Hard for fish to tear away from this hook

Published 6:38 am Sunday, May 7, 2017

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">After a lifetime of fishing, 12 years of those spent as a guide on Big Lake, Paul Grindol figured he had something to offer fishermen — a new creation.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">It’s what he calls a “collared lead head.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“There is a big reason for the design,” he said. “Most lead heads are designed with a barb on the shaft, to hold the bait. The problem is that when the fish pulls it tears the bait.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“These are collared and it (helps) keeps the bait on so they won’t tear when you catch a fish.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The tearing part is the key.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Two to three inward collars (pointed toward the hook) are located down the shaft, giving the hold-to effect.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Grindol said it works just as effectively on live bait as it does with artificial.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He estimated 50 percent of the guides on Big Lake use the lead heads.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The design wasn’t mine, but a couple of my friends who came to me with it,” Grindol said. “They got it going and I took off with it.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The lead heads come in one-sixteenth, one-eighth, one-quarter and three-eighths weight with 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 size hooks.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We just came out last month with an extra-wide gap hook that is designed for the bigger soft plastics,” he said.</span>

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<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Grindol has also come up with a monofilament rigged cork which consists of the cork, a couple of beads and a weight.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“There have been wire-rigged corks,” he said. “We came out with a monofilament rigged cork. The wire bends with use so we put out the other to give fishermen an option.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The beads, which are located above and below the cork, makes a clacking noise so that when you pop the line in the water, fish will recognize it as bait fish jumping. The weight is a half ounce so that you can chunk it and get distance on your throw.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">All that is left is to attach a leader (1</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">8-24 inches depend on depth fishing) and hook and its ready.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It really works well with both live and artificial shrimp,” Grindol said.</span>