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Posts: 180
| I love tossing big plastic baits like bulldawgs but get frustrated with the low hookup percentage and occasional front hook wrap up around the leader. What are some things besides sharp hooks and a fast line pickup reel that help with this baits? Ready go... |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Proper rod is a must. Set the hook at any subtle slack or tick in your line. The best bulldawg fisherman are more often great jig fishers. It's all about the feel. With that said, you'll have your share of misses. Nature of any big soft plastic bait. Especially when fish are just slapping at it and not inhaling it. Experience is golden. |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Best upgrade for me was to go to the Hardhead. Yep I still lose them on those as well, but not nearly as many as I did with the bulldawgs. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | I've always had a better hook up on Medussas than on Dawgs. Used to be, Dawgs came with shorter-shanked hooks on them, so I swapped those out to the larger/longer 3551 like come on a Medussa (use 9/0 on a pounder) and that helped. But I also think the narrower profile and harder rubber of a Medussa helps as well. I also cut the top hook off a Dawg if it's one that came with one. |
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Posts: 431
| Interesting keep the tips coming. |
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| did you cut the top hook? |
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Posts: 134
| Curious why guys cut the top hook? Doesn't seem to be a problem and I have had fish hooked on it....? |
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Posts: 51
| X2 on cutting top hook. Body position and rod position for hook sets. Every cast I plan on catching a fish. When I started doing that I hardly loose fish. |
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| Add 1 or 2 extra split rings and upgrade your hook's to 8/0 or 9/0 and then make sure you have them razor sharp. Since half the Bull Dawg is its tail you can also cut the top hook off and add another treble to the top of the body about 3"-4" from the head with 7 strand wire or you extend it to about 1/4 of the way into the tail, just use a bass style rubber trailer coil holder to rest the 7 strand wire tight to the body of the bait.
I'm not sure what rod you are using but I would use something very heavy, St.croix big dawg or other XH or XXH rod 8'6" or longer.
No matter what you do you will still lose the odd musky but hopefully this helps. |
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Posts: 49
| will a Heavy or Extra-Heavy 3-8oz class rod handle the pounders ok? |
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Posts: 51
| I cut the top hook because they always catch weeds. I use a okuma xh,Ti xh xxh all nine foot rods or Thorne bros C series 8-6 xh.
They all have the power to drive those razer sharp in and to cast the pounders farther. |
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Posts: 180
| where are you adding split rings NGE? |
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Posts: 614
Location: Michigan | I cut the top hook off as it gets in the way of a good hook-set. The top of a muskies' mouth is basically just bone and the top hook can easily get stuck in there causing a poor hook-set. With a soft plastic bait like a bulldawg, you really need to pull the bait through the fish's mouth in order for the hooks to catch. The soft plastic itself hinders this as the muskies' teeth penetrate the plastic, but the top hook also gets in the way by running into the top of their mouth. |
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Posts: 311
Location: Lake St.Clair | jasonvkop - 1/25/2014 9:50 PM
I cut the top hook off as it gets in the way of a good hook-set. The top of a muskies' mouth is basically just bone and the top hook can easily get stuck in there causing a poor hook-set. With a soft plastic bait like a bulldawg, you really need to pull the bait through the fish's mouth in order for the hooks to catch. The soft plastic itself hinders this as the muskies' teeth penetrate the plastic, but the top hook also gets in the way by running into the top of their mouth.
Im sold! I cut a few of mine off never noticed a huge difference in hookups yet.
but if it possibly can which I can see why there as good as gone.. |
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| ckhawkeye51 - 1/25/2014 9:38 PM
where are you adding split rings NGE?
To the hooks, just use 2 or 3, it helps the hooks swing a little more. |
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| vpsaline - 1/25/2014 7:06 PM
will a Heavy or Extra-Heavy 3-8oz class rod handle the pounders ok?
