crawler harness

[hammertime]

if you were going to make up some crawler harness for saginaw bay and lk erie, would you use single hooks or treble,s ? been thinking on making up a hundred or so just to have on hand and been having trouble deciding on hooks. got a few hundred # 2 and # 4 triple grips already. will have to order what ever i want in single hook. that would be my next question if single hooks, which ones in that style. haven't made them in a few yrs and hooks are getting so much better these days, hard to stay on top of them. thanks. mike/hammertime

[Denied]

I like to use both singles and a treble, with the treble as the trailer. Sometimes one single, other times two singles. The singles seem to hold the crawler in place better since you can get more of him on the hook than the trebles. I like the treble at the tail of the crawler and just hook the tail by one of the hooks on the treble. There is a better explanation as to how I tie mine on my helpful hints page.
Happy New Year.
dean

[Tom (mich)]

I also use both dual singles, and occasionally a treble for the trailer. The trebles are used almost exclusively on Saginaw Bay where we expect a bigger, average fish. Also, for what it's worth, I've found that Saginaw Bay 'eyes really prefer a bigger blade. The large, gold holographic blade from Lindy was a bit hit for us this season. And don't forget the Pa's on the bay for open water trolling.

[hammertime]

whats pa,s on the bay ???????????

[s.f.]

we did a study, using 500 'caught' walleyes from various lakes, including 84 saginaw bay big boys. 93 percent of the fish were hooked on the front hook of a two hook harness. that said, if i were to want to up my hooking odds, i would have the treble on the top. the rear treble will undoubtedly cause more net tangles, being that it is the 'free' hook most of the time and not be a a big factor in hooking percentages. we tie the treble, on the top, just as we would snell an octopus style hook in line. just my meager two cents worth...
#49

[Juls_WI]

Steve,
That information will come in handy when I make up my harnesses. It has given me an idea. Thanks for sharing that lil' tidbit...;-)

Juls

[s.f.]

so juls, AFTER you kick my butt in some tournament with this 'idea', you gonna give me the scoop? me and my big mouth...
#49

[Stormsearch]

For Erie, 90% of my harnesses are the double single hook. I have been experimenting quit a bit in the last three years on Erie and have found the red coated Gamakatsu #2 Octupus hooks the best. VMC has also been getting pretty good marks as well, but only tried those in a circle hook.

For Saginaw, it is just the opposite, 90% of my harnesses have a single hook up front with a trailing treble hook. Not so much for more hooking power but to gob those tasty crawlers on that treble. I have put up to 4 crawlers on one, let me say that the Saginaw Bay 'eyes are big meat eaters when you can find them. I generally use a #2 triple grip hook like you mentioned and has worked great. For the front hook, if the fish are bigger, I will switch from my Erie single hook to a #1/#2 Gamakatsu bait holder. It is more of a stout hook that can hold up to the bigger fish.

At one time I used harnesses for both lakes, but now have separate ones. Mainly because I like heavier lines and always use much larger blades at Saginaw Bay. Good questions and have any more, let us know. Good luck.

[Tom (mich)]

Pa's are weighted, diving crank style baits that we run in front of crawler harnesses - typically 18" or so. See the Products link on WC for a better description. Dynamite on Saginaw Bay, can achieve depths approaching 35 feet.

[hammertime]

thanks for the replies, still a tough choice but will have to make. thanks again. mike/hammertime