Treble size for FCL EbiPop Extreme 120?

[Guy Durham]

I wasn't sure whether to post this in its own right, or to append to the thread that Ben Rivers has started, but I didn't want to hijack his list.

I'm a noob to popping in general, especially when it comes to choosing hook sizes. I'm just starting to step out of run of the mill lures and into some better stuff.

I've recently picked up a handful of gear from the guys at FishHead, one of which is the above mentioned lure. I asked them to throw in their recommended hooks/rings etc. far be it for me at my level to question the experience & knowledge of these guys but I just want to check something... Primarily driven the fact that I see most people use owner ST66/76 5/0 size trebles on most "normal size" poppers.

They supplied me with a Shogun Extreme treble in a 7/0 for the belly swivel on the lure.  I'm not sure what to think... This not an especially large lure, and this treble is significantly larger than the owner 5/0. In fact it borders on the line of a grappling hook a navy seal would use  but having said that even at this size it still seems lighter & smaller gape than a pair of 11/0 SJ41's so I may be concerned about nothing.

I have no doubt the fish around here will fit their mouths around a hook this size, I just want to make sure that this hook won't impede the action of this lure in anyway?

Can someone please set this beginner straight.

PS - I don't want to p anyone off with this question. Please nobody take this as me challenging the recommendation by these guys. They have great info & awesome gear. What i have just doesnt quite line up with some of the other stuff i've read on this forum so I'm just double checking because I honestly don't have the experience to make the judgement myself...

Cheers

[Mark Harris]

Guy, a very sensible question.

Let me say right away that I do not use this popper, but I have handled a few.  My first reaction is that a Shogun 7/0 is too big and that an ST66 5/0 or maybe even a 4/0 would be right.

I am sure other will have more informed views on this as FCL lures seem to be very popular in Australia.

[Andrew Susani]

If in doubt, take it down to the boat ramp or somewhere close and give it a test swim to see how it bloops.  Try a few different hooks on it and you will soon get a feel for what works best. 

All lures are different and it can be suprising the difference that hook weight makes, even to big poppers.  The manufacturers websites are normally a good source of information too but the FCL Labo site can be pretty hard to decipher!

[Brandon Khoo]

Guy, I would personally run ST-66s 5/0s on this lure. I have tried ST-76s 5/0s and found that it didn't pop as cleanly. I don't use Shoguns myself so can't give you an opinion on those but if it is significantly bigger, this might weigh the lure down just a bit too much. As Andrew said, go try it!

[Chris Webster]

Guy, I would personally run ST-66s 5/0s on this lure. I have tried ST-76s 5/0s and found that it didn't pop as cleanly. I don't use Shoguns myself so can't give you an opinion on those but if it is significantly bigger, this might weigh the lure down just a bit too much. As Andrew said, go try it!

Brandon would ST-76 4/0's work well?

Chris

[Brandon Khoo]

That is definitely an option worth trying, Chris

[Graham Scott]

Guy,
This is my all time favourite lure and recently bought a bunch off fishhead...(as well as any secondhand I see), definitely ST66 5/0, st76 are too heavy and it will struggle to get back to the surface for the next pop. 4/0 would probably work Ok too. I don't own any shogun 7/0 so can't comment but sounds way too big..

A really good all round lure, easy to cast, Ok to work, not bad in rough water, don't break...and the local GT's seem to like it a lot.  I could do most trips with a couple of these and a couple of nomad wahoo stickbaits (and maybe a little cubera125).

[Tony Fowler]

[Guy Durham]

Thanks for all the great info guys. Really appreciated.

I think I'll just walk down the beach on the weekend with a few beers and just experiment with some different rigs. I've currently got it rigged up with the 7/0 treble on the belly and a decoy 8/0 assassin on the back but never thrown it. It's been pretty windy &/or raining here for a while so I just haven't had the chance. Looks like the wind is here for another weekend yet.

Tony, thanks for the depth and detail.  I must agree that these are a great looking lure. I went for the Panic Trout colour because it's pretty different to anything else I own. Hope it produces fish. Having said that, fish or no fish I think I'd find a reason to need more of these in various colours  especially that Flashy Fusi, that colour would almost seem unfair to use out on the reef up here!

[Guy Durham]

Oh yeah, I'll take a pic of the lure with ST66 5/0 and Shogun 7/0 in frame for those who are interested in having a reference point.

That'll probably come on the weekend. I'm away with work at the moment.

[Graham Scott]

Interesting to see the different views. I took the st76 5/0 s off ebi 140 as again it sunk the lure too low and I got more bubble trail and less splash. I cannot imagine ebi 120 ext with those big hooks.

Guy what you need to able to do is get those big splashy pops going at the start of each retrieve. It's easy when lure gets back close to the boat but the strikes are most often on the second or third pop so if they are duds you are in trouble. I often wonder if different anglers have different natural styles so lures suit individuals( I am definitely the lazy slow style)

[Mark Harris]

Graham you hit on two good very points.

The point about getting good chug at the beginning of the retrieve is spot on. It is not difficult making a big commotion near the boat. However, the beginning of the retrieve requires timing and technique, as well as more effort. 

I tend to like long chugs with a good combination of sound, bubbles and splash, and I think the technique for that is more of clean pulling stroke, and less sharp  "flicking". I see a lot of guys going for very sharp, high energy short pops which definitely create a lot of splash but are short on bubbles and sound.  I am sure both ways work, but I definitely prefer the former.

[Mark Harris]

Interesting comments Tony and you are clearly a devotee of this lure.  I am just trying to envisage a Shogun 7/0 on such a light, skinny lure and it looks all wrong! . But if works best, then that's what to go with I guess.

As an aside, it's a indictment of the huge prices you poor buggers in Australia have to pay for lures, when an $80 120 gram lure is considered mid-price!

[Chris Webster]

Interesting comments Tony and you are clearly a devotee of this lure.  I am just trying to envisage a Shogun 7/0 on such a light, skinny lure and it looks all wrong! . But if works best, then that's what to go with I guess.

As an aside, it's a indictment of the huge prices you poor buggers in Australia have to pay for lures, when an $80 120 gram lure is considered mid-price!

Mark what would you pay for that lure in Indo?

Cheers,

Chris

[Mark Harris]

Don't know Chris as I never use them.  Actually, not sure I have even ever seen them for sale here.

The point was more that AUD 80 is considered mid-price.