Hi JD,
When fishing Pencil Poppers for stripers do you stick your fish on the front treble or the back or both??
I have had a nice summer fishing topwater on the Sac for stripers. The only thing a little disagreeable about the fishing is the fact that I have jacked a couple fish up with the trebles on my pencil popper. I think the problem is mainly that back treble swinging around during the fight and snagging the fish somewhere on the face.
From my photos and others I think those fish are mostly grabbing the head of the plug? I am contemplating removing the back hook (actually I will probably just cut the hook points off because I like to tie in a little white bucktail and flash on the back hook). What do you think? Thanks, Matt.
Hey Matt,
I generally get my fish with both hooks — usually the back one down the throat and the belly hook around the jaw. Maybe you’re setting the hook more quickly?? I like to let the rod load up before I set…not sure if that’s why you’re getting yours on the forward hook — just a guess.
Over the years, I’ve gone to all barbless on all my poppers, which cuts down on the carnage (fish and human!). I’ve also tried removing the trebles and replacing them with “assist hooks” on wire droppers, which works okay. The jury’s still a bit out on that one.
I’d like to hear how the removing or bending out the back hook goes…keep me posted!
–JD
Sometimes when I think back, my good pal VnMan and I are lucky to be alive…all that stupid stuff we used to do before we had jobs, wives, kids, spare tires, etc.