QUICK EASY & HOW To TWEAK - NEEDLEFISH MODIFICATION for Surf Striped Bass Fishing

[@totalnoobfishing1753]

Jerry ..this is crazy, watching your vids pushed me over the edge to purchasing my first needle ( blurple for night )..its not SS brand. I was researching how to mod my needlefish lure and your video was posted... talk about coincidence. My issue is my needle is a 1.5oz and a bit too light for the South Shore surf... Any thoughts on how I can increase the weight without killing the action ? I thought about a split shot at the nose, but I fear that will ruin that nose up profile that I like

[@heyjerryfishing]

Hi TNF, good stuff! I use the 1.5 MOST of the time but in a heavy surf I go with a 2.25 or 3.25oz needle its very important. I certainly would not use split shot, the oppisite of this may help use a heavy rear AND heavy body hook. That would increase it dropping action. However in the end I think you would be best off with a heavy sinking needle modified as here. Good question and neat how this popped up already! TIGHTLINES!!!

[@totalnoobfishing1753]

@@heyjerryfishing Great advice Jerry !!! While your videos are great to watch because you catch fish, its the excellence in teaching that really separates your videos. Thank you again

[@heyjerryfishing]

Thanks so much TotalNoob!

[@AhJustTableWrench]

I've just started fishing needles again. Your videos are very informative. Thank you!

[@heyjerryfishing]

Your very much welcome and thank you Happy Wrench your comment was very humbling and just made my night, thanks for watching commenting and subscribing to the channel!

[@AhJustTableWrench]

@Fish Your Way I've finished changing all my new and old needles to 5/0 gamakatsu rear. Funny how I stumbled on your videos and you mentioned changing them out. I'll be following your videos. Again thank you and have a wonderful night!

[@heyjerryfishing]

Thanks again!

[@smokster0604]

Food for thought....Awesome FJB down to the work bench I go....

[@heyjerryfishing]

Always fun modifying stuff its a quick one too! Thanks as always smokster!

[@pamelaseina5657]

Thanks again Jerry love the info , Keepem coming!!! keep me pumped for next year ;)

[@heyjerryfishing]

It all does so quick be cold and hopefully warm again soon! Hope to get some fishing in till then! Thanks as always and to a grand trip!

[@striperhunter-ic2wt]

Thanks for the tip, also Gaming hooks are usually very sharp but keep sharpened....

[@heyjerryfishing]

A MUST! Always keep a file in my bag a hook can never be too sharp! Something I obsess about!

[@vsonic86]

I lost 3-4 lures on just needle fish alone until I see how it works. It is a game changing for me. I caught a 24 lbs on this one.

[@heyjerryfishing]

Hi vsonic, thats awesome on the fish but not fun loosing them I lost a few it hurts, I like them plenty without the bucktail

[@arealg3551]

Excellent video and wonderful insight into ways of modifying a heavy needle fish. I always thought dressing the tail hook would add some needed action to a lure with no inherent action. Obviously that is not the case and I will be removing the dressed hooks in hope of some better success with this often misunderstood lure. Thanks Jerry, tight lines!

[@heyjerryfishing]

Much welcome and Thanks ARealG! The needle is the most mis understood lure out there for sure. Only thing I can thing of it is shaped like a diamond jig and easy to assume working just the same (however it is another way you can work em and nights fish will key in on them as such!!!.) Something as simple as changing the rear hook is amazing. I made mention I have wooden needles I work on top too those I use a bigger hook, they are a intricate fun lure to work with!

[@bruceturek3412]

great idea jerry makes sence to me thanks

[@heyjerryfishing]

Much welcome and thanks Bruce!

[@dennismartin4523]

Thanks Jerry. I understand why you change out the rear hook and how that stops that hook from grabbing the sand but Does the belly hook, which is a treble hook, still grab the sand ? If so how do you stop that from happening ? Thanks.

[@heyjerryfishing]

Hi Dennis, good question. It can but with your rod tip slightly up the needle is oriented and moves up on a slight angle the back of the needle is what drags when you work it. the original hook in back acts like and anchor. If your still dragging too much a lighter needle is required good question!

