Stinger Hook Answers Missing

[Ray Champ]

I thought it said I had 9 replies but when I checked them I have no replies. If you previously replied to my question on what size stinger hooks to use while jigging in the Detroit River, would you please reply again.

Thank you.

[ESOX]

Ray,
I am hardly an expert on the subject, but I've been out with guys who used Northland stinger hook setups, I think the were #6 & #8.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

I use #8 treble from Northland on the St. Clair river.

[Hotwired]

Ray,
I use a #8 treble hook for a stinger,
I tie it directly to the hook shank with 20lb test.
I make it short enough so it will not come back
and hook my primary line. The 20lb test keeps it
pretty rigid so it stays out of the way and will
usually break off on a bad snag without losing
the whole jig.

[walleyeman830]

I also use #8 round treble hook from mustad with 25lb test looped and crimped around shank of jig head. Like Hotwired said you want to keep it short enough that it doesn't get caught up around you main line.

walleyeman
dave

[The Whale]

Can't say that I have much of a problem at all with stingers getting tangled up in/around my main line. I typically use factory type stingers right out of the box too.

Perhaps I've been lucky, but I believe it has more to do with how you set your minnow on the jig, and then where/how you set the stinger.

My .02

Whale :D

[Joe_G]

I have always hooked one of the treble hooks points into the side of the minnow. Is it better
to just let it dangle free?

[Homer]

Joe_G:

It depends where you're fishing. The downside to letting it dangle free is that you increase the likelihood of the stinger hook snagging on something. If you're fishing fairly snag-free water, let it loose.

[The Whale]

Absolutely not. A more productive way to utilize a small treble stinger is to bury a hook point down into the back one third or so of the minnow, just ahead of the tail , right from the center of its back with equal amounts of the two remaining barbs on either side of the minnow. This allows the stinger to "ride" with its' additional weight (however small) evenly distributed and centered with the jig. The two "free" points will not snag on the bottom structure you are bouncing over, and your jig will have a more natural appearance to your quarry.
This has worked extremely well for me for about 30 years or more of successful fishing.

My .02 worth.


Whale :)

[Tattoo Mike]

Everyone I know that fishes theDetroit river does not use stinger hooks. The river is real snaggy already and they just add to your problem. I agree with trout in his technique however it is very easy for depth to change and the jig to tip over and the stinger to snag. Without them I rarely miss fish, but sometimes it happens. I even like to pinch the barb closed because the minnow stays more lively (you have to hold them on with a tiny piece of grub) but the biggest reason is just in case I catch a big female ready to spawn. So can put her back with little harm, after a few quick pics of course. Feel free to contact me if you would like some tips to inprove your catch out there.