Stinger hooks with bait

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ZelieSam
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2014/06/09 11:03:22 (permalink)

Stinger hooks with bait

Any of you bait guys use stinger hooks?  We had a bunch of run offs and chewed up bait this weekend using shiners and alwives lip hooked.  Wondering if putting a small treble stinger is the way to go.  And a couple of side questions along with that:
 
- does the stinger screw the bait up enough that you don't get as many hits?  not looking natural, etc
- if a cat (or even a walleye I guess) eats the bait are you ever unhooking them or do you pretty much have to cut the hook all the time?
 
We're mostly targeting channels, and they aren't exactly tackle shy so I don't think that'll be an issue.  But unhooking them has to be a bear.  
 
Thoughts?
#1

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    slabfinder
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/09 19:23:11 (permalink)
    Pliers and a solid foot on 'em usually solves any problems on getting the hook out.

    A stinger hook is usually the way to go if your getting short strikes.Keep the bait moving especially since the water is warming. That should solve your tackle issue.
    #2
    XtopwaterkingX
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/09 21:23:00 (permalink)
    I usually do when fishing the rivers, seems I get more short hits in the current. Got many eyes an cats in the river on 1 hook of the stinger treble. I do as needed in the lakes, if I get 2 short strikes or notice a trend I put em on
    #3
    FishinGuy
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/10 17:59:06 (permalink)
    Do you always use a treble as a stinger? What knots do you like Snell the single Palomar the trailer? Snell both if both are single?
    #4
    XtopwaterkingX
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/10 18:28:09 (permalink)
    Usually a treble off a jig, lots of times a snap or slip on northland stinger. If using plain hooks I snell the lead hook an tie on the treble stinger with the excess, for live bait. I double snell single hooks for cutbait or strips
    #5
    ZelieSam
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/10 22:10:04 (permalink)
    Y'no... I learned a few new knots this spring: palomar and dropper loop (that one I'm real proud of) but I'll be ****ed if I can snell a fricking hook.  I even have that cheater tool.  I gave up and just palomar everything.  Super easy to tie even in low light and I've yet to have one break.  
     
    I figured I'd use the stinger here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS2TGNen1qo  Pretty sure I have all the necessaries for that in my kit.  Will report back if it works.
    #6
    slabfinder
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/10 22:58:05 (permalink)
    Snell a hook is as easy as this. Run line their hook, make a loop hold with left hand. Make 8 wraps send tag end back through loop DONE!
    #7
    slabfinder
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/10 23:07:48 (permalink)
    I twist up 75 worm harnesses a year using this method. You get good at it after a few years.
    post edited by slabfinder - 2014/06/11 23:39:05
    #8
    FishinGuy
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/11 11:10:39 (permalink)
    Small hooks and light line make snelling tricky. I normally just Snell my catfish hooks(5/0 and up with 40#+ leader). But can do the small ones easier now with practice.
    #9
    eyesandgillz
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/11 16:05:50 (permalink)
    We used stingers all the time on harnesses trolling in erie....used the northlands for awhile (the ones with the rubber dip) but they were on light line and didn't last long and we started breaking off fish near the net.  Started tying our own with trebles and using the rubberized paint to make the loops just like the northlands.
     
    Countless eyes came in on just the stingers.
     
    I also use them occasionally when jigging but if there are a lot of snags, they seem to cause more of a headache.
    #10
    StewFc
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/06/28 14:42:41 (permalink)
    I do the snell thing. I make up a few and put them on the worm harness holders attaching them to my line via a two way swivel, the one with no snap section ( SPRO power swivels). I do use heavier line to avoid fraying, crimping. I have to say that I cannot claim any real advantage. The other guys in the boat with me using a single hook have about the same success rate hooking and landing. I will say the smaller stinger only seems to serve as a way to give the dinks, gills, etc...something to get down their throats. I have, very recently as a result of the previous sentence, switched back to the single hook. The more substantial fish have not shown a tendency to nip the tails.
    #11
    ZelieSam
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    Re: Stinger hooks with bait 2014/10/08 16:23:08 (permalink)
    FYI - in case anyone surf fishes and wonders if this stinger situation works there, yes it does.  I made a couple 2" stinger setups out of 30# wire and a crimped #4 hook for my mullet rigs.  The flounder didn't care at all and the stinger caught me at least one 19" flattie that only got the stinger.  The big flounder I caught ate both the main hook and the stinger... so it didn't matter but it didn't hurt.  
    #12
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