Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

The short answer to my grandson's question is "I'm not swishing it, I'm crippling it." His next question,of course, was "Why?"

Here's why...

A few years ago (mid last century) Luhn Jensen may a lure called a Nordic Herring (NH). It was similar in many regards to the P-line Laser Minnow (PLM) but lacked the flashy colors.

Back then, nearly all of the gentleman that I fished with crippled the Nordic Herring by putting a very slight bend in the lure. This bend added an erratic circling motion (much like a wounded bait fish) when jigged or mooched.

So, applying the old tried and true crippling technique to the Laser Minnow seemed as natural adjustment as cutting one of the prongs off of the treble hook. (See: "PapaD, why are all of your treble hooks broken? The beauty of duplex hooks" for why you should try this.)

I've fished with my partner using the exact same lure jigging no more than 4 feet apart and ended up hooking up nearly 3 times more with my crippled version than his factory straight as a whistle.

Here's the how part...

The lure can be hard to bend between your fingers and thumbs and gets even harder the bigger they get. It's also difficult to control how much bend you get (i.e. goes from not bending to too much fast). Locking them up in a vice would probably mar the pretty colors.

The best (and safest) way that I've found to get just the right amount of bend is to lay them over a bamboo skewer (or anything else that is approximately same diameter) and push down on both sides until you get the results you want.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

GO OUT AND GET SOME!!!
PapaD

Right: straight from the factory; Left: slightest bend--prong remove


Crippling

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Definitely worth a try, thanks

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Good tip, thanks!

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I haven't fished crappies for a hundred years, they claimed that they were wormy when I was a kid and I believed them and never fished for them. Is that still true, are they wormy? I know that they are fun to catch. I'm going to start fishing for them off of my pontoon this Summer.

Thank you, Papa D.🎣🎣🎣🎣😊😊

Katman Loc: Kentucky

Thanks. Makes sense. Definitely worth a try. 🇺🇸🐠on Papa

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Doesn't that twist up your line PapaD? 🎣🇺🇸🙂

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

The little yellow grubs in fish filets and the black spots are harmless to humans when cooked. They are a parasite developed in shore birds like kingfishers and herons. They get into the fish as part of their life cycle. From what I read, all freshwater fish have them. I have seen the black spots on bluegills and perch and the yellow ones in perch and walleyes.
A little old lady I met advised me regarding the black spots to just tell myself they are pepper. 😉

Papa Jack Loc: Indianapolis

Interesting i will give it a try

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

I use a swivel.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

And the two prong treble does what...help hooking up or just where they are hooked?

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Figured that much. I figured I let you clear that up for some of the others PapaD. I never thought of doing that but I shall give it a try thanks for the good idea. 🙂👍🎣🇺🇸

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

Primarily, eliminates short strikes by providing a far superior hook set. (Search on "Duplex" for more benefits and pictures.)

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I have done that with Point Wilson Darts for over 30 years when I first started using them in Port Townsend WA. The original instructions recommended a banana bend for casting and an S bend for jigging. The S bend definitely adds a flutter darting action that is a killer on king salmon. Just a note: when jigging, allow the lure to free fall to get the darting action. Any tension on the line will reduce the darting action. Most bites are seen in the slack line during the fall rather than felt. Always test your lure as deep but still visible over the side of the boat to make sure you have not over bent the lure. A little goes a long way.
Thanks Papa so much for this post. Hopefully it will add a lot more fish to everyone's fish box.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Thanks, John. Pepper it is.

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

Because of the thickness on the head end I couldn't get an S shape bend in the P line Laser Minnow (would if I could).



Yep!

Bend some then
GO OUT AND GET SOME!!!
PapaD