In or out?

[Cal 480]

Just out of curiosity when using fillet/ strip baits , which way do you prefer to have the hook points facing,through the flesh side or the skin ?

[brenton 637]

flesh,no real reason though

[Guest]

Never really paid much attention.. But i guess if i was paying attention when i was doing it the exposed hook would be to the flesh side.. No real reason for it tho.

[Kelvin 2,200]

Hook through the skin and out the flesh side. If the skin is thick the hook point can roll into the skin and affect the hook up.

[archerfish 685]

Interesting, Kelvin..

 

The Mensforth's in their "Baits, Rigs & Lures for South Australian Fishing" book suggest the opposite (for Mulloway, at least), but offer no particular reason for doing so.

Your rationale sounds plausible, though.

Obviously we need a controlled experiment to get a definitive answer!

 

Cheers

af

[archerfish 685]

Cal

 

Did you you have any particular species in mind when you originally posed this question?

 

Cheers

af

[Dylbaa 174]

Im always rigging salmon slabs with hook point facing out of the flesh, mainly because its easier to have the hook sitting proud (makes sense in my mind anyway)

 

Quite consistantly have solid hookups on gummies, rays, mullies, even other salmon

[Cal 480]

Cal

 

Did you you have any particular species in mind when you originally posed this question?

 

Cheers

af

Mainly Mulloway off the beach,strips of gar for bream and snook,I  seem to get rays unintentionally when using them,always wondered whether I have been doing it right or not.

[Rybak 622]

Farbeit for me to contradict most peoples opinions but I have always put the hook through the skin side. I just think the bait sits better that way & looks more "natural" & appears more secure to me . As to the hook up rate well I really dont see what difference that makes as long as the hook point is exposed. Each to their own I guess. 

 

Live bait is obviously always hooked thru the skin!!

[adamibinfishin 224]

I always thought the point of the hook protruding on the soft succulent side would increase hookup rate especially if a wary fish was picking at the raw non skin side of the fillet. Probably doesn't make no difference but felt more confident this particular way.

[Booma 1,360]

I've always gone the other way personally, in through the flesh and out through the skin.....as with everyone else, no real reason, just feels more comfortable for me doing it that way