[@timmeyer8563]

I enjoy listening to your perspectives on all things fishing related. I get what you're saying about the tail hook pointing up, but doesn't the treble pose a bigger issue with dragging in the sand. I've been removing my belly trebles and just leaving the tail hooks to be kinder and gentler to a fish I may hook, also for my own safety.

[@heyjerryfishing]

Good point to mention about the treble hook. With your rod tip slightly up and a crank the needle is slightly oriented up with the rear hook pointed down and that treble up off the sand. The rear hook in a way acts as an anchor. Watch a fresh heavy needle when you work it up off the lip of the beach youll see that rear hook dragging. Its fine to remove that middle hook but I assure that you will miss some fish and many of the larger fish will grab that middle hook on ambush from deeper water. Bluefish I will take it off! Good points this stuff is fun to ponder. Thanks Tim for bringing that up!

[@michaelcampanelli6547]

Nothing like redoing a lure from one of the most famous designers and builders of plugs ever. What the hell did he know, right .

[@vsonic86]

Why do you like the skinny super strike needle one instead of the big fat bullet?

[@heyjerryfishing]

I like the weight and how it rides, I do like the fat one as well hopefully get it out more this season it great for heavy winds and current

[@mike2200]

I should probably watch the video before I ask but if you could only pick one super strike needle what size/weight and color would it be.Love the videos!

[@heyjerryfishing]

GOOD QUESTION! I would 100% go with the 7.25" yellow eye 1.5oz either in yellow/white or olive/white with a teaser night or day or black/purople if I was fishing mostly nights single no teaser. Thanks The Best Of!

[@mike2200]

@@heyjerryfishing Ok Thanks,I dont know if you fish "Stubbys" or "The Bullet" but if you do and dont already have a video on them I'd deffinatly be intrested in it.

[@heyjerryfishing]

Sometimes I do have a few but I prefer the longer ones such as these, I keep the bucktail on them most time but will use one with no hair they do cast great! Will do a video on the diffrent types of needles and actions and what I do with them when I get the chance ok! Thanks for the idea!

[@mike2200]

@@heyjerryfishing No thank you,I have some old needles but I havent thrown them in a long time and never really put the time in with them but watching your videos has had me take them out and wet them more than I normally would.

[@vsonic86]

Does color mater to you when it is time to pick needle fish?

[@heyjerryfishing]

Good question, I kinda like to use black/purple at night, yellow/white in the day and one color olive over white generally just find they work. some guys swear by the blue when herring are around but yes I stick to those and have done well with the yellow in night as well

[@1539Mickey]

Hi Jerry, More good information from "The Master." Do you use the needle fish when the sand eels in around or do you fish it anytime? When do you use the heavy and the light needle fish? Thanks, Mickey

[@heyjerryfishing]

Hi Mickey thanks as always, I will use a needle anytime, if I can feel I get the hang time with one i work with one it dont matter what kinda bait is about. I will use the lighter one when the surf is slightly laid out and the heavier one when it is rough. I may go back and forth between the two in different spots as well. Will try to do more video about them they are a quite interesting lure!

[@1539Mickey]

Hi Jerry, Would it be fair to say, that a heavy lure in rough water and a light lure in calmer water ? Thanks, Mickey

[@heyjerryfishing]

100% Mickey!

[@bigalcervantes5118]

Jerry, are you familiar with J & H tackle? They are in your neck of the woods, I'm gonna order some needle fish lures from them.

[@heyjerryfishing]

Oh yea I heard of them I think they been about for sometime most venues should carry them. I usually shop often on ebay myself.

[@gmc54850]

what size and weight -needle fish do you prefer

[@heyjerryfishing]

I like the yellow eye 1.5 oz for a lighter surf and the 2.25 or 3oz red eye for a bigger surf

[@thehamptonsbutcher3786]

Hook, point, and maybe a sinker...

[@heyjerryfishing]

Yes, yes and yes! Thanks Chris!