Rigging Ballyhoo
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MATERIALS:
Fresh ballyhoo (defrosted is next best choice)
60 to 100lb. Monofilament Leader
6/0 to 8/0 hooks (pick hook according to bait size)
15lbs Monel (rigging wire)
Wooden Dowel (for eye removal) |
PREPARING THE BAIT:
1. If ballyhoo is frozen, defrost bait at air temperature or
by soaking it in a bucket of saltwater. (do not soak in fresh
water)
2) Remove eyes by pushing them through with a small dowel.
3) Gently squeeze the belly of the bait, starting just behind
the gills and working your way towards the anal cavity, to remove
air sacks and feces.
4) Carefully bend the bait back and forth to loosen the backbone
for additional flexibility.
 RIGGING
THE BAIT:
1. Have your leader and hook ready with monel wrapped around
hook shank. Open gill plate to run the hook into the ballyhoo.
Insert the hook as far down the throat latch of the bait as
possible. The monel should be hanging down.
2. Run the monel up the opposite side, under the gill plate,
to bring the hook snug against the throat latch, then go around
the top and down under other gill plate, so the monel ends
up hanging downward.
3. Feed the monel twice through the eye sockets and tighten
to keep the gills shut. This will serve to prevent water from
pushing into the bait when trolled.
4. Next bring the monel under the hook, push it up through
the bait’s lower jaw and bill, and wrap it around both
to keep the mouth of the ballyhoo from opening.
5. Continue wrapping the monel along the bill and slightly
up the leader, making sure the leader is centered with the
bill to prevent the bait from spinning when trolled. Finally
break off the tip of the bill.
Rigging Live Shrimp
FOR
SHORT CASTS
 OPTION
A – Under the horn rig:
Gently insert your hook from side to side under the shrimp’s
horn making sure to miss the vital organs (the dark spot).
If hooked correctly the shrimp will remain alive and active
as it settles to the bottom. This rig will also work well
when using a float or popping cork. Care must be taken when
popping the cork as too aggressive a pop could tear the shrimp
off the hook.
 OPTION
B – In-line Head Rig:
Again avoid the shrimps stomach and pancreas. Put the hook
under the shrimps chin and up through it head avoiding the
vital organs. Try to bring the hook out through the top of
it's head as close to the center as possible to maintain proper
balance. You can slowly retrieve it, and pause it every now
and then to allow the shrimp to twitch and snap on it's own.
The shrimp won't live quite as long with this rig as with
the under the horn rig.
 Option
C – In-line Tail Rig:
Some anglers prefer running the hook through the center of
the tail base, which keeps the point on top of the shrimp
and away from weeds and other bottom snags. In order to further
restrict the shrimp’s ability to flee from fish, and
to also add scent into the mix, some anglers remove the tail
fins.
FOR LONG CASTS
 Option
A – Offset Tail Rig:
When a long cast is essential, embedding the hook deep within
the tail of the shrimp will reduce your chances of whipping
the bait off. Tail-hooking the shrimp also will enable the
bait to swim more naturally. Plus, since most fish will eat
a shrimp head first, the hook is easier to set because it
protrudes from the tail of the bait at a better angle. Just
run the hook sideways through the base of the tail, slightly
ahead of the fins. The hook should be centered to maximize
its holding potential during the cast and the strike.
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OPTION
B- Straight Tail Hook Rig:
Removing the tail fins will help prevent spinning of
the bait, thus adding more distance to the cast.
1. Remove the shrimp’s tail fins.
2. Lay the hook along side the shrimp to measure where
the hook should exit.
3. Insert the hook into the end of the tail and push
it, bending the shrimp as you would a plastic worm while
you slide the bait past the bend of the hook and up
the shank.
4. Push the hook point out near the center of the shrimps
belly, leaving the rest of the hook concealed inside
the bait. |
Weedless
Tail Rig
OPTION C – Weedless Tail Rig:
1. Remove the tail fan at it's base.
2. Insert the hook point through the center of the tail.
3. Slide the shrimp along the shank and up to the hook
eye.
4. Reverse the hook point and embed it in the shrimps
body. You now have a shrimp
that can be fished through grass and weeds, as well as
over jagged structure.
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 TROLL-RITE
RIG:
Great for maximum distance casting and for fishing bottom or
a specific portion of the water column with shrimp. Excellent
choice for targeting snook, tarpon, reds, seatrout and flounder
in deep holes, and around bridges and docks. The jig head takes
the shrimp down to the bottom while the shrimp provides the
natural looks and action. Depending on the species and the water
movement, the jig is usually made to bounce very subtly along
the bottom or even jigged as it pushed by the current. It's
important to be gentle when jigging this combo in order to keep
the shrimp from sliding or tearing off the hook, as well as
to maintain a natural presentation.
1. Detect the shrimps vital organs (the black spot under the
horn).
2. Insert the hook through the shrimp’s chin and out of
the center of it's head, avoiding the vital organs. Make sure
the shrimp is straight, and break off the tail fins to keep
it from spinning in the water.
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