Homemade Quickstrikes

[Doop]

How many of you make or have made your own quickstrikes? We are going to make some our own this year. We are going to use the small version of blades that walleye fishermen use...also going to throw a small red bead on a 65lb leader with red trebble hooks. Should be interesting.

[mtheis]

I have made my own copying the Throne Bros. style (with a sleeve and two beads, etc.) and have found that it kinks my 7strand too bad after one fish. I now make mine by using a piece of shrink tube like the HT style, and found that the leader stays nicer without kinks after catching a fish. I have also found this to be true when I use a clevis instead of the shrink tube and attach the treble to that. I also have found that I appear to catch more fish having the inner treble hook the larger hook, while the end treble hook being one size smaller. That way the hardware doesn't appear to be in the way of the fish attacking the minnow. The end hook is attached to the minnow's mouth, the inner hook attached by his dorsal fin. I hope this made sense!

[RK]

Hiya -

Been making my own since I first read about them in In-Fish in the early 80s. In fact, now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever bought one. I make mine out of #27 uncoated Sevenstrand and use a forceps to wrap the wire.

Using beads works OK, but as the other poster said, they tend to kink after a couple fish (sometimes after one fish). I usually use shrink tubing instead. Just wrap the wire a half a turn around the shank of the hook before you slide the tubing over it.

A lot of guys tend to use hooks that are way bigger than they need, too. I usually use #4s. Mustad Triple Grips or Gamakatsu EWGs are awesome quick strike hooks. Hook a fish with those, they don't get off. VB Partridge Hooks are great too, though sometimes hard to find. Mustad makes them now.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[cjac]

Quote:

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Been making my own since I first read about them in In-Fish in the early 80s. In fact, now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever bought one.

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That's the problem right there, if you're like me and drop a tip-up a few times a winter it's not easy to find a good QS rig, and not cost effective to buy all the goods to make them in-house. That's why I've not soaked a sucker for a muskie yet in the Fall...don't have the right QS rig.

I know, I should just get the terminal tackle and make my own, reason I haven't is Thorne's open water leaders work well for me, and I'm lazy to be perfectly honest.

QS rigs are great, I just wish good ones were available to me.......(hint...hint...hint) and to the public in general.

Chris

[Doop]

Thanks for all the great advice guys. It's really nice to other's opinions/experiences so we'll know what to look for!

I think we bought 60# coated 7 strand....so hopefully the kinking won't be a problem. We are using blades that you would use for walleye fishing....not the real big ones...they are small...but my fear is that they'll get in the way. Then again...we are using 8-11 inch baits, so we might be okay.

[RK]

Cjac -

You can get the materials for a lifetime supply for about 15 bucks... A coil of #27 Sevenstrand, a bag of swivels, some #4 hooks, and some shrink tube. Scrounge up some spinner blades to make them legal, and you're set. I make them up ahead of time and store them by wrapping them around a piece of foam pipe insulation.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[cjac]

Thanks Rob, I needed a little pep talk I guess!

$19.06 later at Thorne and I'm all set, made up a few last night, should be good for this weekend. Did the #4 trebs, #5 swivels, and tiny blades to meet the legal needs Those are a nice sized set-up.

Chris

[MinnesotaMongo]

No kidding, they are cheap. My quickstrike kit has lasted me 20 years. Sevenstrand, some forceps, small trebles, etc. and you are good to go. Oh yeah, put the spinner on top.

It is such a relief to be able to release these beautiful, big fish, without having to try and do surgery on their gullets. When they pop the flag - just lift and you are good to go.

[mnmuzzleloader]

Well I was able to get my supplies at gm, I got some big jig heads, heavy rings, some trebles, sleeves and leader material. I place the ring on the jig head and then placed the trebles on the leader material one about 3 inches off the jig and the other around 5 inches depending on the size of the suckers I planned on using, When I was done they are very similar to the lift off rigs you see except you don't have to pierce the nose with a pin and put a rubber band on the sucker, the heavy jig head will slow the sucker down as well when place in the mouth. I will get some pictures and post them for you to see