Rig the Doc with an Inline Single Hook

Adding a strong inline single hook to the belly of this heralded topwater will help to reduce release mortality in striped bass.

By Alex StaikosFebruary 7, 2025

Originally designed to catch muskie, The Doc has become the favorite topwater offering for thousands of striped bass anglers. (Photo by Jimmy Fee)

The Drifter Tackle Doc originated as a topwater bait to target muskellunge, but years ago, saltwater anglers in the Northeast got hold of this spook and made it a staple when fishing for striped bass. While the company has acknowledged the plug’s popularity in salt water by introducing popular striper colors like bunker, green mackerel, and all-yellow, the terminal tackle still leaves a bit to be desired by saltwater anglers, especially anglers looking for more catch-and-release-friendly hook options. A Doc comes standard with weak split rings and two large treble hooks positioned far back on the body. While this is ideal for muskies, it is not ideal for targeting large stripers.

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rigging the Doc with an inline single hook — When re-rigging the Doc with a single hook, the author uses a 60-pound split ring and a 7/0 Owner ZO-Wire inline single hook.

Whenever I purchase a Doc, I immediately remove the split rings and treble hooks from both the belly and tail. I rig the belly hook with a 60-pound split ring and a 7/0 Owner ZO-Wire single replacement hook, leaving the plug without a tail hook. A general rule when replacing treble hooks with inline single hooks is to ensure that the gap of the single hook is equal to the entire treble.

This rigging style has numerous benefits. First, adding an inline single hook to the belly reduces release mortality in striped bass. Using just one single hook lowers the chances of a fish being hooked in the eye, head, or throat by the tail hook. Second, it prevents fish from gaining leverage to bend out the hook and escape. Also, it leads to a more secure hookset due to that larger hook gap. This is crucial when after a big bass with a lower lip that’s twice the thickness of the trebles that come standard on the Doc.

Replacing the terminal with one inline single hook can also enhance the Doc’s action. Removing the tail hook reduces drag, so the Doc glides through the water more easily, giving it a wider side-to-side action.

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