Went to the Academy on Parker and the Tollway to get my new license and looky what I saw.

I bought some but hated the hooks. They are nice baits but the hooks seem cheap.

What size did you buy? 3/4oz I use Eagle Claw 2x, 1oz or bigger I use Eagle Claw 3x. Not saying Eagle Claw are the best out there...but I am buying the better quality ones that they carry,I have used Mustad, VMC's in this same class of hooks and can tell ya they are about the same in quality.... Any suggestions you might have I am all ears and always open to serve better....I have folks that ask for those Gamawhateverwhooo's,but you know if I charge what would be necessary with those hooks I would really catch flack for my prices, Seriously, I am interested in what size baits you purchased though, cause the smaller hooks on the 3/4oz are the Eagle Claw 2x and I have to agree that I am not in love with them. But Eagle Claw doesnt make a 3x in that size that I can purchase at the volume I buy them at. Thanks for your feedback.

Those look great.


Bryon class act.

I thought the hooks were just about perfect. But if your someone that doesnt like the hook size for the slab....its something that you could change out yourself with your on hand picked hook. No matter what one does in life....you can never please everyone. Just my .02

I bought one too. At the Academy on Bryant Irvin Rd.

I have never even fished a slab, but it looks nice on the line. I hope to learn to fish it soon.

Where else can you leave your personal feedback and hear back from the man himself in 8 (YES 8!) minutes.

I got some also. But I'm not quite sure how to fish with it either. Any tips from anyone? Great reviews though.

Hooks I don't worry. I bend them all but having a slab that I can change the hooks on 6,8 times and the slab still looks great , I'll take that any day.

I havent had a problem with hooks at all . I actually cut 1 of the hooks off the treble and squeeze the barbs on the remaining 2 anyway, to make it easier on the catch and release days.

I generally just let the slab drop to the bottom, reel up the slack, and raise the rod tip anywhere from 6"-2' and let it drop while staying in contact with the slab, so you can feel the bite. The bite will come generally about 90% of the time on the drop. Byron is the expert and hopefully he will chime in. I believe he has some tips on his website. Carefull, I just started a couple of years ago and now I'm addicted.
http://www.trollingnolanstackle.com/

I too bought some from that location. Almost didn't find them though. They were at an end cap, but 2 isles away from the other like baits.

I'm no expert at fishing them, but I have worked them two ways. 1st) Let it drop straight down and when it stops on the bottom I crank up 5-7 turns pretty quick and then just some raising and lowering and reel in about every other time or so. This just takes a little experimenting to see whats working.

2nd) About the same as 1st, but I will cast it out and try to cover more area. Let it fall for a bit and then just do the lowering/raising & reeling thing. Only other difference here is that I will include a little more "twitching" or "jerking" when raising.

I could be doing this incorrectly, but I've caught some this way. If anyone can teach me a better way I am very open to learning.

Nice baits, academy should feel special carrying those!!

I have used TNT's slabs for years. The paint on the slabs outlasts any other slab I have ever found. I agree after catching several fish the hooks may bend but, they all do. I straighten them out and fish on.

In my opinion TNT slabs are one of the best slabs made! You can catch a hundred fish on one and it would still look like it came out the box. One thing I always do is change the silver hooks to red eagle claws and have no problems.

As far as the hooks, I've got no complaints. while other mfgr's
baits have hooks that BREAK, the eagle claw hook that Bryon uses
aren't as deeply tempered & they BEND, which is a good thing if you fish slabs alot. beleive me, it's a lot better to bend out a hook and get your slab back from that tree in 30' of water, than it is to have that hook hold & lose a $3 slab.
Besides, these are white bass, not redfish. they're not exactly tackle-busters. Hybrids, yes to an extent, but if your drag is set correctly, you're not gonna lose a fish to a bent hook. Keep up the good work, Bryon!
JMO....
tight lines
-Brian

+1 on the removing one of the hooks off the treble and flatten the barbs for the catch and release days. Much faster, easier and safer for you and the fish.

Going back to Academy on Cherry Lane today to see if they have them on the racks yet.

Bryon,
Just my opinion but I think the hooks on the 1oz. 180's are the perfect size for sandies & stripers & would like the same size on the 3/4oz. I will likely change these out myself. Not sure what brand I would go w/ though. Great slabs & have already caught me a lot of fish & I have only had them for just over a month. Good work!

I crush the barbs on mine also. Certainly makes releasing the fish, even if you are keeping it, easier. Especially when they suck in the entire hook and you get all 3 hooks set.

I haven't tried cutting one off, but will next time.

I too have removed one of the hooks at times. Makes it easier to get the fish and your bait back in the water quicker. H & H Lure Co. uses a Double Hook on their spinners which I have tried on the TNT slabs. It seems to work good, but I have yet to find a tackle store that carries just the hooks. You can buy the hooks from H & H, but they have $100 minimum order requirement.
http://www.hhlure.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=56635

Guess I will just keep cutting one of the hooks off for now.

I love the hooks, I just wish they didnt lose their luster after 3000 fish have been caught on one, ahahaha.

Great job Mr. Nolan, you have a great product and have marketed it well.

do you know if the NRH store is out. I called and they said they could not find them?

I have been using TNT Slabs and I think that they are one of the best slabs on the market. I flaten all of my barbs. Its just much easier.

got mine , NRH store has some. I ll try 'em tomorrow, see if you guys are telling the truth about 'em or if I got taken, lol.

