Knife/Butterfly Setup...

SpecialK · 11-15-2007, 08:55 AM

Ok I know there is some debate about the best way to do this but here is the deal.

I have some 7" 9" and 12" knife and butterfly jigs. Which ones would you put only top assist hooks on and which ones would you put bottom hooks on also?

What type of hook and connection would you use for a bottom hook? JUst a hook and a split ring?

-KUrtis

jig · 11-15-2007, 09:33 AM

Regardless, I only fish one hook at the top. I seem to do okay with it. I have tried everything, including circle hooks on the bottom, hooks at top and bottom, double hooks, etc. I think I do just as well with single assist and tiny rubber band to hold close to the jig body. I tie my own assist hooks, and try to make them just long enough to hang down about 1/3 to 1/2 of the length of the jig. My hooks are just a bit wider than the jig body.

Extra hooks just seem to be more trouble to untangle and unhook fish without adding to my hookup ratio. And when I fished hooks on the bottom I lost more fish due to them tossing the jig (they can use the weight of the jig to their advantage).

Hope this helps. BTW, you usually refer to jigs by weight, not length, and then style (i.e. long vs. short for example).

papio · 11-15-2007, 10:12 AM

Never had any problems using two assist on the top. One hook on the top is all you need, two hooks are really just for show IMO. Split ring and Owner ST-76 Treble on the bottom. Good luck!!!

fathom · 11-15-2007, 10:24 AM

single top hook only, just use longer cord legnth for longer jigs.

lite-liner · 11-15-2007, 10:30 AM

I did a small test on the Cinco trip in May.
fished my typical 300g 10.5" knife jig.
first nite- Single 7/0 assist on top, single 7/0
on 220# owner split ring on bottom. of the near 30
BFT I boated that night, only 2 or 3 were hooked on the bottom hook
Second nite- fished the same jig, same way, w/out the bottom hook.
hooked up on all bites but 2.
My opinion- you only need 1 big assist on the front, 95% of the fish
are gonna aim for the head, and you really don't want a hookup on the bottom, because that pretty much defeats the purpose of the assist setup.
that being when hooked up, you are tied directly to the fish, w/out the jig working against you & the hook.
JMO
-Brian

gman · 11-15-2007, 10:56 AM

I personally like either a single or double set up at top, and i personally believe that fish target the head area of a baitfish as almost everyone of my bites are on top. In addition when the hook is on top the weight of the jig doesnt work against you like it does on the bottom but Im no expert. On my next trip Im going to put a big assist hook on teh bottom just to try it out

tass · 11-15-2007, 12:40 PM

Single assist at top. Don't need anything else on the jig

DeepBlueGulf · 11-15-2007, 01:14 PM

Single assist on the top. I do like the way Williamson jigs use heat shrink on the assist hook to keep it from fouling, and to help with cutoffs. I've found I can usually go around 25 fish before the kevlar breaks.

Tom

gman · 11-15-2007, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepBlueGulf

Single assist on the top. I do like the way Williamson jigs use heat shrink on the assist hook to keep it from fouling, and to help with cutoffs. I've found I can usually go around 25 fish before the kevlar breaks.

Tom

thats a great ratio

DeepBlueGulf · 11-15-2007, 02:22 PM

Well, not really, that's just Blackfins!

DBG

11-15-2007, 08:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
SpecialK Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 458	Knife/Butterfly Setup... Ok I know there is some debate about the best way to do this but here is the deal. I have some 7" 9" and 12" knife and butterfly jigs. Which ones would you put only top assist hooks on and which ones would you put bottom hooks on also? What type of hook and connection would you use for a bottom hook? JUst a hook and a split ring? -KUrtis

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11-15-2007, 09:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
jig Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 241	Regardless, I only fish one hook at the top. I seem to do okay with it. I have tried everything, including circle hooks on the bottom, hooks at top and bottom, double hooks, etc. I think I do just as well with single assist and tiny rubber band to hold close to the jig body. I tie my own assist hooks, and try to make them just long enough to hang down about 1/3 to 1/2 of the length of the jig. My hooks are just a bit wider than the jig body. Extra hooks just seem to be more trouble to untangle and unhook fish without adding to my hookup ratio. And when I fished hooks on the bottom I lost more fish due to them tossing the jig (they can use the weight of the jig to their advantage). Hope this helps. BTW, you usually refer to jigs by weight, not length, and then style (i.e. long vs. short for example).

11-15-2007, 10:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
papio Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Antonio, Tx. V Posts: 255	Never had any problems using two assist on the top. One hook on the top is all you need, two hooks are really just for show IMO. Split ring and Owner ST-76 Treble on the bottom. Good luck!!!

11-15-2007, 10:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
fathom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: cedar creek Tx Posts: 269	single top hook only, just use longer cord legnth for longer jigs.

11-15-2007, 10:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
lite-liner Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: little elm, tx., USA Posts: 549	I did a small test on the Cinco trip in May. fished my typical 300g 10.5" knife jig. first nite- Single 7/0 assist on top, single 7/0 on 220# owner split ring on bottom. of the near 30 BFT I boated that night, only 2 or 3 were hooked on the bottom hook Second nite- fished the same jig, same way, w/out the bottom hook. hooked up on all bites but 2. My opinion- you only need 1 big assist on the front, 95% of the fish are gonna aim for the head, and you really don't want a hookup on the bottom, because that pretty much defeats the purpose of the assist setup. that being when hooked up, you are tied directly to the fish, w/out the jig working against you & the hook. JMO -Brian

11-15-2007, 10:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,157	I personally like either a single or double set up at top, and i personally believe that fish target the head area of a baitfish as almost everyone of my bites are on top. In addition when the hook is on top the weight of the jig doesnt work against you like it does on the bottom but Im no expert. On my next trip Im going to put a big assist hook on teh bottom just to try it out

11-15-2007, 12:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
tass Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 46	Single assist at top. Don't need anything else on the jig

11-15-2007, 01:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
DeepBlueGulf Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 623	Single assist on the top. I do like the way Williamson jigs use heat shrink on the assist hook to keep it from fouling, and to help with cutoffs. I've found I can usually go around 25 fish before the kevlar breaks. Tom

11-15-2007, 02:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
DeepBlueGulf Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 623	Well, not really, that's just Blackfins! DBG

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