I would use a heavier rod if you plan on casting pounders all day. |
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Posts: 180
| Interesting...I've never heard this before. Does anyone know what size hook comes on a pounder and what size comes on a mag dawg? |
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| 6/0 for magnum and I believe the pounders are 7/0. I would suggest upgrading to 8/0 or 9/0 |
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Posts: 574
| ckhawkeye51 - 1/25/2014 11:37 PM
Interesting...I've never heard this before. Does anyone know what size hook comes on a pounder and what size comes on a mag dawg?
Mags have 7/0 and pounders have 8/0
The 3551 mustads work well as replacements..
Edit... I cut the top hook off pounders too. A guide I used to fish with convinced me its easier for the 2 trebles to penetrate if the top hook isn't there to catch on something..
He also said it makes an already somewhat tall bait a little easier for a fish to suck in their mouth without that hook sticking off the top of it..
He's got alot more big fish on dawgs than me, so I wasn't going to disagree with him.
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Posts: 180
| I like the idea of upgrading to a bigger hook for the pounder that way the hooks are wider than the body. The little side fins in the front block the small hooks from being wider than the bait. Does anyone "T" their hooks like on a weagel?? |
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Posts: 833
| I T my hooks. It helps, also less "hook rash" on the bait. I upgrade to Thorne Bros. Size 7 Split Rings and Mustad 3551 9/0 hooks. Kind of sucks adding ~$5 in components to a $25 bait, but I have too many friends who have experienced hardware failure to not do it.
On my Mags I used an 8/0 3551 on the front and a 7/0 3551 on the back.
Wish MI would upgrade their hardware... |
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Posts: 339
Location: Denmark | Jason Bomber - 1/26/2014 10:10 AM
ckhawkeye51 - 1/25/2014 11:37 PM
Interesting...I've never heard this before. Does anyone know what size hook comes on a pounder and what size comes on a mag dawg?
Mags have 7/0 and pounders have 8/0
The 3551 mustads work well as replacements..
Edit... I cut the top hook off pounders too. A guide I used to fish with convinced me its easier for the 2 trebles to penetrate if the top hook isn't there to catch on something..
He also said it makes an already somewhat tall bait a little easier for a fish to suck in their mouth without that hook sticking off the top of it..
He's got alot more big fish on dawgs than me, so I wasn't going to disagree with him.
2x |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I've never cut the top hook before but think I might after reading some of these replies. Makes some sense that it could keep the trebles from finding the more fleshy corner of the mouth.
I haven't had many hook-up issues with them. I agree with the tip to always be ready, and always point your rod at the fish before hitting it home hard. I'd done it a couple times where I feel the hit on the back part of the rip, and instinctively set the hook with the rod 1/2 way or all the way back. That rarely works. No matter where you feel the hit, reel down till the rod is pointing at the fish with the line tight or close to it and hit 'em.
I do have to say, it seems like I went through a period of losing fish on Dawgs when using their stock hooks. I'd get the fish 1/2 way to the boat and the bait would just cole out as soon as the fish opened it's mouth. Using 7/0 Mustad 3551's on Mag Dawgs works well for me.
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Posts: 24
| Do any of you attach a split ring to the front eye ring of your bull dawgs? I have a hard time getting the leader through the front eye ring. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | I put a split ring on the nose of my dawgs that have the hook on top. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | definitely attach a split ring to the dawgs then put the snap on that.. not sure how but i've heard and seen how putting a stay loc right to the dawg w out split ring they can and do open... |
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Posts: 131
Location: Lake St. Clair | X2 on cutting the top hook. I try to only buy the ones without them know since they started making them that way. I have had it get in the way and not allow the trebles to bury in the fishes jaw. Some of you having trouble hooking up may be setting the hook straight up. Remember the hooks are on the bottom. A good hard hook set with a dawg is key. Remember you have to tear the rubber through their teeth to get the hooks in em sometimes. XXH Mega heavy TI rod is my go to. 9' at least. You can get some rods longer. Makes casting a lot easier for 10+ hrs a day! |
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Bulldawg Upgrades