and not just little fish.

I agree on the upgrading of splits and hooks, watched a Mille Lacs tank pull a factory split ring apart a couple years ago. Lappen got a phone call.....

Anyhow, my tip is not always is bigger better. Reg Dawgs are always a great option. Also agreed on the Mend-It for in the boat repairs and heat if in the garage.

To Brett Waldera's point about managing the thumb at the end of the cast with Dawgs: Saric called it "synchronizing the cast" on this weekend's episode of MH. He was applying it to a DCG, getting the blades going ASAP as he said, 90% of the bucktail hookups come in the first 5% of a cast, or the last 5%, meaning boatside. Really it applies to almost any presentation.

I wasn't so keen on a fish hooked in the back being on the show but that's another topic about TV and fishing shows.....

Chris

[MikeEiden]

Definitely change the hooks and split rings on Dawgs and any other 'questionable' lure. For a while it seemed every time I picked up a few new dawgs they were different, either softer rubber, tail thickness, hardware, etc.. This past November my old stock was getting chewed up so I found a few still hanging up at Glenn's in GR. Both lures had two split rings per hook and they were CHEAP! Maybe now MI is a little more focused on quality versus pushing product and trying to corner the market you might not have to change out hardware. Definitly helps when Tackle Industries stepped up to the plate and Shack Attack was already making outstanding products.

I love my Mag dawgs and also the pounders more and more. I don't use the regular size very much anymore but they can still catch fish.

[delmuts]

I was looking yesturday and they have a 6 in dawg out now. I try not to get to carried away since i only get to fish for them a couple times a year, and mainly on local waters. Without the opportunities,( due to distance and such!) i only have a couple of rods and maybe 15-20 lures. Just small time! BUT!! Love the rush of muskie fishing!

[dudeness]

One thing I figured out is when casting mag dawgs and bigger, it helps to change your mechanics a little. I was getting a ton of "dawg balls" and I was casting them in the same manner as other baits and really loading the rod up and snapping (not breaking) the rod on the cast. I went to more of a straight arm, straight rod cast and the dawg flies through the air much more straight instead of going end over end. You guys have probably figured this out by now but maybe it could help?