How To Add Weight To Soft Plastics Without Changing Your Hook
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Do you need an easy solution to adding weight to your soft plastic lures?
Maybe you cannot find the weighted hooks you normally use…
Or you want a quick solution so that you don’t have to completely change your hook…
In this video, you’ll see how to very simply add weight to your lure without having to change out your hook.
Check it out below!
How To Add Weight To Soft Plastics [VIDEO]
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Adding weight to your lure can be very handy, especially if you are used to fishing with a certain weighted hook (and have a hard time finding it in stock).
For example, I really like using the Owner Twistlock in a 1/8 oz weight but I may be stuck with a 1/16 oz.
So I can increase the weight with a 1/16 nail weight.
If I’m fishing in windy conditions, deeper water, or I want to slow down my retrieve, I can add a weight that will help in these scenarios.
These nail weights are useful because they won’t affect the action very much of the lure depending on where you place them.
How To Use Nail Weights For Your Soft Plastics
Step 1: Make sure you have your lure already rigged up on the hook that you are using.
Step 2: To insert, go through the top of the head and line it up centered on the lure. Push in the weight at a slight angle so that it does not interfere with the hook or stick out of the top of the lure.
Ideally, I like to place the weight on the front of the lure and as close to the weight that is already on the hook. You don’t want to put it anywhere near the back of the lure or it will ride at an angle. Keep it centered with the lure itself and with the weight on the hook.
The only con is that if you do not insert it properly and have to remove it and re-insert it, you may ruin your lure.
And if you somehow lose your lure, you lose the weight too.
Here are the weights I used in this video:
And if you know someone who uses soft plastic lures, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Nice instructional video. It’s like telepathy. I recently figured that I had to get some and just them over this past weekend. For me, I got the 1/8oz and plan on using a few at a time on those large Gulp Swim Shads with the curly tail. The body on those is too beefy for any available weighted hook. A big size jig head might work, but y guess is it would not be acceptable either. I had gotten frustrated with those lures and just put them aside. So first I bought some 5/0 flipping hooks sold by Berkley. They have a good gauge to them and a keeper by the eye. But, even then one needs to thread the hook high on center to get enough of the bend showing through the meaty body. I’ll then stick 2 to four of these nail weights in the belly. They really need the weight more to keep the keel down as they tend to sink on their own. I plan on tossing them at the inlets and jetties, and maybe some keys bridges. Always looking for the big one. Hope to let you know in the future how it worked for me.
Thank you for the great feedback Rex! Yes it can be tough to find large wide gap hooks. I have found some in the 8/0 to 10/0 size called ChinLockz. The downfall is you have to slide the lure over the large weight on the hook which can tear gulp baits. Large jigheads would be ideal as well for those baits.
Thoughts on rigging an artificial shrimp or a paddle tail this way. https://majorleaguefishing.com/uncategorized/2017-12-06-neko-rig-basics/ this is the way I sometimes rig senkos without the nail weight for bass.
Very interesting! Ive never tried that before.
Nice tip Tony – nail weight vs the weights that get crimped on the shank? Which one have your tried and recommend?
Ideally the weights that go on the hook itself would be best. But for a cleaner presentation a nail weight can be ideal. Can also help balance a lure out depending on where you place the nail in the lure and if you wanted to change the action.
Fly tiers often use soft lead wire than can be wound around the shank of the hook to add weight. Also, have you tried using the nail weight with an un-weighted hook? The lure may stay more horizontal during the fall and look even more natural than when using the weighted hook which makes it fall slightly head first.
Robert I was thinking the same thing. I have some unweighted twists lock hooks that these would be perfect to use with
Will definitely have to give it a try!
That weighted wire is usually just solder in I believe the 1.2mm diameter. That’s what I’ve used in the past, and it’s likely a lot cheaper than when it’s rebranded as “fly tying material”.
Great tip Tony thanks
You’re welcome James!
How about a split shot on the hook. The bottom weight would keep the bait from trying to roll over. You could make any hook what ever weight you need. Especially if you ran out of the weighted hooks. Ken
I would recommend some weights that are meant to be crimped on to the shank of the hook. The gap on a split shot is rather narrow and wouldn’t hold on well to a hook shank.
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-xps-hook-weights
Neater than clipping a pinch weight on the hook.
Much cleaner!
Good Idea!
Works great!
Bass Pro carries crimp on hook weights in various sizes. May be another option.
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-xps-hook-weights
For sure!
i had that thought as well
Definitely helps and works great!