The Evolution of Skitterbait Hook Testing and Application

Skitterbaits have gone through extensive testing to find out the most appropriate hook setup, you can see the types of hooks I have used below.  Currently they are only sold with VMC 3X 9626 Hooks.

Stock Hooks

Skitterbait with stock hooks

These are the hooks supplied with skitterbaits when I get them, they are weak suitable for small tailor and trevally only.  It's obvious they aren't up to the task for most seaway fish so I looked for an alternative that would maintain buoyancy without sacrificing strength.

GT-Bio #6 Hooks

Skitterbait with GT-Bio Hooks fitted

The first set of hooks I supplied with skitterbaits.

I came across these hooks and they looked ideal for the task, lightweight yet strong enough to handle most fish.  I tested them extensively before releasing them with skitterbaits.  As of this time I have caught over 200 fish on them including many small Kingfish, GT's up to 65cm, loads of Tailor up to 58cm, Bigeyes up to 59cm, Dart, Tarpon and even fought a battle with a 12 Kilo+ King for over 40 minutes.  The worst that happened over 6 months of testing was some bending of the hooks when trying to remove them.  That said, it is simply not possible to test for every variable in fishing so other things did happen once they were out in the wild. Once I heard of a few problems(only 4 in over 200), I started to test new hook patterns in the hope of improving them.

Decoy Pluggin Singles

Skitterbait with Decoy Pluggin Singles fitted

These were tested as an alternative to the GT-Bio Trebles, found to work okay (but had a poor hookup rate)and offered as an alternative on November 25th 2013(not currently offered).

VMC 3X #4 Hooks

Skitterbait fitted with VMC 3X #4

The hookup rate with the pluggin Singles was poor so I set about testing heavier duty trebles.  The VMC 3X #4 looked to be about the right size so I tested them but ran into the problems I had earlier on in the year.  That is the skitterbaits would barely float and would sink sometimes.  With a bit of testing it didn't seem to affect their fish catching ability (as long as you kept them moving)so I changed the trebles offered from the GT-Bio #6 to these.

Owner Bound Doubles

Skitterbaits with bound doubles

These are my favourite setup but not currently offered for sale, Owner #2 Double hooks bound together with 200lb Braid.  These have a better hookup rate than the single hooks, the hookup rate of the VMC trebles without the extra weight and more strength than the GT-Bio hooks.