I sometimes replace the trebles with circle hooks on slabs over 1 oz.,since larger fish will hit larger slabs.It works great ,because sometimes when hybrids hit,they will be hooked deep.And when you have the circle hook on there,it stops that and gives you a good hookup in the corner of the jaw most of the time.And cuts down on the time of getting a fish off of the hook.Just my .02,try it,you might like it.

Me Too!

Those dang hooks are so strong that if you ever get caught up on the bottom you'll break 40lb test before you straighten the hook out. And you'll catch 500 + fish before you even think about changing the hook. I hate it when that hook still draws blood from your finger tip after catching 500 + fish.

Bryon, forget China. Can we get some of those flimsy made in Twain numbers on those baits?

Try attaching the circle hook to the front of the slab with a swivel and split ring..more hookups less hangups...I don't like eagle claw trebles either..I switch them to something with a wider gap.

The hooks do TNTs do break. I can certainly attest to that fact.

Had a hook get caught in the mesh on the boat one day and I took the pliers in an attempt to get a better grip on it and the hook broke right off. Snapped.





The paint was well worn off that hook. Untold numbers of fish have been caught on it. Couldn't even begin to guess as to how many. The hooks had been bent from trying to get them outta fish that ate them too deep. Rebent to put back in to action.

So..poor me. I put it in a little box on my work bench with my other TNTs that have broken hooks. Why, you may ask, do I keep them?
The finish is still in excellent condition. One of these days, I'll replace the hook and put that bait back in to service.


Keep up the great work Bryon. Very happy to see you partnering with Academy. You deserve it.

Dang!! I was at Academy on Bryant Irving the other day and didn't even see them, I wasn't looking for them though... I will definitely get some when I go back. It kills me when I get hung up and lose one. They ARE the best slab out there in my opinion..

that's the truth.

most slabs are beat to heck by the time th hook wears out.

Thanks guys for all your feedback. I make those baits the way i would want them to be, I have used many different slabs so I am like you guys I know what I want from the bait. Hooks.... So hard to find the perfect hook to serve everyone, believe me it if were that easy there would only be one brand of hooks. I appreciate the feedback as it allows me to test things out on different hook sizes,etc.... Will see what comes of it all in the coming months. Thanks for the support, you guys make it easier on me.

To the folks new to slabbing like mentioned earlier in this post. I hope you will look over the tips section. This forum has many great fishermen on here that share videos, many posts on slabbing. Use the search feature on here, and absorb all you can. Check out the tips section on my website, it might help you out as well. Here are a few quick things though...learn your electronics, fish productive water this time of year doesnt take you long to see if there are biting or not. If your new to slabbing you might think there is a big key,,,or that one certain bait that it is gonna take to start catching... doesnt work like that, most all slabs work if you know how to use them. Confidence is gonna be key for you in catching vs just fishing. Lure might be your boost. Presentation at times is key, but if your not catching keep moving. Presentations change as the patterns do... Get you a comfortable rod for you, sensitive with a back bone to it as well. I like MH action in 6 1/2 to 7ft rods. When the fish become finicky you got to try to match hatch of bait, color may be a factor(most of the time this is not the case, colors are for us fishermen we are pickier then a sand bass will ever be)... but sometimes it does matter. Sometimes might need a little hair on the hook, I almost never do this,but I know folks that do and their is probably something to this. When you can't catch the fish and they are being very funky on the bite and you just cant hook them as good as you need to, and you cant figure out why...(say your using a 1.5oz bait and it has like a size 2 hook on it, cant get the hookup...this is a problem every now and then... I have found that if you actually down size that hook to the size 6 which is what I use on the 3/4oz to smaller baits, you will nail these fish, something so subtle that you wont give much thought to has made a difference to me....) fluke on that one, I dont know but over the last 4 or 5 years there have been times I have played with that, and smoked them after doing that. I needed the bigger bait because of the wind and the fish were messing with the bait,,,but the smaller hook caught the fish. I know folks that also put plastic on the hooks when they are finicky, like tube baits,etc..Thanks again everyone, working on reloading some baitshops and will anounce another new tackle shop when they get there baits tomorrow.

were can i find them around Livingston never used them but everyone says they work

probably your best bet is to try, one of my online vendors. These guys are as solid of folks to deal with as you will ever find, and it will probably be the easiest way for you to get your hands on them. I know many folks are not into ordering online,or via mail, etc. But I only use quality outlets for this.... In fact if one of my customers ever had a problem with either one of these outlets with my baits, I would fulfill there order or give them back there money outta my own pocket... I can say that as I know I dont have anything to ever worry about, great folks
http://www.finnytribe.com/store/cart.php...mp;shopByPrice=
http://www.crucialtackle.com/whites_stripers_hybrids.html

dont have any of these in my arsinal but will add some as soon as i get the chance. on the hook deal. guys if your hook bends straighten it with some needle nose. got some old lures that wont die. i do it with em all the time. besides you dont want a hook that you cant straighten on a slab. come on! if its not sharp enough for you then sharpen it till your content. if hook size is an issue change it out. its worth the effort if it these baits are durable & work as well as most on the forum claim.

I use braid and bend my hooks to get the slab back when hung on a granite grouper...or known as the elusive tree bass in TX..TNT 180 is the most effective slab spoon I have ever used..I have caught over twenty different spcecies.... I have even hooked 80lb tarpon on the 1.5 ounce while catching bluefish for bait off the beach in FL.