Northwest Fishing Reports

I was out on the P.O. Riv. yesterday fishing with the Basstrix 6" soft swimbait. To make a long story short we missed a ton of bites on them so I'm wondering if the hook I use is wrong or just what some of you other guys are using for the basstrix swimbaits.
For the 6" bait I use the Gammy 6/0 EWG keel weighted hooks texas rigged.

I prefer a weedless rig like the EWG hook has, but I saw this hook on the web and wondered if any one has tried them. I have tried using a stinger treble hook also, but so far I have not had a bite while using the stinger hook, any ideas here?

Blade-Runner Swim Bait Insert Weighted Hook

The Blade-Runner Swim Bait Insert is a must-have for anyone fishing a hollow swimbait. The harness fits inside the bait, and ensures maximum hook exposure when fishing points, flats, ledges, creek beds, or any other area where you don't need to swim the bait through heavy cover. Because the weight fits inside the bait, there is no hook shank or weight to disturb the profile of the bait when approaching from the bottom or the sides. Heavier weights--up to 1 oz.--allow you to fish your baits down where the big ones are, while the bottom attachment loop allows for addition of a stinger treble on the bottom of the bait. A bottle of Mend-it will ensure long life to your soft plastic swimbaits, and will aid in the installation of the Blade-Runner Swim Bait insert.

The Blade Runner insert hook is an awesome hook for hollow bodied swim baits, but it will not hook up any better then the Gammy.

The problem is not letting the fish "take" the swim bait. You almost need to let the fish tick tick tick without setting the hook, then set the hook when the line gets heavy. That is when they have really taken it. Also, with a weedless hook and a 6" bait, you need a pretty stout rod, and I prefer a braid for low stretch.

You can also rig up a treble hook, but it should not extend past the middle of the body so it does not impede the swimming action.

I agree with anglin. I fish a lot of swimbaits up on pend oreille and it takes some getting used to. You will feel a "bite" before the fish has it all the way in his mouth, especially when dealing with the littler fish. Like he said, don't set it on the tick tick. You will feel it load up and thats when you set it. I actually have a good video that shows exactly this. We shot it on pend oreille a couple years ago. I don't know how to get the video to you but its digital so I'm sure i could e-mail it or something.