Rigged Kwikfish (PIC)

[Willow Drifter]

I have seen a couple of posts on rigging Kwikfish with various hooks. A couple of days ago there was a post and Kentuck Hog Hunter talked about the new Gamakatsu hooks on a Kwikfish. The top rig is with a 3/0 hook, split ring and barrel swivel. I just wanted to share these for folks who were wondering. I hope you enjoy.

[RogueFishr]

Looks good
Is that bottom one a custom paint job?


RF

[rainrshine]

Willow Drifter, thanks for the pics and yes I have already "enjoyed" with my quickies set like this

[Jettin' Fool]

I would still use a hook on the tail IMHO. Those things run head down and I'm not sure I would be confident in the hook placement of the belly alone. I like that set up with Mag/Wiggle worts but I'm not sold on it for Kwiks. If you say it works I may give it a try for myself.

Always nice to try new things!

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics.

Jfool

[Thumper]

Todd --- Bring them babies on down here and we'll soak 'em out on Bachelor!!! Cool kwickies!

[Ty]

Those single hooks kick butt!!!!!! Saw them in action from my guide friends on the Kenai last summer.... Just wish they made them in a bigger size....

[eyeFISH]

Ty

Did your guide buddies use the ones with the braided loop or the open eye version? Did they rig from the belly or the tail screw-eye?

The Gamakatsu rep I contacted says to rig from the tail screw-eye to split-ring to a barrel swivel and finally an open-eye 510. Is this what you saw up there?

On another thread, your buddy Dave Johnson posted stats like 43 of 44 hookups landed. Sounds like once these hooks find a solid piece of meat, they just don't let go. I am really interested to know how many strikes result in bonafide hookups.

Thanks

[Willow Drifter]

Jack - I would love that. We do need to hook up one of these days and do a little fishing.

The bottom one is not a custom color. It is called Circus Clown. They are all over in the stores here. The only thing that color has hooked so far is this fisherman.

I am anxious to try the Gami hooks. They are really sticky and I like that soft cord going to the fish vs. a swivel/snap.

[Ty]

Willow drifter... The hooks where the ones with the braided loops and they where on the tail screw eye...

He believed his hook up increased from single siwash... Although, nothin like the rates Dave Johnson spoke of... it is pretty common for kings not to get buttoned up on even the greatest of head shaking take downs...

[IFISH4U]

Top kwickfish, single siwash, melt cheater on shank of hook, for bouyancy, keeps hook closer to kwickie body and fish cant spit it out, without getting the hook, works awesome.

[eyeFISH]

Ifish4u
Post a pic, please. I'd like to see exactly where you put that melt-on Cheater.

[tag-a-long]

I have never really had the opportunity to fish a quickfish, but do the beaded chains help with getting hooksets? Do they make a difference versus the original hook in the screw eye?

[Kwiksilver]

where can I get the single hooks like the top one I have looked at gi-joes and fishermans but could not locate.Thanks for the pics they look great

[slabhunter]

The Gamakatsu "assist 510" hooks are found near the slabspoons (saltwater jigs) up in this area. I'm sure your favorite tackle shop can locate some if you ask.

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

I havent really followed the kwikfish threads much I was wondering what exactly are you trying to accomplish by changing the stock hook configuration ?

I have fished kwikfish for years using the stock hooks they come with and had relatively few problems with them as far as hook ups and losing them once they are hooked.

the problem I see with them the most would be that the stock hooks are soft and will straighten out on a very large fish when I really put the heat on them. last fall I lost a beauty around 50 lbs because the hook straightened out. in defense of the vmc hooks I have to add that the fish could have been netted at one point and then got around a snag and straightened the hook.

the hook problem can be resolved by replacing the hooks with a stronger hook so I guess I dont see why that you are changing from 6 pointy instruments of death to just one. I can see it if you are fishing someplace that more then one single point hook is not allowed or your casting them but I think that you are cutting you chances of a hook up 80%.

my best guess would be that if your having problems with hooking up and keeping them hooked

your not waiting long enough to lift up on the rod.

the rods are to light and dont have enough backbone to bury the hook.

or your setting the hook way to hard and your tearing the hooks out.

I presonally never set the hook I lift up on the rod solidly and thats about it. I also wait untill the fish has turned down river and line is smoking off the reel before I ever touch it, and I run heavy rods with the drags pretty tight.

I am not an expert by any means but I fish a lot and I fish nothing but kwikfish once the fall fish enter the river. I have just never had a problem with losing many fish once they are on thats why I was wondering what you are trying to achieve by changing to single hooks?


Quasi

[Silver Hilton]

I got some of the new Gami 510 hooks. Here are some plugs ready to go. GI Joes only had the 1/0's and the 3/0's. The smaller plugs have the 1/0's, and the K15 has the 3/0's. Will report back on how they do, once we get some fish around.

[Jeffhead]

Another option to the melted cheater is to use a small piece of backer rod slid over the hook up to where the bead chain, split ring (I use a smaller split ring) and hook are. Floats the hook in the strike zone like the cheater and you can soak up a little extra sardine oil with the backer rod for your scent trail. Only one day of testing on the Humptulips last fall with this setup but I did have 4 takedowns, all with solid hookups. More testing to come this spring!!
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff :grin: :grin:

[Silver Hilton]

Originally posted by Quasimodo the fish killer:
I have just never had a problem with losing many fish once they are on thats why I was wondering what you are trying to achieve by changing to single hooks?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I don't lose many fish once they're on, either. It's getting them to that stage that is the magic quest. I think my boat runs at about a 70% hookup ratio. I've got the crew pretty well trained to keep their hands off the rods until they stay down, and we still miss one in three. The rod goes down, and then just comes back up, empty. That seems to be about the same with both singles and trebles. And yes, we know how to sharpen hooks

I'm going to keep detailed records this spring to see what I can learn. But that's why I keep experimenting.

[Freakwater]

SH,

Is there a GI Joes on the path to Nirvana? I've looked at a couple of Joes in the Portland area and can't find those new Gami's.

Freak

[Silver Hilton]

All places are on the path, grasshopper. But this one is in Issaquah, WA. They just arrived, and were well hidden in the hook display.

[eyeFISH]

Why singles?

1) Easier release without even having to touch the fish... grab heavy leader by hand and use simple de-hooker like the guys in the salt.

2) No additional hooks to tangle in the mesh during the critical moment of netting (when it becomes necessary to net a big fish for control).

3) Less overall damage to the fish.

[Ty]

Quasimodo the fish killer

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">There are single hook regulation is place in many river's in AK; Alagnak and Kenai for instance.....

U would be supprised just how effective one hook is!

[ 03-03-2004, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Ty ]