8nBait Fish Finder rigs...

[Rumble Fish aka Poppy]

For those who e-mailed me and asked for pic's...





Poppy

[crashq]

Great photos Poppy. I generallyn use the first one, but with an Albright or Surgeon's knot to connect the shoock leader to the main line.

Also on the second rig, what is the purpose of the long 2-3 foot leader with no swivel between the weight and hook? Do you fish it with slack line so the hook washes around and gets some distance between itself and the weight?

[Rumble Fish aka Poppy]

crashq…the 8nBait “Cannon Ball” Fish Finder Rig’s only real advantage is that the sinker and bait are close to each other creating a very compact and more aerodynamic payload, resulting in a longer cast. Once settled on the surf’s bottom, I think the bait stays very close to the sinker—does not drift off or is pulled away in the current. If you back off the line tension (in free spool) and let out a lot of line, the result most times will be a big bow in your line from the pull of the current, while the bait remains near the sinker… At least this is what I believe…

And Plug stated in the other thread that the sinker being so close to the bait may bury the offering in the soft or shifting sands of the surf waters…I think this is real possibility. Still many swear by this rig for both casting distance and catching fish!

The regular 8nBait Fish Finder Rig has a length of hook leader between the hook/bait and sinker…although the setup in the picture shows a short hook leader, this rig is not as compact/aerodynamic as the Cannon Ball rig…and if you use a longer leader you increase the chances that the rig will "Helicopter” during a cast, which can really kill your distance…

Things are relative…for giant Red Drum you want a longer cast more than not, so use the Cannon Ball Rig. For Striped Bass, I think you want some leader between the sinker and the bait…

Poppy

[crashq]

Originally Posted by Rumble Fish aka Poppy

...And Plug stated in the other thread that the sinker being so close to the bait may bury the offering in the soft or shifting sands of the surf waters…...

Thanks, I think I'll stick with the first rig. I like to keep the bait at least a couple inches away from the weight. I couldn't say for sure, but I think that a little movement will get you a few more bites. I think it makes the biggest differnce during the day, though.

When drum fishing in shifting sandy areas, I periodically reel in one or two cranks to keep the bait out of the sand.

[Drumdum]

Been using it for about 2yrs now.. Have been catching at least the same amount of drum I was catching before,and it cast better..When I crankback and feel the thing sanded in and know I'm going to stay at that spot,as crashq said,you pull it out occassionally.. If you think that bait isn't going to get sanded in with an inch and a half leader about as quick,imo,you are mistaken.. What Plug and Poppy have said about the bait being off the sinker,bears merit,cause they both dern sure know what they are talking about!! Especially when it comes to stripers,although I have caught stripers on this rig, it would only take one or two dropped baits before I disqualified the "cannonballrig"... Cobia,the same way..
Drum though,the best example of a drum not caring if the sinker is a "sandwich" along with the bait>> Caught three,early March Ocracoke.. All three bit almost like a timid dogfish.. They'd tap the bait,then slack and only about two ft if that.. I'd pick the rod up,crank two feet,feel just a bit of pressure,and pull.. She had picked the bait up,and had "gobbled".. All three had the hook in the corner with the sinker right there.. JMO,if they were timid of that sinker they would have dropped the bait.. Also the spot I was in WAS a spot that you got sanded in occasionally,cause there was an outsuck involved.. If anything,the two or three feet of leader, with a swivel right there to stop it, is like a "tripwire" that helps hook the fish. She only moves two feet and the hook is set,that's my theory and I'm stickin to it... Jmho,but I would think this would work perfectly when using a circle..

[Plug]

Originally Posted by Drumdum

Drum though,the best example of a drum not caring if the sinker is a "sandwich" along with the bait>> Caught three,early March Ocracoke.. All three bit almost like a timid dogfish.. They'd tap the bait,then slack and only about two ft if that.. I'd pick the rod up,crank two feet,feel just a bit of pressure,and pull.. She had picked the bait up,and had "gobbled".. All three had the hook in the corner with the sinker right there.. JMO,if they were timid of that sinker they would have dropped the bait..

Why the timidity? Especially on 3 fish in a row. Could be early season/cold water. But maybe it is that sinker being right there. Maybe the fish felt that sinker and didn't rush off with the bait. Maybe if the fish could have easily grabbed that bait and swam off ie. with a standard fish finder the bite would have been a more customary hard take down rather than "dogfish timid". Just thinkin'.

[Drumdum]

Originally Posted by Plug

Why the timidity? Especially on 3 fish in a row. Could be early season/cold water. But maybe it is that sinker being right there. Maybe the fish felt that sinker and didn't rush off with the bait. Maybe if the fish could have easily grabbed that bait and swam off ie. with a standard fish finder the bite would have been a more customary hard take down rather than "dogfish timid". Just thinkin'.

