Super-Flex Baiter Hooks (XL)

- Flexible, Strong Trolling Hook for Large Bait -

NOTE: The XL Super-Flex Hooks are 5" in total length with larger hook gaps offered in 8/0 and 9/0. These work great for trolling Herring and can also be used for Anchovies. Baitfish between 6" and 7" is ideal for these hooks, smaller Mackerel can even be trolled with the XL troll hooks.

The Pitbull Tackle Super-Flex Baiter XL is a great option to use while trolling dead frozen baitfish such as Anchovies or Herring. For many years the traditional method of "sticking" dead bait for ocean salmon was used with a "Crowbar" style of hook. This eventually was improved upon with the "Cable Baiter" style of hook, allowing for more flexibility than the traditional rigid Crowbar style. Now the game has been changed. The Pitbull Tackle Super-Flex Baiter is a further improvement on these hooks, offering the ultimate level of strength and flexibility all in one package. These hooks are used and rigged in the exact same way as the traditional styles, however they offer unparalleled advantages compared to their predecessors. The Pitbull Tackle Super-Flex Baiter utilizes a razor sharp, stainless-steel Diamond Point™ hook which offers ultimate strength and corrosion resistance. Each package also includes a pin-and-wire wrap used for rigging (see rigging details below).

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Flexibility when Rigging and is Essential:
Consistent rigging in a trolling spread is one of the most important things to focus on when chasing salmon. The rotation of the bait is key, and a steady rotation at the right speed is arguably the most important factor when salmon trolling. Traditional hooks such as the "Crowbar" and "Cable-Baiter" style hooks give zero or very little flexibility when the rigging the bait. This can lead to a bait with an undesirable spin in the water as well as bad rigging which punctures the bait easily causing the angler to spend more time re-rigging. This is where the Super-Flex Baiter shines. The steel wire used on these hooks has a small diameter, leading to smooth rigging as the hook is pushed and "stuck" through the bait. No more broken scales and bellies as you rig your baits up for the day. These hooks offer an angler the ability to adjust the spin of the bait by simply applying light pressure to the nose. By adjusting the curve of the bait, the rigged bait will spin more slowly or quickly to the angler's preference. The final advantage of these hooks' flexibility is when the fish is hooked up and fighting. Traditional hook styles offer little-to-no flexibility once the fish is fighting which results in fish either bending the hook out or the hook ripping out of the fish's mouth. The flexible wire these hooks are constructed with act like a pivot on the hook itself, allowing the hook to flex and move with each head shake. Salmon can come unhooked very easily, especially when fishing with barbless hooks. These hooks give the angler the ultimate advantage in both hooking fish and keeping them hooked all the way back to the boat.

How To Rig

Start by laying out the baits which you intend on rigging. Rigging multiple extra baits right off the bat will help if you are replacing baits often. Letting the baits thaw in a brine before rigging them will greatly help the durability of your baits. Once they are fully thawed, take your first bait to prepare to rig.

(The bait is rigged by starting from the anus/vent area and threading the hook all the way through the fish and out the mouth. The metal loops on the end of the hook shaft should be just slightly protruding from the baits mouth, and the hook should be exiting the baits side with the hook point down.)

Start by piercing the side of the baitfish with the wire end of the hook. Carefully apply pressure and push the hook through the center of the bait. The ultimate goal is to have the wire loops exit out of the bait's mouth without breaking the skin. Once the hook has gone through the entire bait and the hook is fully enclosed (the only part of the hook exposed should be the round bend and hook point), twist the hook point down towards the underside of the fish. This will cause the bait to slightly bend or curve. To secure the hook within the bait, use the included pin and wire to wrap the mouth closed and keep the hook in place. The wire at the top of the hook (now inside the baitfish's mouth) has two loops. The front most loop is where you will clip the bait into your leader. The next loop back from that is where the pin should be fed through. Take the pin and poke through the bottom of the baitfish's jaw, up through the mouth, through the second loop on the hook, and out the top of the head. Now simply take the wire and wrap it around the head. This will secure your hook in place and keep the mouth of the baitfish closed. The small rigging pins oftentimes fall off when fish are hooked up, so Pitbull Tackle also offers replacement Pin-and-Wire 10 Packs to ensure that every angler can be properly prepared. Simply repeat the process on the desired number of baits and you are ready to fish.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DHEP) and lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov