Removing back hook from a Suick?

[musky_tail05]

I bought a 9" Suick last weekend and I have used it a little. I heard that you should cut off the rear treble because most fish hit the bait head-on, causing the rear treble to hook in the fish's gill or head and that the hooks tangle pretty easily (happend every once in a while to me). But, then I have heard that you should keep it on in case the fish hit it short. What has been the best for you? What about on a 6" Reef Hawg? I had a pike that hit it and he was wrapped up pretty good, should I loose the middle one or just keep all three?

[AWH]

I've never removed the hooks on any of my suicks and I'm happy with all of them. My only recommendation (based on the concerns you raised) is to have a good quality hook cutters. They're an invaluable tool. But this is the case with musky fishing in general, not just with suicks.

Depending on when and where you bought your suicks, the hooks might be on split rings and they might not be. I have them both ways. But if you're looking to tinker, I would suggest putting them all on split rings if they aren't already.

Aaron

[Random guy]

I don't like to remove hooks in case they hit short or if the bait comes loose in mid battle another hook my set in saving the day. I have actualy added hooks to trouble baits, I call one the swimming porcupine.

[RK]

Hiya,

You can lose the back hook on suicks without hurting the hooking % much at all. And, as you suggested, that seems to be the hook that ends up someplace you don't want it more often than not. I have a friend who calls it 'suick-cide.' Frankly, I don't use Suicks as much as I used to in part because I hate what they do to fish sometimes... I hate seeing a fish come in with a 10" Suick welded to the side of its head.

Another thing you can do, which I've done with most of the suicks I do still use, is take all the hooks and hook hangers off, and put in new cotter pin hangers between where the front and middle hook was, and where the back and middle hook was. Then put slightly larger hooks on - say, a 5/0 rather than a 4/0 on the 9" suicks. Works pretty well (I think they actually hook better) and doesn't seem to hook fish in the face/eyes/gills as often.

I also take the rear hooks off a lot of my trolling baits like Jakes. Over the years I bet 90% of the fish I catch on them are hooked on the front hook or middle hook, and the back hook just ends up where you don't want it, like balled up in the net, the side of the fish's head, or the back of your hand. I just take 'em off, and bump up the hooks one size.

Cheers,

RK