Bait Fishun Rigs

[Sudsy]

Sudsy, I hear yah on the visibility thing I was wondering if you ever noticed the fish hitting harder with 40# fluoro than 40# Trilene?

 

Just the other day they were tapping at the bait but not taking it. Went to floro and started catching. Strange thing was, it was small blues Since when do they care?

[Tres Irby]

Here's a proper "Hatteras Style" fish finder rig fellers. Only difference I make for the striped ones is making the leader an inch or 3 longer depending on conditions and casting distance required.

 

 

The more distance needed and/or in a stronger current, the shorter the leader. IMHO, there is absolutely NO need to go any longer than 12".

 

We use 80-120 lb hook leaders only because of toothy critters, 50 lb will work fine if none are around.

 

And please, throw those crappy plastic, touron, fish finders away. Not only do they damage your line but they are dangerous as they will eventually either cut your line and break off on the cast, possibly injuring they guy next to you, or cause you to loose a fish or they will wear through and the weight goes flying off by itself on the cast. Use either a McMahon snap, as in the image, or a coast lock snap swivel. The McMahon snap is most useful in preventing bad tangles while fishing in crowded conditions but they aren't cheap. The coast locks work fine elsewhere.

 

The bead above the fish finder keeps the sinker from riding up past your shock leader, again, greatly reducing tangles in crowded conditions. Really no need for a bead below it.

 

Catch'em up!

[TimS]

Hey Tres, question for yah...I was trying out those McMahon snaps and found that the sand seems to get wedged in between the two sides allowing the smaller SPRO swivels to come right off Am I doing something wrong...or is that why you use monster 2/0 swivels on your rig?

 

I was very optimistic about them McMahon snaps, they looked wonderful, I bought a bunch. Further testing and I am now very cautious about using them. I'm guessing with the large stuff, like a sinker eye or a 2/0 swivel, they wouldn't be wedged open enough for the wire to get started on it's way out - but the lil' stuff like plug eyes and SPRO swivels...yikes

 

And maybe the ones I'm using are smaller than the ones you guys use. I think I'm testing the two smallest sizes.

 

TimS

[Tres Irby]

Howdy Tim, I've been using McMahon snaps on my fish finders for about 20 yrs now and can remember only one time having the rig come back with no sinker attached.

 

Having said that, I use them only on my fish finders to hold the sinker and use Cross-Lok snaps for lures and plugs, at least when I use any snap at all. I can see where you might have a problem using really small swivels with them, especially if you deform them at all when hooking and unhooking.

 

The main reason I use large 1/0 & 2/0 swivels and oversized snaps on these rigs is because of the larger diameter wire on the swivels and ease of use with the snaps. Larger wire makes for less wear and tear on your line and knots and sometimes we have to put a little sheet on fish down here

 

 

.....and thin wire will cut faster than fat wire.

 

Plus, when fishing the bottom, hardware is not so important as far as scaring Drum and Stripers off... not to mention I can't afford Spro swivels anyway

[TimS]

Thanks Tres That's what I figured, it's the diameter of the wire on the SPROs that have caused me trouble with the McMahon snaps. And yes, I probably did deform the McMahon snaps trying to get stuff on/off them - it's tricky sometimes

 

I've been using the #34 Coastlock snaps lately - yowza! These things are bomb proof...and they have a loop in the top to put the line through

 

One more question - why the bead above the slide? I thought it would be below the bead to protect the knot on that swivel?

 

Always good to hear from yah

 

TimS

[Tres Irby]

One more question - why the bead above the slide? I thought it would be below the bead to protect the knot on that swivel?

 

See last sentence in 1st post.....

 

Unless the bead actually fits 'over' the knot it will do more harm than good IMO

 

And yes, I probably did deform the McMahon snaps trying to get stuff on/off them - it's tricky sometimes

 

Remind me next time you come down to show you how to use the things, it's really quite simple once you learn the trick to them

[TimS]

it's really quite simple once you learn the trick to them

 

Ahhh....see? I knew there was a trick

 

Tres, I'd love to come down there - but every time I toy with the idea, life steps in and I can't commit to a 9hr each way trip I'm hoping my buddy JohnM will one day drag me down there, kicking and screaming...I know I'll enjoy it

 

TimS

[The ORB]

Do you Hatteras guys not use clip down bait rigs much? Just wondering, they certainly don't seem popular up here in New England but then I guess we dont normally have to cast too far.