I havent heard of people cutting off the hook. A stinger can be rigged as described here:http://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=3&topic_id=11212&mesg_id=11212&listing_type=searchYou can find pictures of how it should look here:http://www.calfishing.com/reviews/swimbaits/stocker_trout/index.html--nate