Rigging Soft Plastics

By Paul D.
Posted 4/29/02




Background
I have found the larger soft plastic baits to be extremely effective on the river run stripers that are targeting herring/alewives. Their main downfall is durability. The bait tends to slide down the hook in the cast and is mangled by fish. The following method of rigging was explained to me by the owner of one of the shoreline tackle shops. The method results in a durable bait that is a pleasure to use and saves consider expense if you go through a lot of them.

Rigging
For the 9" Slug-Gos and 10" Fin-S-Fish, I like to use an 8/0 O'Shaughnessy hook (#254 I believe). Place the hook in a suitable vise and wrap about 3/4" of the upper shank with a course thread. I find rod wrapping thread works well. Tie it off with a couple of half hitches.

Now for the tricky part. Follow the instructions on the back of the lure package to thread lure onto the hook. Basically, stick the hook point through about 1/2" of the plastic near the nose exiting out the BOTTOM of the bait.

Now rotate the bait around the hook shank so it looks like the below photo.

Next, put a few drops of super glue on the thread that is wrapped around the shank of the hook. Quickly but carefully slide the bait up the shank and onto the thread until it seats up near the hook eye. Make absolutely sure to align the bait exactly perpendicular with the bend in the hook, and work quickly as the glue starts to work fast. Lay the hook and bait aside until the glue fully cures as it makes the last step much easier.

Lay the body of the bait along side the bend in the hook and find a position to thread the point through the back that will have the bait lay perfectly straight on the hook. I can't stress enough how important it is to have the bait rigged straight and true. It will swim a lot better at speed and won't tend to roll or twist.

I like to pre rig my baits with about 24" of 50-lb. mono. and a barrel swivel to make fish handling easier at boat side or when wading.

Fishing the Bait
I like to fish these lures when the stripers are actively chasing herring, as evident by the large boils and bait jumping from the water. I frequently blind cast shallow sand bars and any area where the channel comes close to shore.

Retrieve
Those who fish above Hartford recommend a dead drift retrieve. I have never fished above Middletown so I can only speak for the lower river. Down here, a ripping retrieve seems to produce the most aggressive strikes. Fish it like a hard plastic jerk or stick bait. Lift the rod tip about two feet then reel down, lift, reel down. You can vary the depth the bait works by how high off the water the rod tip is worked.

Colors
I like the natural colors, but people upriver swear by pink and bubble gum.

While these rigging methods work best on the larger baits, they will work equally well on the smaller sizes, although the cost and frustration level seem to be lower with the smaller baits. Try these baits this season. You won't be disappointed! The season is off to a slow but early start down here by the mouth of the river, with well over 100 fish released, most being fish under 30."

Article and photos courtesy of Paul D.