A lot of people have inquired about where to buy Big Hammer swimbaits when there was no dealer near by. I just remembered where I used to order my Super Shad Lead Heads from.

The Rusty Hook in San Pedro stocks Fishco products (Big Hammers, Super Shad Lead Heads, Assalt Lead Heads) and they have an on-line ordering system (www.rustyhook.com). Fishco products are not yet listed within the on-line system but on the front page it says they can get any product from any manufacturer they stock. I used to order all of my Super Shad Lead Heads through them and had good service. You can e-mail, fax, or phone your order in.

I know of another place that sells them for people who live in ventura county...At CISCO'S SPORTFISHING in CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR..
they sell a variety of colors from 3"-5"..hope it helps

I called BossBaitandTackle in Vista today and inquired about the Big Hammers and they said yes we do carry them but no we don't have any in stock in any size or color. Wow! What a hot comodity! In the morning I'm going to ask the store manager Ken when they are going to get another shipment in. I will go down there on my lunch break from San Marcos where I work to make sure I get stocked up!

Check that drag! :)

Aztecwin

Got my first rubber ling last weekend on a 'Hammer. They are a swimming beast. I'll be looking for some more at Day at the Docks this Sunday! :)

Fishslayer

Rubber Ling - LOL! :)

Well, actually, till last year I had never caught a ling at all (I don't bottom fish much). Lately I've been seeing more of them and have actually released a few shorts. Last weekend was my first on an artificial.

I'd also be interested in heavy (3-4 oz) fish type leadheads with a smaller hook. Seems all I can find in heavy heads are the round type with the huge cad plated hooks.

Fishslayer

I have caught lings on just about everything in norcal, but by far the best results were with swimbaits. I started with a rainbow trout color and never needed to try any other color. With the swimbaits I caught lings in my usual spots and in spots that had failed me before.

I now would use nothing else but a BH swimbait for lings, but I would like to know what the best size and color(s) might be in socal waters, where I have not yet fished for lings.

For lings (and rockfish for that matter) my two best colors have been "Bleeding Olive Herring" and "Red Calico Hunter"

Hi Leapin Bass

I purchased quite a few plastics today and was just wondering about the lead heads. From what people say is to go with a fish lead head. Do you recomend a long shank or short shank hook on the plastics.

Thanks

Most of the time with the 3 inch Hammers I like the Assalt Darter Heads with 2/0 thin wire hooks in sizes 1/8, 3/16, or 1/4 oz. When fishing heavier equipment I'll use a 1/4 oz. Fishco Super Shad head with a 2/0 hook.

For the other swimbaits I use Fishco Super Shads with these hook sizes:

4 inch = 3/0 hook
5 inch = 4/0 hook
6 inch = 5/0 or 6/0 hook
7 inch = 6/0 hook

Thanks, Pete.

Do you have the BH # for these two colors, and what size would you recommend for lings? It's ok if you do not have a size recommendation because I presume that lings are not among the usual species that you target.

Thanks again.

Bob

Bob,

#24 and #52. I typically use size 5 or 6 inch except color #24 is not available in 6 inch so I substitute color #19 which is the same thing except for it has an orange stripe on the belly instead of red.

Lead head size depends on depth and current. I will usually go up to 1.5 oz. and then add an egg sinker on top of that if I need more weight.

Pete