I have seen a few posts discussing adding a chain extension on the belly of a tadpolly. I have a couple questions when you do this. What size chain dow you use? Do you reuse the treble or replace with a siwash. If you replace the hook(s), what size hook9s) do you use? Does it matter if the hook is placed up or down?

In regards to Little Cleos, what size do you prefer. Do you remove the treble hooks and replace with siwash. If so what size do you use?


I am tired of missing fish or getting a few head shakes and nothing.

By addressing this issue I may increase my hookup rate.

Thanks for your advice.

Captain

On the little cleos I do replace the treble with a swiash. Try a 1/0 for the 2/5th of oz and have the hook pointing towards the bottom this increases the hook striking area. Info is from Herzog's spoon book. Suggest that you buy it if you spoon fish.

Captain,

I remove both the small factory hooks on the tads and replace just the back one with an oversized treble. I think the size I use is about a number 2. Keep the treble very sharp and you will lose very few fish from my experience. Talk to Sauk about this one, he's great help. Good luck.

RM

Thanks for you replies. I will try these techniques on my next outing. I have all of Herzog's books. Guess I'll have to find time to read them!

Captain

Captain,

Riverman is right on. The Kid Sauk put me on to
this set up last year. Use a size 2 EWG trebble
and you will get both head shakes and the fish.

Cigar

That's a funny heading, Captain

Cigar is right about the hook setups for Tad's. Either run a wide gap treble or standard treble in a size #2 right off the one split ring at the tail. 86 the belly hook and split ring. You can also opt for a 2/0 Vision siwash and two split rings off the tail so the hook point rides up.

Screw the idea of belly bead chains on anything but Wiggle Warts if you ask me.

As far as the spoons go, I have been testing the 1/0 and 2/0 Vision siwash hooks on the Cleo's and Mortacs. Herzog taught me a neat trick last spring in which he offset the Siwash hook by bending it "slightly" inward and to the side. Seems to work well for me to

[ 12-31-2001: Message edited by: Kid Sauk ]

Kid Sauk and Cigar - thanks for the reply. I'm on it like a cop on a doughnut. Looking forward to using this technique next time out. I have heard of bending the hook in and to the side before, maybe it was in STS in Herzog's column. Again thanks for the help. Will keep you posted.

Captain