I've seen them do the same things manytimes.. On the pier and in the surf,even in the boat,with BOTH style rigs.. I think cold water was the reason,just guessing.. But have seen them do the same thing in Sept,even in 84 degree water out of a boat when baitfishing?? Many times have seen fish in bunches where they all bit the same,quick slackup,pull tip down and do a "suicide run",sit there and "lay on it",as the ones did in early March.. Not sure why many of them will bite the same way on a given day,but they do at times(wind direction,current)?? One night on Avon Pier watched fish hit on se wind,all were suicide runs,then wind shifted nw all were slackups??
In answer to your question,yes,I've seen them do suicide runs with this rig.. The main reason I was talking about these fish is because most of the fish you don't get a hook in are those that slack you up and drop the bait.. EVEN with the sinker right by thier nose,the bait wasn't dropped?? I think it speaks volumes for this rig,jmo...

[Bluefishmaster]

Thanks for the 2 pictures, Rumble Fish. I think the cannonball rig is just feeding the crabs that would then attract the drums.

Why is the Daiichi hook so expensive for just one hook? How much more distance can the cannonball reach compare to the short leader fishfinder?

[newsjeff]

Originally Posted by Bluefishmaster

I think the cannonball rig is just feeding the crabs that would then attract the drums.

Naw, never listen to that Drumdum guy.

[Drumdum]

Originally Posted by newsjeff

Naw, never listen to that Drumdum guy.

I guess you're right,Jeff,don't even know why I'm so dumb as to give an honest acessment???

[Rumble Fish aka Poppy]

Originally Posted by Bluefishmaster

Why is the Daiichi hook so expensive for just one hook? How much more distance can the cannonball reach compare to the short leader fishfinder?

Don’t know why the Daiichi hooks are expensive…they are very well made though and have features that I think are excellent for big game fish like Red Drum and Striped Bass. But at $2 a hook they are $$$$... Actually there are other similar hooks that cost more and of course there are hooks that cost as little as $0.25 each… Things are relative I guess, you get what you pay for…

Hi Kenny…was down in your neck of the woods the past 4 days or so…fishing was not good compared to my trip in mid-March! BTW, I made some general observations about the Cannon Ball rig as I use it on this past trip a lot… I am casting further w/ the rig…but it’s hard to say exactly how much further…perhaps 10% to 15%… I caught almost all the my fish w/ the rig, including 2 citations…so no doubt it catches Red Drum! I wonder how effective it will be w/ Striped Bass…might be as equal a catcher for the Linesides as a standard 8nBait Rig that has a short hook leader (pictured above)… As far as it (Cannon Ball Rig) getting sanded in…agree, moving the bait often should be done, which I do anyway… Finally, I had a cast or 2 w/ the rig that actually Helicopter’d some…not much though and that was w/ heads... Overall I like the rig and although I seen it used years ago down in Texas (and it caught fish there), I just had not used it much here on the east coast...but I think I am going to use it more...

Poppy

[newsjeff]

Originally Posted by Drumdum

I guess you're right,Jeff,don't even know why I'm so dumb as to give an honest acessment???

Kenny, you like to help other anglers, that's why.

The ones who are smart enough to listen are more than likely to become better anglers.

Let's see. I use yer hooks, knots, rigs, line, rods, just about everything but them Pro Gears. And you know what? I catch more fish now than before I started payin' attention to what ya said.

You can't put a price on that, my friend.

Thanks again for all your help.

[Drumfish05]

I used the cannonball some this weekend for the first time, and it did seem to throw farthur which was good. The taylor Blues were in thick, and I missed every one that bit that rig, so I switched back to a standard fish finder and caught every one that hit that rig. Maybe it was just the bluefish hitting so fast? I did get some doggies on the cannonball and all were hooked where they were sposed to be. Not sure what the deal was.

I'll try it again in a couple weeks, but my short fish-finders have caught many drum ...like DD says, "if it aint broke, dont fix it."

Adam

[chris storrs]

Originally Posted by Bluefishmaster

How much more distance can the cannonball reach compare to the short leader fishfinder?

i tested the two rigs side by side one day, same reel,line,rod,weight,etc only difference was teh rig...casted on grass,accurately measured

my rig: std fishfinder,1"hook leader vs cannonball as yall are aclling it

all casts were within 10-12 feet or so of eachother, with no clear winner distance wise...furthest was mine, but only bet out other by feet, ill credit that to a better cast not anything against the cannonball rig...i use the cannonball for catfish around here cuz its easier to tie up quick,less knots, but stick to my rig for drum, no real reason if i think about im just used to mine more i guess

opinion of a youngen..whatever its worth

[newsjeff]

Distance is one thing. But using 3' or so of 130lb leader is much better for abrasion resistance than the 40lb or 50lb shock.

Just my 2 cents.

Care to share yer rig, Chris?