dude - it is amazing how that bait will draw out browns like no other trout lure. I've caught a few rainbows on it, usually larger sized ones, but browns just go bonkers on it. I would bet that your hook got bent because browns twist around so much when they fight. I've never caught big browns but I've read a lot about it, and the serious troller guys talk about beefing up on hooks to avoid getting bent out. I don't know what you could do on a pins minnow though since it's so light a bigger hook would kill the action.