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Innovative Trapper Hook Solves Angling Common Problems

After 42,000 years, it's time for a change in fishing hook design and technology

Innovative Trapper Hook Solves Angling Common Problems
Innovative Trapper Hook Solves Angling Common Problems

Take a long look at the hooks in your tackle box; their basic J-shape hasn’t changed for centuries. That’s about to change with the Trapper Hook.

Years of research, engineering, field testing and refinement have yielded a hook that holds both baits and fish better than conventional hooks.

How many bites did you get on your last trip? How many of those fish made it to the boat? Poor fish retention has plagued anglers since the first primitive J-hook was cast into the water over 42,000 years ago.

Problem: The round bend of the antiquated J-hook creates a pivot point that causes the hook to rotate in a fish’s mouth, expanding the initial point of entry and creating a path to escape.

Solution: The unique, patented-protected design of the Trapper Hook replaces the traditional round bend with a pair of right angles at the base of the hook shank – called the Trapper Box, which prevents the rocking motion in a hooked fish, effectively locking the fish in place. As a result, the Trapper Hook dramatically increases the percentage of hooked fish that’ll make it to the landing net.

Trapper Tackle
(Photo courtesy of Trapper Tackle)

Problem: Anyone who has dressed any variety of J-shaped hooks with a soft plastic or live bait is familiar with the frustration of having to adjust baits that slide up the shank before making another cast. Weed cover, structure or the action of casting and retrieving baits are all culprits.

Solution: The Trapper Hook’s remarkable “why didn’t I think of that” geometry, with two right-angle bends at its base, helps keep the bait in place. All manner of soft plastic offerings, including worms, flukes, stickbaits, toads and creature baits perform better when they are rigged properly and locked in the Trapper Box. Live bait such as shiners, minnows, shrimp, and crabs as well as salmon eggs, corn, dough-baits and catfish cube-style baits are retained in the Trapper Box with equal efficacy. With less time spent fixing baits, anglers can make more casts and spend more of their limited fishing time making effective presentations that trigger bites.

Years of research, design and extensive field testing by anglers across the nation have yielded a line of general use and technique specific hooks from Trapper Tackle. Former Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Vince Hurtado has been working with the Trapper R&D Team since last year, using the bass-infested waters of the California Delta like a laboratory. “With over 300 fish catches I noticed a significant improvement in landing ratios. This hook will raise any angler’s game and that’s why I am proud to join the Trapper Tackle team", said Hurtado. Now it’s time for anglers fishing for bass, walleye, muskies, pike, crappie and other species to experience the fish and bait-holding effectiveness of the Trapper Hook design.

Trapper Tackle
(Photo courtesy of Trapper Tackle)

Trapper Tackle will reveal a lineup of five Trapper Hook families in a variety of sizes and wire gauges, for a total of 19 unique hooks, each featuring the unique Trapper Box. The initial hook families include the Heavy Cover Super Wide Gap hook (XXX Heavy Gauge), two Offset Wide Gap hooks (Standard and X Heavy Gauge), and a 30 Degree Jig Hook (X Heavy Gauge) for DIY anglers and jig designers that want to include the Trapper Box in their own creations. For the finesse soft plastic or live bait angler, Trapper introduces their versatile Dropshot/Live Bait/Finesse hook (Standard Gauge) in sizes #4 to 2/0.

Throughout history, nearly everything we use to find and catch fish has been redesigned and improved, yet the basic principles of the hook have remained largely unchanged, until now. Visit www.TrapperTackle.com to sign up for a free sample pack.

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