Factory hooks and rings are never going to be adequate for the experienced guys here and are likely to BE thrown away.  On the other hand, newbies won't have to worry about having to buy hooks and rings just to get the lures working.

The likely cost savings could be around $5.

 

What you you think - YEAH or NAY?

 

Here is Titahi's landmark efforts - http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/poppers-hall-of-fame_topic54278_page5.html - http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/poppers-hall-of-fame_topic54278_page5.html

 

 A lot of these rigged lures have owner hooks or VMC at least, on them, which are pretty good and I dont bother changing them usually for inshore fishin. The split rings look a little dodgy on some of the rigged lures but only if you are chasin the big boys.

Above $50 most stuff is Japanese anyway, and unrigged. I dont think whether a stickbait or popper is rigged or not has ever really come into my purchase decision, more whether I think it is gonna be that particular colour and action thats gonna get me the fish on the day (usually is just a theory and has feck all to do with what they actually bite).

Still if you are wanting to sell in any volume, then probably rigged and at the lower price point is the way to go (River2sea etc). Already there are signs here of people buying high end lures and gear and getting bored and realizing its not for them, judging by the greater frequency of 'hard to get but cast a few times' lures popping up for sale.

 Lower price point (under $50) and rigged, might get those lures stocked by your average store rather than the more specialist ones, some of which import their own lures. 

Over $50 most buyers probably re-rigging anyway.

I have bought a popper with owner stinger 76 trebs on and split ring but the price goes right up as a result.

 

Yeah on that basis I would agree with the others and on this point you raise.

 

There is still alot of education going on in regards to jigging let alone casting,so yes for the general popluation a lure without hooks would be seen as "a rip off"

 

Although alot of game lures sell to people who cant rig,guess it comes down to what the retailer wants to learn/stock/sell?

If a average jo buys one and a king bends it all out...they will feel ripped off and maybe complaints a coming? Tough Call.

The best thing about one lure was the Owner trebles.

what levcat says x2

 

 

Yes, but remove the belly swivel first!

My 2 cents worth=Lot of it is relative to how much force you put on them via drag...I have found going hard out on the drag when popping not such a great idea...can often result in pulling the lure out of some soft tissues in the kings mouth(unless engulfed)....Off the bricks you probably using 15 kg tackle and one third for drag...so you probably would go between 5 to 10 kg tops....more like 5 to 8 kg....I caught plenty of kings at great barrier off the bricks and always took it easy....some kings didnt fight at all! which was a suprise. Depends on the size kings you expect to hook at your sight too.Should be ok with whats already there.

doesnt matter how many fish you hook if none come to the boat.. eg the factory split rings on some expensive jigs we all like.   

 

I'm with Seth, if its possbile and not too costly to have some packaged rigged and some packaged unrigged then its the best of both worlds.

 

Otherwise, as others have suggested have them rigged, but rigged with decent quality hooks and rings.

 

 

My spheros has 20 kg of drag but i will never use it....It should enjoy life at 10 -12 kg.

I reckon set your drag reasonable in the first place and a little tweak as it takes off and then leave it alone! Not a fan of messing around with drag during the fight...if you crank it up,they get really pissed!

if you are lucky enough to get near the landing stage...ease the drag off a bit when it goes horizontal and gives up and try to keep its head out of the water(on an angle) and dont let it get it back...then it can thrash about with its tail and expell the last of its tantrum..Cant go anywhere without its head.Thats what i have always done anyway.enjoy the rush while it lasts as you could get spanked!

 Good luck with it.

 

I hear what all you guys are saying but I am only getting replies from experienced, expert  guys who would normally replace the hardware on any lure.  The expert market is quite small when compared to the novice market.  I want our lures to suit both markets and the only way is to sell them with hardware.  Question is what quality can I get and at what additioanl price?

 

The big problem is getting decent trebles and rings (Owner or Gamakatsu) if available without a price blowout.  I am also considering another hook which we could retro-fit ourselves.  I hate double handling lures at NZ minimum wage.  End result could be lures with good hardware, lures with reasonable disposable hardware or lures without hardware.

 

I might go the way of retro-fitting with good hooks and also offering lures without them and seeing what the preferences are.  A little early to know just yet.

Just need to recommend a suitable treble size/split ring  for the lure to work well.

 

this is exactly my way of thinking. 

 

Just checking out availability of hooks, have the strong split rings already.