A Little Gizmo
By Mike Bucca
Southeastern Staff Writer
September 25, 2009
I hate giving away trade secrets. Some things are only meant to be shown in secrecy, after multitudes of promises are made to keep things under wraps. Well here’s a cool contraption I’ll share that has been providing me with great success.
Quick question first: Do you like to fish weightless plastics? Weightless Senkos? Trickworms? Flukes? Do you get excited fishing toads of all types? If so, what is your hook up ratio? Personally, I have about a 60 to 70% hookup ratio on weightless plastics, give or take a few percentage points. What if I told you I’d discovered a “little gizmo” that would increase your hookup ratio dramatically with these types of baits?
I’ve used all brands, types and styles of hooks throughout my fishing history. I have stingered them and trailer hooked them everyway that you stinger and trailer hook a bait. I’ve employed stinger hooks using braid and wire through and around the body, tubing to keep hooks in place, treble hooks hanging off every which a way -- you name it I’ve tried it. The problem with those methods is it takes time to fine-tune things to keep everything straight and insure you get the same great action. Also you have to take off your stinger rig up a new worm, then re-install the stinger contraption, then re-tune it again to make sure everything is aligned straight. I find this wastes valuable fishing time. And often, even after careful fine-tuning, the worm will get a “crook” in it during the next cast. Arrghh!!
I’m always on the lookout for unique, cool gadgets whenever I visit my favorite tackle shops. I saw such a gizmo, “The Original Jerk Weight” made by KSH Custom Baits here in Georgia. I almost kicked myself when I discovered how simple this fix turned out to be. It’s hard to get me excited about terminal tackle but when I saw this gizmo I knew this guy was onto something. Products like this really make those mom and pop shops stand out!
How To Rig It
The rig is quite easy to install. Simply insert the head of the bait onto the keeper near the eyelet, then rig the hook shaped wire into the bait like you were tex-posing your plastics with a normal hook. Next install a treble hook to the split ring and, Blam! You’ ready to fish.
I noticed right away you don’t have to let these fish run for even a second to set the hook on them. No 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi . . . the key to this rig is not only the treble hook but the position of the hook in the middle of the bait as well as the simple fact that it is exposed. That’s what makes this rig work. As soon as you feel the bite, cross their eyes. You’ll find your hookups will increase dramatically. I like to insert one of the trebles into my bait to keep the hook points “close” to the body of the bait which enhance my hook ups on this type of rig.
As a guide, I’ve found these jerk weights are great tools for young kids who don’t quite have the muscle to set the hook, particularly when using Senkos. Just the slightest tug of the rod will hook the fish. It also prevents a lot of gut hooking because you don’t have to let the fish run with the bait to insure it has a good hold on the bait.
There are some drawbacks. It’s not as weedless as a Texas Rig because the treble hooks are exposed. If you’re a spotted bass guy or fish lakes with little cover you’ll be in heaven with this rig. The second drawback is it does seem to alter the action of your bait some, but not so bad that it’s a turn off to keep me from using it. There is enough for you to notice less erratic action of the bait after a few twitches, but Senkos still fall horizontally just like they do when Texas rigged weightless.
The third drawback is while your hookup ratio increases, your bait life decreases. The little arm that you stick into the head of the worm is not sufficient to withstand a fish that jumps and shakes its head after being hooked. The good news is I have modified “the gizmo” to my own likings which actually increases the life of my Senkos. Of course I’m going to tell you how!
I wrap that little arm around the main shank to close the eyelet off then clip the leftover excess wire. Then I attach a hitch hiker spring attachment (see left).
Now I screw on my bait and rig as explained earlier. The hitch hiker spring does a much better job holding my plastics during those head shakes, increasing their life. In fact, I have found that I catch more fish per bait this way than rigging it with a normal worm hook. I’m saving myself money AND increasing my hookup ratio at the same time.
I have also noticed that KHS has recently come out with “weighted” jerk weights as well. I believe they are weighted with 1/16, 1/8th and 1/4oz sizes but don’t quote me on that.
They also have a great paddle tail weight that is as flawless as they come. I’m not a paddle tail type guy but friends of mine who are say the original bait weight is the perfect solution for Basstrix type baits. 
If you’re a tournament guy and you need every fish to count, this little jerk weight gizmo is a must have. They’re very affordable at $3.99 a pair and so far in my three months of using them they are quite durable. I like the way KHS thinks outside the box and their products speak for themselves.
KSH “Original Jerk Weights” can be bought at several local shops here in Georgia. My local shop, Natures Tackle Box, has them available for purchase. Give Christi Lester a call at 678-567-1211.