I was wondering if any one else has changed there treble hooks out and put bucktail treble hooks their slabs or other lures. I have but really haven't notice a big difference in performance or if there is a difference at all.

I guess my question is ...is there a difference in its performance,fluttering,sinking speed..etc?

Add a bucktail to the slab hook or a top water lure and use it right after the shad spawn - the fish are eating the new fry and will hit the small bucktail.

Other than that, I do not think it matters, I use them cause I like it to look like a shad tail on my slab

I would change them out with some premium trebs like Gamakatsu (one size larger then the ones that came on the bait). Should see several more hook ups.

I've used both and have not noticed any difference.

i use the xrap replacement large hooks with the 4" feather on the back of my topwaters. Makes it look bigger and keeps some of the smaller fish away.

didnt notice any difference when i put them on a slab. i think a better way to use em would be to tie them to ur line about 18" above ur slab and use them like a "fly-by-nite" fly. i did this for a while till i ran out of em. caught just as many on the treble as the slab. kinda expensive though

If the slab bite is on, there is no difference, the streamers
come into play when they are not busting the slabs on every
drop. It does add some flutter on the fall and helps the
wobble on the retrieve. Just my opinion however, but I have
done a lot of experimting on it.

I make my own. It is a lot like all the experiments I do it will catch fish. I have this trouble how do you know it catches more or less. It is like all the things I do with slabs. I don't sell my slabs and I can't honestly say my so so will catch more fish than your so so. Of course if you are trying to sell them you have to say it will. I tie my tails on the treble and it is a lot of trouble and I can't tell the differance.
I think the key is always to find fish and use what you have confidence in.
Johnny

On a side note, I get really tired of dinks that get hooked with all three hooks on the treble hook.

I usually cut one of the three off. Much easier to get fish off.

Listen to the guy who has been doing this for forty years. Surely he has learned something. My experience only goes back 25 years and I do not see any difference. The secret is finding the fish.

And +1 for slabnshad's comments also.

Well Don, I think you are right, and I have to agree with
Johnny, The main thing is to find em, if they are biting you
can catch em on about anything, I have made lures from soda
cans plated copper tubing and a lot of other stuff, they all
have caught fish, Just wish I knew how to catch em.

I fished one of Johnny's Ol'Uglys till the hook come plumb off of the slab. I replaced the hook with one of his single flys and have noticed no decrease in fish caught as long as I'm on the fish. Most of the Jigs that I use offshore 8oz and up use single hooks.

Thanks for yall's input. I guess it boils down to what you like to use and what your confident in. I kinda like the bucktails on em so i think i keep putting them on. Like fuzzy said, they look like a lil shad tail.( to me too.) As long as they don't effect the performance then its all good. now if i can just get better at finding em' consistantly.....

To take it further, I would replace them with quality treble hooks that I tied bucktails on myself. I have been very unimpressed with the quality of commercially available bucktails. A good size striper will break the treble hooks.

Any lure is better with a bucktail.

I typically throw a topwater with a short tail when fishing for schooling fish chasing hatch (inch or less in length). It makes a huge difference. Fish lock into a particular size of bait. When using the tail they are just eating the tail...I guess I could use a popping cork. As far as slabs, I would use one for the same reason if I am realing through a school that is chasing hatch. If the fish are chasing larger baits, I have not seen a difference. I use the Mustad dressed trebles size 2 for striper and size 4 for sandbass and use a heavy topwater so I can chunk it a long way.