I was wondering if anyone modifies their hooks on a jig like a Point Wilson dart.

I have only caught one or two fish on these in the past and dont fish them much, but plan to keep a rod loaded with one on my boat this summer and drop it when I see a favorable blip.

Do any of you modify Point Wilson darts or other mooching rigs with anything other than treble hooks?

If so, how so?

I always remove the factory hook and either put on a 2x strong round bend treble or a siwash.

I usually change out the treble that comes with them for a "stickier" hook like an Owner. Since most strikes are on the drop a sharp hook is a must.

Sky,

Straight outta the box. I don't modify mine other than to crimp the barbs good. I'd like to say that I don't modify them because of their quality hooks which hold up well, but the truth is I'm downright lazy. I suppose I should though because a good good single siwash would sure make it easier to release fish. And I don't really think it would make a difference to hook-ups the way fish pound em.

Now I basically fish for anything and everything with anything and everything, but if I could only have one lure for the Pond it would be a Dart, hands down. This is one great lure on the market you just can't seem to fish wrong. It is my absolute go to lure for anyone who has not fished for salmon or bottomfish before. It is the ONE & ONLY lure we leave on the counter at our place in the San Juans with a very basic set of instructions for guests that don't fish much and want to try their luck on their own.
On the downside, Darts can be a trifle expensive. ITMO there may be challengers but there is NO substitute.

(Sorry, I tend to get a mite carried away when someone mentions Darts. )

I'm with Wolverine, I change mine out for Owners.

I remove the treble hooks and bend both molded in wire loops up 90 deg. I then tie 2 - 3/0 gammies right on top of each other and run about a 24" leader through the up turned eyes and then a swivel to my main line. The jig doesn't foul itself as much this way and the hooks work better than the treble.

I'm a siwash kind of guy. 4/0 on the 2-1/4 ounce slabspoons with a little kick to the side about 8-10 degrees.

I've seen Gami hooks with the red string attached that are specially designed to fit the top end of a jig. Has anybody had any experience with these?

I've tried them on top, but without any more hook-ups. I like the style of the hook and plan on trying the 510 hooks on a few of my slabspoons in the conventional location.

sometimes I change out the hooks other times I dont but I always modify the jig with a little bend at the tail end! It"s been my experience that more fish will come unbuttoned with a treble be it on darts but especially on buzz bombs

The guy who makes Buzz Bombs, Doug Field, is a good friend of mine. I always replace the hooks that come with them and his Zzinger, which is an awesome salmon lure, and use something like a 2/0 Gami. I am certain the siwash style hooks are easier on fish you want to release, and if bottom fishing you will lose fewer lures. Sorry Doug!

I don't have a salt boat so I only use darts from the pier. All the hooks snag on the bottom the same

However once you hook a fish the singles stay hooked better then the trebles.

I use 2/0 Gami siwash for 2.25 oz darts.
This setup works well on Edmonds pier for summer Chinook.

I got a tip from a fish checker on the hood canal last year that improved my land ratio. He told me to remove the stock treble from the dart and replace it with a barrel swivel and a siwash hook. Bend it so it has a slight off set.

I tried the Gami stinger hooks that you add to top of the jig last year. I hooked a lot of fish but none hooked by that hook.

Jigs are deadly on schooling fish when fished properly.

Sky,
I've had good luck hanging 2 siwash hooks from a split ring.

I hang the hooks so they face opposite directions.

I do this for buzz bombs and darts, and then add the swivel above the dart.

Jeff

I replace with an owner as well!