Making your own rigs

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

I was wondering if there is any good references to building your own rigs for saltwater. I would really like to start making my and I have searching all over the Internet but I can’t seem to located any. Or is it pretty the same as making freshwater rigs for worms, as in Carolina rig, Texas rig, drop **** rig, etc…?

Right now I use the ready rigs purchased from the store but I really want to get into all the aspects of fishing.

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The comeback starts Tomorrow

2

Dear Tiger…Your open ended question leaves a lot of room for discussion. Where, What, and When are legitimate concerns when it comes to tying your necessary rigs for saltwater. The “Carolina Rig” is relatively universal for most coastal species inshore, while I like the “Fish Finder Rig” myself most of the time. Obviously fishing under a 'Popping Cork" or a “Rattle Float” is a completely different approach of presenting bait, as it keeps the bait off of the bottom and avoids crabs pulling the bait. Fishing a “float” in a stiff breeze and a strong tidal current presents challenges to that type of rig. Then you have the whole artificial bait presentation to deal with, and learning to tie a “Non-Slip Loop Knot” comes into play regarding the action on the fake bait. There are knots to tie braid to mono, and that comes in handy when “Free Lining” live bait. If you can get a handle on these suggestions, you will have a fairly useful set of skills and rigs to help you catch coastal inshore fish. PS…don’t ignore hook selection. Spend some time at a local tackle shop…not Walmart…and have someone show you size and shape differences for the fish you’re after.

Sol Mate
Mako 20B
225 Optimax

3

Thanks Boss. I see what you are saying. I am doing a lot of inshore fishing throughout the Cooper. I mainly use Popping corks and Carolina rig. But like the “Fish Finder Rig”, I have never heard of that. So I guess what I am looking for are different type of rigging.

Example…Lets say I am fishing freshwater with flukes. I know to tie the tie a leader with a swivel. Do I do the same saltwater? Or am I just overthink this. I do do that a lot.

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2015 Carolina Skiff JVX16

4

Use the GreatWhiteCheapCharlie rig for all creek reds and trout.
Cheap, easy 2 knots, adjustable weight, inline hooks for feeling soft/small bites.

50 lb mono

Swivel
fisherman’s knot
6" mono
circle hook (size per fish)
10" mono
circle hook (SPF)
4" mono
fisherman’s knot
1oz pyramid sinker

You don’t tie the hooks on. Just send a loop of mono through the eye of the hook and then run the hook through that loop. They will slide with bigger fish but it’s not a big deal. Actually it kinda helps because it gives you the whole leader to grab with no hooks in the way if he’s on the top on. Add weight using the method of attaching hooks. If you want make it longer and add another hook. Raise or lowers if you feel the fish are on the bottom or crabs are too much trouble.

First, Most, Biggest

5

Tiger: Hire yourself a guide and pay him to teach you the basics of fishing the salt. There is no substitute for time on the water. Get out there and go fishing…

oc

6

Thanks Great for the advice. And cracker that’s not what I am looking. I like trial and error but thank also for your advice.

Delayed but not Denied!
The comeback starts Tomorrow

2015 Carolina Skiff JVX16

7
quote:
Originally posted by Great White

Use the GreatWhiteCheapCharlie rig for all creek reds and trout.
Cheap, easy 2 knots, adjustable weight, inline hooks for feeling soft/small bites.

50 lb mono

Swivel
fisherman’s knot
6" mono
circle hook (size per fish)
10" mono
circle hook (SPF)
4" mono
fisherman’s knot
1oz pyramid sinker

You don’t tie the hooks on. Just send a loop of mono through the eye of the hook and then run the hook through that loop. They will slide with bigger fish but it’s not a big deal. Actually it kinda helps because it gives you the whole leader to grab with no hooks in the way if he’s on the top on. Add weight using the method of attaching hooks. If you want make it longer and add another hook. Raise or lowers if you feel the fish are on the bottom or crabs are too much trouble.

First, Most, Biggest

Whenever I get some 50lb mono I’m going to try this, it sounds great.

8

Just Google “Carolina Rigs” or “Fishfinder Rigs”, and you’ll get plenty of results:

Hope this helps.

“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

9

Tiger, dont over think it. I use a standard Carolina rig made using mono and hook for the size fish I am targeting and what type of structure I am fishing and a sinker for the tide conditions. Also use popping corks with jigs tipped with either fresh / live bait or soft plastics. Then there is the old faithful jig (heavey gauge hook) tipped with fresh / live bait or soft plastics. Nothing complicated here and it has worked 100 times more than not.

10

Dear Tiger…Swivels between tag line and leader will reduce the amount of “twist” that builds up from repeated casting, retrieving, and tidal current action. I would never use a snap swivel for the tag line to leader, or to attach a hook to the leader. To reduce visibility and thus spooking fish choose a small “barrel swivel” vs. a large one, and choose the black ones vs. the silver ones. Keep in mind that price and dependability are closely aligned. I use the “improved clinch knot” to tie the tag line to the top end of the swivel, and also to tie the leader to the bottom end of the swivel, and then the leader to the hook. It’s a simple knot. The rig that Mr. Bass refers to is one that I’ve always associated with offshore bottom fishing, or pier fishing where you are basically fishing straight up and down. Of course offshore requires much more weight than 1 oz. I would also add that fluorocarbon leader material is my choice vs. straight mono. I believe that it reduces the ability of foraging fish to see it.

Sol Mate
Mako 20B
225 Optimax

11

Thank you everyone. I am starting to get a handle on it. Thank for all the useful tips. they will be put to got use. And boss never thought about the color of a swivel. So that you for that.

Delayed but not Denied!
The comeback starts Tomorrow

2015 Carolina Skiff JVX16

12

hey cutiger;
google fishing knots, how to tie !! very good animation shows how.

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