When To Use Weightless Helix Hooks This Winter [New Product Review]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
- Found In: Product Reviews, Fishing Tips, Lure Reviews, Terminal Tackle
The winter season used to be the season when I struggled the most to catch any fish at all… much less quality ones.
But once I learned how big trout and redfish will often sun themselves on shallow wind-protected flats, making for optimal sight-fishing opportunities, I began to get excited about winter fishing.
And a new product that has helped increase sight-fishing success is this weightless hook that we recently added to the Insider Club tackle store.
Featured Gear
Featured Tandem Rig
The Sidekick Rig is a unique rig that I have been using recently for color experiments because it allows both lures to be in the same area at the same time with the same retrieve. But it has proven to work so well that I’m beginning to use it even when I’m not running a controlled experiment.
Conclusion
These hooks are a niche product that not all inshore fishermen need.
But for those of us who like hunting down big trout and reds on shallow wind-protected shorelines with clear water, this finesse hook paired with a good soft plastic jerk lure is a game-changer.
Although it’s new, it has already risen to the top of my confidence lure list for catching big trout and reds when they are sunning themselves in shallow, calm water.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
The 2 core benefits we promise to Insider Club members is to be able to find and catch fish easier than ever before while saving money on fishing equipment.
So I am including links to the quickest ways to achieve each :
1) Finding Fish System
2) Insider Club’s Group Discounts
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Awesome info. Will try it next time I’m out.
Another great way to fool those SPOOKY fish, thanks Luke !!
Thanks George!
I thought the Polk County tweeker was a Z-Man product. How did yall get it to sink so quickly on a weightless hook? Second question is how close are you and what type of platform are you using that you can sight fish in shin deep (14-18 inches) water? I struggle desperately to find fish in Winter, I need to figure out what I need to do to sight fish better.
The Polk County Tweaker is made from a dense material so that it can cast very far (much farther than the lightweight Zman material). An added benefit of the denser material is that is slightly negatively buoyant allowing it to get down to a shallow bottom with only the weight of the hook.
As for sight fishing, it’s easier and easier as you can elevate the height of your eyes above the water’s surface. I normally do it from my skiff, but I also do it from my kayak and SUP… but it’s essential to be able to stand up to do so. A sitting position on a kayak makes it very difficult to see a fish before the fish sees/feels you first.
Thanks Luke for the great info. tight lines
Our pleasure Jon!
Great intel, thanks Luke!
Our pleasure JD!
Excellent information, Luke. I’ve been interested in using weightless setups for sometime. I’ve even asked about it a few tines in some of fishing tips videos. Now I’m going to give it a try. Keep giving us these informative videos. Much appreciated.
Our pleasure Ray!
Some good tactics to try
I hope you enjoy this finesse setup as much as I have.
Obviously, this makes the lure lighter in weight, which can create one issue unless the angler maintains a tight line on the spool at all times. One issue I have found with some anglers on my boat when rigging these lures like this is that the anglers don’t keep a tight line on the spool all the time, and loose line gets on the spool, leading to subsequent casts creating a bird’s nest. I feather the spool with a finger before the lure touches down and manually close the bail, and give a slight pull on the line at the spool before I begin reeling, so there is no slack line at all, avoiding these issues. Casting the lure, which creates an arc in the line adds extra line off the spool since the spot the lure lands is a shorter distance than the lure traveled in the arc to its landing, so by feathering the spool, it straightens the line and the lure lands on the water more softly and without extra line that needs to be reeled in before the retrieve of the lure begins. This usually eliminates bird nests, allows for instant hook-sets, and also gives a direct connection should you get a strike from a fish when the lure lands, allowing you to instantly set the hook and avoid missing the fish.
Thanks for adding the helpful intel Capt. Ray!