Was fishing at spring lake monday morning when i heard a big comotion and saw a trout jumping 2 feet out of the water. I knew they planted a couple of weeks ago but figured they would be caught or gobbled up by now so i didnt bring any big trout baits. I had the osprey (HItch pattern) and started throwing it. Had 6 hits in about 2 hours. Had 2 on for a while and never hooked the other 4. Not sure if the bass got close and said Hey this isnt a trout and just kind of nipped them or what. I had sharpened my hooks. My question for those that use the ospreys, do you change hooks or use some kind of stinger hook to help with the hookups. How do you rig a stinger without hurting the action. They seem to be a good bait but they will soon fall apart just by casting them a while. Nice deal for the manufacturer.

Hey Dave,

Although I have not caught any with the Osprey yet what I have done to them is put on a bigger gami hook along with a second smaller trailer treble. Since the first one is buried in the plastic I attach the other one like you would a buzzbait or spinnerbait on one of the free trebles. Another more troublesome way would be to attach a small length of heavy braid along with the other treble and attach it to either the hook or other part of the bait.

Hope this helps and catch some toads!

Todd

If you haven't seen it, Bass World West sells a Pro-Rig osprey that is pre-rigged with a tube through it and two gammie trebeles. It's the way to go on an osprey for hookup ratio and for the number of fish you can catch on a single bait. If you wanna rig it like this yourself, you just need some surgical tubing, two gammie hooks ( a 2/0 and a 1/0 ) and some 80lb braid. Take out the harness, shove the tubing in there, tie the two hooks together and tie your main line directly to the front hook.

If the fish are missing it that bad or not eating the bait very good, there might not be much you can do though. On the rubber trouts you are just going to miss a certain percentage of fish no matter what. Sometimes certain fish at certain lakes seem to be really good at not getting hooked.

It comes down to what you can get away with in your bait. If the fish only want Osprey and won't hit anything else, then that's that. But what if you threw a Slammer with two 2/0 gammie trebles? Think about it like this... If the fish want Osprey but you only land one out of 5 bites, but you threw the Slammer and got 3 bites and landed all 3, which would be better? You can really get the hooks into fish that swipe or head butt your bait with the Slammer. I've caught quite a few outside the mouth on it that way. Swimbait fishing really does work like this.

There are some really trick rubber baits out now that get bit really good, but you just gotta bite the bullet when you fish them because so many fish are going to get away. It doesn't mean I don't throw rubber trouts, I do. But I only do it when I'm really feeling in the mood to gamble on trying to get a big one to stick on my bait. If a big bass over 8lbs wants your lure, IT'S GONNA GET IT. It don't matter what you are throwing. But I don't get that many swimbait bites personally, and a lot of the bites I get are swipes or head butts or weak hits. If you want those fish, you have to throw a two hook wood lure, or you have to be real real lucky. The rigidity of a wood bait allows such a faster stickier hookset vs. trying to set the hook through a rubber bait.

Anyway, good luck :)

thanks for the feedback. Ill give that a try. I might just have to break down and get one of those slammers i keep hearing about.

thanks

Hey Dave,

If you want to ever borrow one when we're fishing together just let me know in advance so I can bring a couple of mine. I know we don't fish together much but you're welcome to try (I have the 7" and 9"). Last year Rich and I scored quite a number of good fish on them DURING tournies!

Todd

Thanks for the offer Todd. I may take you up on that. I think ill just get one so i dont have that 20 lber cruise off with your lure in her mouth.

Dave

Not me, Inever caught any thing on those bog swim baits. I only us jitterbugs behind a split shot, LOL

Rich

I just knew you were lying when you said you caught that 12 Lbr at highland on a jig and pig. The ole split shot jitterbug trick. You are crafty Rich.