Making / rebuilding worn harness'

[ebijack]

As far as brand, I don't stick to anyone brand, I look at the hooks and pick from the best available. I don't like the bronze hooks that a lot of folks like. They are cheaper but they also do not hold a good edge like a better quality hook. I spend a lot to get out there and fish and I'm not going cheap on one of the cheapest price items I use. But that's me.
And so far last year and this year my spoon harnesses have out produced regular harnesses by ALOT! I haven't tried them yet east of west sister yet as last year I didn't need to go further east.

[Eyezcrazy]

Can you post a picture of one of your spoon harnesses?

[ebijack]

[ebijack]

[Eyezcrazy]

Thanks very much for posting the pics! I have never seen anything like that, do you tip them with a crawler and how do the pull? I'm guessing they pull true since you said they do better than just the spoon. I love trying new things, so I have to make some!

[ebijack]

I put a crawler on em just like a harness, run them with about a 4 ft leader to an inline. I run these just like a harness, .8 to 1.8 mph. So far .9 to 1.2 seems best. Crawler harnesses on one side of the boat, these on the other side. Usually the first 9 to 10 fish come on the spoon harness and I'll end up leaving one harness out on a bouncer and everything else is spoon harness. I've tried a lot of other spoon harness combinations over the years and never had success like this. A friend who passed is the one who told me about putting the beads between the two the hooks and keeping the crawler close as possible to the spoon. I believe the crimps are plastic .043 or .046, I'd have to go look, I use #17 test mono. I've used coated cable in place of the mono but prefer the mono as the cable can get kinked. Just snell your hooks as you would for a crawler harness and crimp it to the spoon snap ring. I must have 40 or 50 set up. They store nicely, don't wear out like a regular harness from the blade spinning against the beads, best of all the walleye seem to love em. Oh and notice I have these in 3 sizes of spoons and they all work.

[Domers98]

I am beginning start building some harnesses...do I have to snell that first hook? Or can it be attached with a crimp or sleeve? Also is there an advantage over using wire or heavier mono?

Thanks,

Ben

[ebijack]

You can use a crimp instead of snelling, you can use #30 coated cable if you prefer, the #30 coated cable I used was the same dia as the #17 mono. I got tired of the cable getting kinked after multiple fish so switched to the #17 mono.
I've gotten quite a few responses on running these, RUN THESE from .8mph to 1.4mph with .9 to 1.2 being the best. The guys doing that are having great results, the guys running them at 1.9 and above have not, if you want to run that fast leave the meat off. I run these along with regular harnesses and the walleye will let you know what they prefer.