Hookpoints – Havoc Grass Pig

12/9/2011 – The Berkley Havoc Grass Pig is five-inches long. It was designed by BASS Elite Series pro, Bobby Lane. The paddle tail design gives the bait a natural swimming action.

The Berkley Havoc Grass Pig. Cast this bait on 15-20 pound-test Berkley fluorocarbon line, 4/0 to 5/0 hook. Here we see 15-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line. The Berkley Havoc 5 inch Grass Pig in colors from left to right Green Pumpkin Watermelon, California and Black Blue Silver. The hooks are both 5/0 hooks. The one on the left is the Lazer TroKar TK-140 Swimbait hook. On the right you see the Lazer TroKar TK-120 MAGWORM Hook. Also pictured is a Wright & McGill Co. Skeet Reese Swimbait/Carolina Rig Casting 7’6”

A rod with a strong backbone to set the hook on these fish is a must. The action should be moderate to fast to help make that perfect pitch. A Wright & McGill Co. Skeet Reese Swimbait/Carolina Rig rod provides enough action and enough backbone. At 7’6” it is the right length for helping you make long cast with the Berkley Havoc Grass Pig. It also provides the strength you need to land those really big fish.

A 6.2:1 to 6.4:1 retrieve speed reel is perfect for the retrieve Pit Boss and for bringing in those fast moving fish as they attack this bait. This Wright & McGill Co. Victory 621 reel has a 6.2:1 retrieve speed that will allow for a good steady retrieve and power and speed during the fight.

Lazer TroKar Hooks are designed with a unique triangular point to penetrate faster and easier. The three edges of the Lazer TroKar Hooks are high speed ground to surgical sharpness. The Lazer TroKar Hooks are made with high carbon, cold forged steel and heat treated for just the right amount of impact strength and flexibility low profile barb for easier penetration yet ultimate holding power. Lazer TroKar Hooks are twice as sharp as any other hook on the market.

In this Hookpoints we are going to explain how to rig the Havoc Grass Pig two different ways. We will be using the hooks above. Notice the hook on the bottom (Lazer TroKar TK-140 Swimbait hook) has a spring lock-keeper. Notice the hook on the top has a non-offset ring eye. These key features are going to be used in our rigging process.

Let’s start with the Lazer TroKar TK140 5/0 SWIMBAIT Hook. This hook has a 30-degree shank. Notice the wide gap of this hook. The spring bait-keeper is also a unique feature of this hook that allows a bait to be secured to the hook.

Attaching the hook to quality line like Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon using the knot of your choice; this particular knot is a Palomar Knot. Always when tying knots be sure to wet the knot before synching it up. This is very important when using Fluorocarbon when you wet the line it lubricates the line help prevent friction on the line causing heat and damage to the line at the knot.

Once you secure the hook to the line you are ready to start the bait on the hook. Start the bait on the spring bait-keeper and continue to twist the bait all the way up the spring lock-keeper. Be sure to start in the center of the nose of the bait. This will help keep the bait in line with the hook and prevent line twist.

Once the bait has the screw lock-keeper all the way inside be sure to stop the bait with the belly down. Notice in this photo how the knot lines up with the nose of the bait.

Now is time to insert the hook back in to the bait for a weedless presentation. Take a measurement by lying the hook against the bait. Take note of where the hook will be inserted. See here how the hook lies against the bait. This is also how you want to insert the hook in this direction. The hook should lie like this, just inside the bait.

Insert the hook at the place you previously marked. To do this you will need to make some slack in the part of the bait above the insertion point. Insert the hook at the angle we noted above as well. If this is done correctly the bait will lie straight on the hook. See here how the Berkley Havoc Grass Pig has a pre-made slit in the bait. This is where you want to insert your hook point.

Once the hook is inserted in the proper place be sure to completely expose the barb of the hook. This allows for penetration through the plastic and better hook sets.

Now you are ready to “Tex-Pose” the hook pull slightly forward on the bait while holding the hook and sink the point of the hook just under the skin of the bait. Notice here how the hook is in line with the nose of the bait. Make sure you have centered the hook and this will provide a straighter swimming action.

Now let’s look at the Lazer TroKar TK-120 5/0 Hook. This is a heavy gauge wire hook. For a lighter gauge wire of the same hook use the TK-110. This hook has the same quality features of all Laser TroKar Hooks including being Surgical Sharpened.

Just like above we have attached the hook to quality line like Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon using a Palomar Knot. Don’t for get to wet the knot when cinching it up.

Start the hook point in the center of the nose of the Berkley Havoc Grass Pig. Remember the key to having the bait swim correctly is having it lie in line with the hook. Staring it on the hook right is the key.

Continue to thread the hook through the bait to the first bend. Then expose the hook point.

Once the hook point is exposed. Thread the hook all the way to the eye of the hook and be sure to cover the eye and the knot with the nose of the bait. Rotate the hook point so it faces the belly of the bait.

Just like above take a measurement of how the hook should lie inside the bait.

Insert the hook into the pre-made slit at the measured point. You will have to give the bait a little slack to do this correctly as seen above.

Expose the hook point all the way through the top of the bait.

To “Tex-Pose” the hook, pull slightly forward on the bait while holding the hook and sink the point of the hook just under the skin of the bait. The hook is in line with the nose of the bait.

See above the Berkley Havoc Grass Pig. The top is rigged on a Lazer TroKar TK-140 5/0 Swimbait hook. The bottom is rigged on a Lazer TroKar TK-120 5/0 Magworm Hook.

Here is the finished Berkley Havoc Grass Pig, Swim this bait around grass clumps and weed beds. This bait can produce a strike fished just below the surface with a fast retrieve. You can also allow the bait to sink a little and go deeper with a slower retrieve. Fish it as fast or as slow as you want and you will still have the wiggle you need to produce strikes. When you feel a strike set the hook with a firm jerk of the rod tip. The Lazer TroKar hook will do its job and penetrate insuring a great hookset.