How-To Add A Stinger Hook to an Underspin

Adding a stinger hook to your underspin blade can increase your hook-up ratios when you’re dealing with finicky fish that are reacting only to flash, short-striking, or just nipping at the blade. This sneaky modification has been used by the pros for years and has helped fill up many livewells when the bite gets tough. Follow these detailed steps below to start catching more fish with your favorite underspin. 

To get started, you’ll need an underspin of your choosing, an appropriately sized stinger hook, and a pair of split ring pliers. 

For best results when using a normal underspin blade, you’ll want to choose a straight-shank finesse hook to rig on your underspin blade. Every underspin is different, so pair your hook accordingly to the exact blade size you’ll be using. Don’t choose a hook that protrudes past the end of the blade, as it will hinder the action and may foul your hook more frequently. Before rigging, hold your hook up next to the blade. If the hook is longer than the blade, choose a different hook or get a smaller size, as the hook needs to sit inside the concave side of the blade to allow for proper rotation.

Grab your split ring pliers; the smaller the better as most underspins typically have small split rings, so smaller pliers will make it much easier when rigging your stinger hook.

Pry open the split ring with your pliers and create enough gap for the eye of your stinger hook to be threaded on.

Place the eye of your stinger hook onto the split ring, making sure the hook point is facing out from the concave side of the blade. Thread on the hook all the way around the split ring until it is fully closed.

Once your hook is fully threaded, examine your hook and make sure it is sitting snugly in the concave side of the blade with the hook point facing out. This will ensure proper performance and more efficient hookups with those fish that are biting at the blade.

Slide on your soft plastic trailer, which is typically a finesse paddle-tail swimbait or a minnow-style bait. Once rigged, you are ready to start catching those highly pressured bass at your local lake!