Question for the riggers?

[jigrig]

Live bait rigging is my favorite way to fish. I usually keep my weight as light as possible. I was reading a post that was started by a guide and he states that he uses a 3/4 oz weight when rigging. To me, that seemed like it would be too much. Yes, it is going to keep you pretty verticle but with that much weight, isn't it hard to feel bites? I realize that there are variables such as depth and wind that play into this, but say your fishing a flat that tops out at 22' and drops to 35' , how much weight do you use???

Also, what speed do you go? I usually try and keep it at .04 to .05 mph. I like to go as slow as I can to keep the bait in front of their face.

[lutzy]

I always use 3/4 oz. With a quality rod and I use fireline I don't think I ever don't feel any bites. I can feel the slightest of hits. I let the fish tell me (or Tony Roach) what speed is working. sometimes I go over fish with no hits then change speed and they start hitting. Just what I do.

[GFNER]

I too will use a 3/4 most of the time, rarely smaller sometimes bigger on the REALLY windy days. Medium -medium light rod and 6lb test. Speed wise I've always kept it very slow unless I'm pulling blades.

[Kyhl]

We talked to a pro-team as they got off the lake and they showed us where and what they were using. Went shopping and came back to catch 4 25's in an hour by dragging spinners behind 2oz bottom bouncers at 1 - 1.4mph.

It was different for me, before that I'd never used more than 1/2oz but it worked.

[Bigfife]

jigrig, if its the report I am thinking of then the answer is because he is he is fishing fast. From the information I read, he is basically driving around forward until he marks of school of fish and then quick dropping the rigs and backing up through them. If they go through the fish with no bites, they pick up again and move on. He is using the heavier weights to get the baits down quickly.

I usually rig with 1/2 oz weights, but I will use a bigger weight if I am fishing snaggy areas or faster speeds around .7 mph. Also if its really rough, I will go with a heavier weight to keep my bait in the strike zone longer.

[TruthWalleyes]

If there is always tension on the end of your rod, the slightest tap from a fish will be felt in the rod, assuming the weight your using isn't over bending the rod.

I don't rig much, but i usually keep it 1/2 to 3/4 oz.

I would agree on the comment above as well, heavier weights allows them to quickly get fishing, and if they need to fish faster, there is no need to change weights.

[SCONASOTAN]

I am no pro but was always taught to use lightest sinker possible. we were out saturday in deep gravel (26-32 fow) and we used 3/8th ounce all day and probably could have used 1/4 ounce. not saying this was better then heavier because I have never tested the theory. we caught 20+ fish in the worst mille Lacs conditions (high sun, no clouds, calm wind, 9am to 3 pm).

we didn't pull bouncers though. I would have used 2 oz in that case.

[CaptainMusky]

in the old days before sliding sinkers weight made a big deal because the fish would feel the weight. Now with all the sliding sinkers, etc the fish picks up the bait and moves freely without feeling the weight. I use 3/4 for rigging. Over an ounce if I am pulling spinners. Speed is the determining factor. WHen rigging typically .5mph and spinners 1mph or higher

[walleyeguy13]

We learned two things very quickly during the NTC last week (our first time ever fishing Mille Lacs): Long snell (7'+) and vertical presentation. We were catching nothing drifting on a couple flats when we finally figured out that .7 - .8 was a bit too fast. As soon as we dropped the bow mount down and started pulling the rigs over fish we were marking with the presentation as vertical as possible we started consistently catching fish. If that means a 3/4 ounce, so be it. We had calmer days during the tournament, so we stayed with 1/2 ouncers. Frustrating trying to catch those elusive unders, but it was sure fun catching those big ones.

[TruthWalleyes]

Long leaders are a must up there. I like 10' of 6 or 8#

Even trolling i use 50' of flouro.

[BrdHunter01]

Longer the snell the better it seems on Mille Lacs. Just remember if your by yourself you have to net that fish with a 10' snell by yourself

I like being vertical as well. If I need to use a 3/4 or 1 ounce sinker I'll do it. I need to know I'm in the strike zone. Those fish I mark on the finder, I know my bait is right there as well.... JMO

[jigrig]

Well, I"m an open minded person and I tried using a heavier weight the last time that I was out. I didn't like it! It felt like I was dragging an anchor. I gave it an honest try but it just didn't work for me. I switched back to using a 1/4 oz weight and within a short time I started catching fish. I go as slow as I can. I caught 21 eyes, so it seems to work for me.