Fishing the Sweet Beaver (AFR)

[Wolfeman]

What size and type hook do you use with the Sweet Beaver? And why?
When do you fish it weightless?
When do you add a weight?
When do you add a bead between the weight and the bait?
Do you split the tail?


- Wolfeman (aka Rick Wolfe)

[DerekR]

Gamakatsu 3.0 EWG for 4.20 Beavers and 5.0 EWG for Double Wide. Super Line when using braid. Fit baits perfectly & I'm cinfident in the hooksets.
Never weightless
Always but with smallest fishable weight
Never - always pegged. not a big bead guy
Always - hopefully displaces more water or creates better vibration.

[Jason C.]

Wolfe Man How are you doin?

First off what beaver are you talking about the normal 4.20? or the Double Wide or the Smallie beaver? I cant help ya out much on the Smallie Beaver as I NEVER use it. But I can and will help ya with the 4.20 and the Double Wide.

Hook Size-4.20-I personally like a 3/0 I feel it fits it perfectly and I get a good hook up ratio with it with out to much of a problem with them bunching up on the shank of the hook with that size I also use a Gami EWG

I personally never fish it weight less. But one good time I can tell you to use it weightless would be in bait boils as well as a follow up bait for a top water.

I always add weight to it. Usually a 3/16-1/4oz brass bullet weight that is brass colored.

I always add a bead, its always red and they are the ones that have that mylar coating on one side for the extra flash. And I personally peg it. I use the bobber stoppers but you can use the Pet-Its or even just a tooth pic.

And yes ALWAYS split the tail, you get more and better action out of it, it is and was designed for the tail to be split thats why its held together with only 2 or 3 small spots.

Hook Size-Double Wide- I personally like a Game 5/0 EWG. Again I feel the bait doesnt bunch up on the shank of the hook and I get a pretty good hook up ratio with this size.

Same as before I personally never fish it weightless good times to throw it weightless would be just like I mentioned above. Also I hear at times they can be good to throw weightless ontop of grass beds.

I always add weight, this is usually my punching bait so its usually 1-1 1/2 oz weight BPS XPS. I also peg this,with punching you NEED to peg it or else you will fin the bait getting stuck on top of the cover and the weight will just go through.

I dont add a bead to this set up because the beads I use are glass and the heavy and dense tungsten breaks them and it will knick you line and you will lose fish.

Again I ALWAYS split the tail, for the same reasons as above.

I hope this helps WoldMan!!

Tight Lines,
Jason Conser

[PHENSON]

I love this bait for flliping. I use a 5/0 bmf hook for all my beavers exep he smallie beaver I use the 3/0 bmf. As for weigh I vary, I use any where from 3/16 to 1 1/2oz. I like to peg the weight when fishing heavy cover.
When working cover try to pick the lighest weigh you can get away with.
I have never fished one weightless. Also dont be affraid to use one on a dart head or drop shot.

[Long Nguyen]

What size and type hook do you use with the Sweet Beaver? And why?
When do you fish it weightless?
When do you add a weight?
When do you add a bead between the weight and the bait?
Do you split the tail?


- Wolfeman (aka Rick Wolfe)

Stick to your jig Rick. I don't want to see you catching fish behind me with a sweet beaver.

[BassManDan]

The Ultimate Beaver Setup

Tru-Tungsten 3/8 oz Denny Brauer Flippin' Weight, Color: Junebug
4/0 Reaction innovations BMF Hook (with BMF Barb)
Sprayed Grass Sweet Beaver


There is nothing better!

But if you must, do experiment, when fishing open water, drop to a smaller weight, and even change over to a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG and leave it texposed, hell give 'em a try as a jig trailer too!

BassManDan