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Rigging and hooking the Sand Flea

post #1 of 25
5/11/10 at 5:51am
Thread Starter 
Can't say I ever used them. What type of rigs are you using and how do you hook them? Pictures would be nice. Thanks
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post #2 of 25
5/11/10 at 9:01am
no pics... but i use 8/0 gami circles, high low rig hand tied. I hook them under the head and through the top shell... they are still wiggling. I also add another piece of "bait" as well to them.

I use this rig in close, off a spinning setup... I have tried to use them on a heaver setup, tossed 80-100yrds with nothing, if you think about it, that doesnt make much sense, as they 'live' in the shore break.

Keep in mind that its one option to catch, not the end all.
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post #3 of 25
5/11/10 at 10:14am
I use a 2 hook fish finder rig...basically its a line (80lb-100lb leader) thats 18-24 inches long. The bottom of the rig is snelled with a 8/0 gammi circles...use a thin gauge for the hook if you plan on using something else...and then 2/3's up from that hook I make a dropper loop for another hook. I can hook 2 big sandcrabs on those hooks. I have also used high low rigs as well.

I just hook them through the middle and take off their diggers before hooking.

Funny, I have been using sandcrabs capped with fishbites, crab variety, and have yet caught any stripers. I have 2 rods with the fleas and 2 with bunker...All my stripers have been caught on bunker chunks and heads...have managed some black drum on the fleas tho, which is what I use to target blacks, as well as clam...heard several people say they are doing well with the fleas for stripers...so go figure...I guess if its in front of them, they'll probably eat it, whether its a flea, bunker, spot, bloodworms, or whatever.
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post #4 of 25
5/11/10 at 10:25am
Here is the pic of one of my 2 hook fish finder rig...this is one of my shorter ones.
525
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post #5 of 25
5/11/10 at 10:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop View Post
Here is the pic of one of my 2 hook fish finder rig...this is one of my shorter ones.


cool idea coop!, i will give that a try. The only thing i dont like about the high/low rigs are you loose the fishfinder / sinker advantage.

I have been using the fishbites as well with the flea. I have not caught any rock on them (family has tho).

I think its key to keep them in close.
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post #6 of 25
5/11/10 at 1:45pm
Thread Starter 
Thank's for the info and the pics, that is a very nice fishfinder rig Coop. Also on the extra info on the added flavoring.
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post #7 of 25
5/11/10 at 3:57pm
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post #8 of 25
5/11/10 at 3:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop View Post
Here is the pic of one of my 2 hook fish finder rig...this is one of my shorter ones.



Coop, What knot do you use to attach the upper hook to the dropper loop? a palomar?
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post #9 of 25
5/11/10 at 4:04pm
looks like a dropper loop for the top.
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post #10 of 25
5/11/10 at 4:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PinMd View Post
Coop, What knot do you use to attach the upper hook to the dropper loop? a palomar?


probably just slide the end of the loop through the eye of hook and around the hook and tighten
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post #11 of 25
5/11/10 at 5:29pm
I was thinking that also, but it seems like that would be a pretty loose fit. I'd want that hook staying put as much as possible.
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post #12 of 25
5/11/10 at 6:01pm
If you wrap the loop around the hook shank once more before tightening it, it stays tighter longer.
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post #13 of 25
5/11/10 at 8:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fish-on View Post
probably just slide the end of the loop through the eye of hook and around the hook and tighten


Thats the way I do it...You have to use heavy leader material to keep tangles to a minimum...ecspecially for the longer ones. Here is another short one.
525
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post #14 of 25
5/12/10 at 7:13am
Coop,
Good idea! What # leader are you using? And measurements for the short rig? Thanks!
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post #15 of 25
5/12/10 at 8:22am
For durability reasons I like the pictured set up. Coops rig is fine, but with biters now in the surf I often find hooks need replacement due to frayed line. With the pictured set up both hooks can be quickly replaced with pre-snelled ones. I suggest using an extra one inch section of leader through the bead/crimp area, so as to increase strength. While this rig works great with black drum, it also is a killer striper rig. The only thing that ain't perfect is the darn hooks, I hate those 8/0 circle octopus, and the 4X ones you see are only a little better.....loose fish in the wash fairly often with them (stripers) sometimes as soon as you reach down to pick up a fish and take the tension out, the hook falls out on it's own! Big hooks don't seem to work too good with the Black Drum though......also remember that pushing a hook through a sand flea dozens of times a day will dull even the best hook point. As far as sand fleas go for bait if you are fishing the white water they are the best, I actually haven't caught a single striper this spring on bunker, the downside is that the cows don't frequent the white water as much as fish in the mid-thirty range.

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