Rigging larger swim baits

[siwash]

Hey folks.  Was at BPS recently and I was recommended a hook to rig larger swim baits/paddle baits. The rep suggested VMC Drop dead 5/0 hooks either weightless or weighted 

 

How do you folks rig those larger swim baits?

I'll be in pike  waters of Georgian  bay this weekend 

[BillM]

I'd be fishing the first deep drop if you're fishing Gbay this weekend for pike.  Those big girls are long gone from the shallows.   If you wanna fish bigger swinbaits, definitely go with the weighted swimbait hooks, I run the Trokars, they're fantastic. 

Don't forget the deep husky jerks as well.   

[siwash]

Thanks Bill. So what depths do yiu think the bigger ones might be at? Deeper that 12? It's been so cool up til yesterday I was hoping the shallows would still hold some big fish. 
 

thanks for the tips. 

[siwash]

What size hook do you use for those larger swims baits (6+")? 5/0?

[siwash]

Gonna try the mega bass magdraft too, that was recommended to me to by a board member.  

Edited June 3 by siwash

[CrowMan]

Unless I'm fishing the jungle, I like to rig large swimbaits on a bullet head jig head...with a 6" bait a 5/0 hook with 1/2 oz head will get you down to deep weed lines and drop offs.

If they are right in the cabbage, then yes, I'll rig a swimbait on a weighted wide gap hook Tex-pose style...

I had a cottage at the mouth of the Moon River for a number of years...June was always big Pike month. Find cabbage weeds at the mouth of bays leading to the deeper basins and channels. G Bay is gin clear water, cabbage will grow down to 20 ft...fish the edge.

[BillM]

On 6/3/2025 at 6:12 PM, siwash said:

Thanks Bill. So what depths do yiu think the bigger ones might be at? Deeper that 12? It's been so cool up til yesterday I was hoping the shallows would still hold some big fish. 
 

thanks for the tips. 

I'd be looking for new growth or old growth in 6-12ft.  

[Essox]

hy I've used these Z-man plastics makes some that are specific for toothy critters they don't break, puncture or tear. My troubles is I bury the hook for weedless into the body of the swimbait leaving ~3.5"  paddle  of the tail behind it. I 'm lucky if one in 4 actually gets hooked. Talked to Z-Mann no solution with them. It's a shame because the pike and bass really like these things. I about gave  up on them. Open to suggestions. Thank you

Edited Tuesday at 10:06 PM by Essox

[CrowMan]

2 hours ago, Essox said:

hy I've used these Z-man plastics makes some that are specific for toothy critters they don't break, puncture or tear. My troubles is I bury the hook for weedless into the body of the swimbait leaving ~3.5"  paddle  of the tail behind it. I 'm lucky if one in 4 actually gets hooked. Talked to Z-Mann no solution with them. It's a shame because the pike and bass really like these things. I about gave  up on them. Open to suggestions. Thank you

My suggestion would be to move up a hook size, and make sure it's an EWG (extra wide gap) style. "Texpose" the hook in the bait, so the hook point is just barely under the skin on top of the bait. Also, let the fish eat it a second or 2 longer, before setting the hook...fish will hang onto soft plastics a little longer than hard baits before rejecting them..

I'm a big fan of Z-Man (hence the hat)...their ElaZtech material is virtually indestructible and the buoyancy adds to the action of the bait. One of my favourites is the TicklerZ fished on a Ned Rig for Smallies...I'll catch dozens of fish on the same bait without having to replace it..

[Essox]

19 hours ago, CrowMan said:

My suggestion would be to move up a hook size, and make sure it's an EWG (extra wide gap) style. "Texpose" the hook in the bait, so the hook point is just barely under the skin on top of the bait. Also, let the fish eat it a second or 2 longer, before setting the hook...fish will hang onto soft plastics a little longer than hard baits before rejecting them..

I'm a big fan of Z-Man (hence the hat)...their ElaZtech material is virtually indestructible and the buoyancy adds to the action of the bait. One of my favourites is the TicklerZ fished on a Ned Rig for Smallies...I'll catch dozens of fish on the same bait without having to replace it..

Actually that  is Z-mans largest  Chinlock hook and I do believe it's EWG.  As you know you have to use the special Chinlock hooks.  The baits ~ 7"long. Those are kind of the initial things that occurred to me. Unless they have started making larger Chinlock hooks these were all bought last year. I love the Z-man curly tails, as good as action as Mr. Twister and I can catch > 10 fish on one bait. I just but them on spoons, spinners and jigs. They all catch more fish w a Z-Man curly tail. Good thoughts and nice bass. 

[Fang]

I've been experimenting with the European type swimbait rigs the last couple years and very impressed with performance. You have to basically make a DIY rig yourself with bait screws, worm weights and wire but I can switch between 1/2 and 1.5 oz pretty easy. They aren't as weedless as standard options but hook up ratios are really good. Most are always buttoned tight on the back hook too.

VMC® Pike Rig Heavy | Rapala® International Site

[CrowMan]

46 minutes ago, Essox said:

Actually that  is Z-mans largest  Chinlock hook and I do believe it's EWG.  As you know you have to use the special Chinlock hooks.  The baits ~ 7"long. Those are kind of the initial things that occurred to me. Unless they have started making larger Chinlock hooks these were all bought last year. I love the Z-man curly tails, as good as action as Mr. Twister and I can catch > 10 fish on one bait. I just but them on spoons, spinners and jigs. They all catch more fish w a Z-Man curly tail. Good thoughts and nice bass. 

Have you tried the BKK Titan hooks ? You can get them up to 10/0 size. They have an extra long hook point section and a coating to enhance penetration when fishing  weedless plastics. The little teaser flasher is removable, but I find Pike and Musky like the extra flash. The silicon slider keeps the hook in position when casting, but will slide down when settting the hook.

I've bought them from Fishing World in Hamilton, but if you can't find them at your local shop, Amazon sells them too.

 

 

[Jekovich]

I use the weighted ones for better control in wind or chop. For larger swimbaits (5–7”), I like belly-weighted screw-lock hooks to keep them running true. Add a stinger treble if short strikes are common — especially with pike