When do you replace your ballyhoo

[birdhunter]

Another seemingly simple question here, when trolling at what point do you replace your ballyhoo. Does it need to be replaced when the hole around the hook has expanded, what do you look for? Would you troll one all day if it still "looked" good?

[WAHOONBOX]

Another seemingly simple question here, when trolling at what point do you replace your ballyhoo. Does it need to be replaced when the hole around the hook has expanded, what do you look for? Would you troll one all day if it still "looked" good?

GREAT QUESTION BIRD...........NO.

THE HOLE AROUND THE HOOK ENLARGING IS BUT ONE REASON TO "CHANGE OUT A BAIT"

IF YOU ARE BRINGING ONE IN TO CHECK IT.....THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE ALREADY OUT OF THE "BOX" LYING ON THE GUNNEL...THEN RETRIEVE THE SAID BAIT IN ....AND MAKE THE CHANGE SO NOT TO WASTE TIME WITH ONE LINE OUT OF WATER....

99% OF ALL BALLYHOOS NEED CHANGING INSIDE OF 20 MINUTES....

CHANGING A BAIT OUT WITH FREQUENT INTERVALS IS ALL PART OF THE SYSTEM.THGAT IS ...MORE MEATNDABOX!!

[O-SEA-D]

If its not swimming the correct way it should be replaced.

If there is any type of distortion or unnatural marks anywhere on the bait it should be replaced.

If it has a hole around the hook, it was not rigged correctly to begin with and therefore it should be replaced.

If the eye of the hook is pertruding out of the gill plates and dragging in the water it was not rigged correctly and it should be replaced.

If a bait is swimming correctly, does not have any problems with it at all there is no reason to replace it. HOWEVER, if it has not been hit and the others have....there must be a reason this one bait has not been hit....therefore it should be replaced.

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

CORRECT MARTY GOOD POINT ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER ONE READY TO GO BACK OVER BOARD. YOU CAN'T CATCH NOTHIN IF YOU GOT THE BAIT OUT OF THE WATER. NO DOWN TIME WASTED TIME MEANS NO CATCHIN. PLUS A GOOD MATE WILL CHECK HIS BAITS OFTEN IF NOT GETTING BIT.

[BTH284]

If the thought enters your mind of "wonder I should check/change that bait out" IMO you have waited a minute or two to long to act. Here is the deal.........I check and change out baits about every 15 -20 minutes. I have pulled them in to check them and they look and are performing very nice in the spread only when I am out of baits will I return a used bait back to the lineup.

I have been constructively criticized on more than one occasion on bringing a bait in to check it and then decide it needs to be replaced only TO WASTE TIME WITHOUT A FULL SPREAD OUT BEHIND THE BOAT and get one from the tray to clip on/rubber band on and send back out.

Always have a fresh one ready when checking a bait. I even go so far as to have one rigged up on a spare rod to drop out when the "attention needed" bait is pulled in. Any drag jerk, to much grass, swirl, BIRD PICKING UP OR DIVING ON needs to be changed out. Even a sargassum air sac caught on the tip of the hook needs to be attented to (that one is for you Marty). ELIMINATE ALL NEGATIVES OUT THERE!!!

[Deep C]

Over at Chub I've never had to change one...

The baits I catch and process myself can go all day. Good store boughts after I have "Deeped" em will go an hour or so. As several bait shops can attest to I go freezer diving to get the best of the best. Out of a package without deeping, I wouldn't go more than 15 minutes...
I'm finding for some reason my circle rigs are wearing out quicker though than my others. It may be me not slamming the mouth shut tight enough or the tiny holes from the monel allowing water to get in there and start that pressure from inside stuff I hate so much...

[Cowboy]

DO NOT think back when Dad said "leave your bait in there boy you can't catch nothing unless your baits in the water"...That is just wrong, speaking with it fresh in my mind if you are running 8 rods with Ballyhoo then you could almost start with the first one after 15 minutes trolling and just start rotating around the boat checking and changing as you go, remember when you are bringing in the bait you are changing the action in the spread and it may trigger a bite. Get good and be fast at changing and it is like working a plug as you retrieve and deploy baits it keeps action in the spread and keeps fresh good looking bait in the zone.

[Capt. Duane]

Just make sure to hold on to that replaced hoo. Cut it up into small pieces and put back into bait cooler for when you run into that log or weed line. Yu will already have some chunks to toss to get the mahis chompin'. Being as prepared as you can be is the key!!!

[Talbot29]

Good question Birdhunter and some great responses.

[CAPTJohnny]

COWBOY!!!!! What's up brother, pleasure fishing with you pal, looking forward to getting some trips together up here in the NE. Awesome job on the website, let me know when that Fishin' Dog Tackle cart is ready to rock, that thing is BAD AZZ!!