Matt Duprau : Fishing Forum Posts

5XD: Size 4
6XD: Size 2

Upgrade to the Mustad Ultrapoint KVD Triple Grip x1 Short Shanks. Go a size bigger than stocked hooks. The shorter shank allows you to upsize, while still giving the hooks enough room not to tangle. I actually run 1/0's on my 6XD's with no issue. To achieve a suspending action to a crankbait, use suspend dots or strips (Storm). Placing a dot or strip between the first hook hanger and bill is the best spot. Kevin recommends putting a dot on each side of the hook hanger, as this is the balancing spot on the crankbait, but I will normally add 2:1 favouring the area between the bill and the hook hanger, as I find my baits will dive deeper (nose down) and suspend slightly nose down, as many jerkbaits do.

Best of luck,

Matt Duprau

Ontario, Canada resident here. Before bass season shut down mid-December, I fished through below freezing temperatures late November to early December. The smallmouth were chewing up a 4.8" swimbait rigged on a 3/4oz unskirted custom football head jig, slowly crept along bottom. Already counting down the days until next season!