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| Ok, I have to say the rubber band method really sucks. It is a pain and with the time it takes the suckers dont' live very long. Then the rubber bands always break when i'm rigging them. Is there an easier way to rig suckers that works (and doesn't kill the muskie) |
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| Zach,
The best two rigs that I've used so far are the Joe Bucher and Wolverine Big Bites. I especially like the Big Bites as you can adjust the length between the treble hooks.
Another one that has me curious is the Smity one, but I have to wait till next year.[:((]
Rob |
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| Zach, I make my own rubber band rigs and have no problems rigging my suckers or keeping them alive. It could just be your suckers.You may want to get one of those sucker harnesses if you are having trouble. I boated a musky on one of my rigs this weekend, no troubles. |
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| I was just turned on to using bread twist ties instead of the bands, and these seem to work very well. No fighting with the rubbber band to get it attached with the right amoun of tention. Just thread the bread tie through the split ring of the rig, give 2-3 light twists snip the excess off, and your ready to go. I can now rig a sucker up in about a minute using this method. |
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| Zach-
What specifically sucks about the rubber band rig? Maybe if you describe the problem, we can help you solve it.
It's probably just a matter of practice. Don't give up on it. The rubber band method is far superior to other types of rigging.
Mike Deiss
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| I hate that they take too long. It is hard to get it threaded through while the sucker is fighting and it will fall out and the rubber bands often break when i'm rigging them. They I have to get the rubber band through the snap while the sucker is still moving around and when it get in the water it sure doesn't last too long even though they are perfectly find to begin with. I tried a little crappie jig attached to the lip instead of the rubber band and that fish didn't die. |
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| Figuree,
Are you running the wire through the nostrils using this rig? Do you use a heavier piece of wire to pull the bread tie through the nostrils? |
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| Zach, before putting the rubber band through the nostriles take your hand and gentaly put in over the suckers eyes, this will calm them down. The piece of wire you get with the rigs is junk. Go to the hardware store and buy a heavier wire and mount it too a wood dowl. This will save you time and patience.
Jim |
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| We just started using a completely new method of rigging last week thanks to Cal Johnson from Skyview lodge in Presque Isle.Making a small peircing with a knife blade ,scissors,or one tip of a long nose pliers in the suckers lip area we then attach a 4/0 eagle claw laser hook in the dorsal fin area . the hook is attached to 90# seven strand with barrel swivel whic is run back through the lip opening to a snap on your line. Extremely easy to hook up and NO fish lost yet. All the pull goes directly to the hook. It really seems to make them stay livelier and is hard to see when the sucker is dropped in the water. We have just ben using a single hook model but it could be easily adapted to double trebles.Cal came up with this unique method and has used flurocarbon on the same rig with excellent results and no biteoffs.If you try it let me know your experience. |
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| That's an interesting idea. Maybe a paper punch would work well. I'll have to give it a shot.
The rubber band rig works very well in my experience and becomes easy to execute with experience. Now that they are available as a kit, it's easy for everyone to learn. I've had rigged suckers stay alive for more than a week in good shape. |
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| What the rigging Ive decscibed eliminates is having to break anything loose except the hooks you want. Its more direct and simple.Rubber band rigs are good give his way a try and letme know what you think. |
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| Rollie and helen's have excellent bait needles. They come in a two pack and are very cheap too. |
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| Ok, I was pondering this today and may have a good idea. You can take a crappie jig with a split ring and put that through the sucker's lip. Then use the rubberband to the jig. It woudl be the same thing without threading the band through the nostrils, which takes too much time. Anyone ever try this? |
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| Schuler, then you lose the jig. Not a good idea that way. Rig it with the jig and split ring but run your leader through the split ring, that might work good that way. Direct connect to your treble hook. |
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| 7 Islands,
I am curious when you hook the fish are most of the lips ripped where the hole was or does it stay intact? Does this area absorb much of the shock from the hookset..i.e. are you moving the hooks on the set or the sucker? |
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| Yes, run the bread tie right through just like a band and twist like a bread bag. You will get much better hook sets every time too guarunteed. Just try it!!!! Lots easier to rig in the cold, and you can eliminate the snap which is just one more weak link. |
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| Fish On : The lip of the sucker is not ripped at all when the hook setting. The leader is slidinging smoothly though the hole. All the force is applied directly to the hook which we have been hooking lightly near the forward area of the dorsal fin. Two more muskies taken on the rig yesterday- still 100%- |
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| I don't have a problem with losing a $.20 jig. Its not as bad as losing a $10 soft plastic lure after 1 fish. I will try that and see how it does. |
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| Thanks 7 Islands,
Sounds like the way to go for me and will give it a try next year. Thanks for the tip! |
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| Fish on:
Clarification- We are using a 5/0 eagle clawlaser. Took a very fat 46'' fish last night 5:10 pm on the rig off the bottom at 35' Hook was completely through the Muskies jaw. Still batting 100% with it. |
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| 7 Islands,
One more question on your rigging...do the suckers tear away from the hook (and you lose the sucker) when, for instance, your reeling them in and putting them in the boat to move or if you have to pull them out of thick weeds? How deep do you hook them? |
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| Havnt had a problem with any of the suckers tearing off and we dont hook the sucker very deeply at all. This includes reeling them up from 35' to 40',lifting them out of the water and placing in live well ,etc when changing locations. I havnt used the setup near weeds or rigged off a bobber a I am freelining in deep water. As with other sucker rigs I scrape off a few scales at the spot im placing the hook or hooks and just go under and back out the skin- not into the meat.Hope this answers your question. |
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sucker rigging