'tooth tangler' drift rig tutorial
Howdy!
This is what a 'tooth tangler' drift rig looks like:
There are alot of different ways to tie up drift rigs. This is one that I came up with to make it easy for inexperienced anglers to feel a bite while drift fishing. For experienced anglers, this method will help you get the fish that 'back up' with your bait and spit it before you ever felt them. This will also help when you get caught 'asleep at the wheel'.
First, determine the size of corkie and hook you want to use. If the corkie or similar bobber fits in the bend of the hook, then that is a good size to start with. Here is an example:
My favorite corkie is one size bigger than the smallest on a #2 hook. My second favorite is the smallest size on a #4 hook. When the water is high or off color, I will use a bigger hook and corky. I will also use really big corkies and big hooks when fishing big, whole sandshrimp or medium sized hooks on a double hook rig. I will show that rig on another tutorial.
Next, determine if you want to use one or two corkies. I like the added bouyancy and color contrast of two corkies. Plenty of people use single corkies,though,and do just fine. The other reason I like double corkies is that you get added bouyancy without having to go to a bigger hook!
Now, you need to pick the color of your corkies. The color possibilites seem endless, but my favorites are combos of pinks, oranges and white. A 'pink pearl' corkie is hard to beat! Sometimes white or black are necessary when using bait on picky fish, so that they will ignore the corkies and only key in on the bait. Use flourescent colors in highwater or low light conditions. They stay visible in deep water, as well. White corkies offer the best contrast and are usually 'glow in the dark'. You can even hit them with a flash for more effect.
The next thing is to choose you 'tooth tangler' material. You can use yarn or nylon mesh netting. I like the netting because it is less bulky and catches teeth more than yarn. You can get orange, pink or red in two sizes at many tackle shops. Make sure you get the smaller size. It is sold as 'spawn bag material'. If you go to the craft store, you will find alot of colors. That is where I go to get white netting.
Now for the rig. Thread your corkies on the leader and slide them down to the hook. Next, pull off a length of the netting and tie it on your line with a simple overhand knot. Do not cut the netting off of the roll! It will look like this:
Now pinch the netting at the knot and slide your finger up both sides while keeping them pinched. Make sure the knot is centered and and positioned evenly on the line. Cut the netting while continuing to pinch it tightly and it will make a clean, even lengthed cut. The length of the netting should be just short of the hook point. ......too long and it will constantly foul. To straighten out the netting and make it perpindicular to the line, pull it tight while twisting it. You'll find with a little tweaking it will get the shape you want. The finished rig looks like this:
The reason the material is above the corkies is so they won't float away from the bait. Also, when the teeth get tangled in it, THE BAIT IS IN THEIR MOUTH! that means the HOOK IS IN THEIR MOUTH!This is a good thing. Feel the fish wiggling, trying to free the netting (that is your 'bite') and whip that hook set! If the rig can't seem to get the bottom where it has before or if it kinda 'stops' where you shouldn't be hung up, reel down toward the bait and feel for a fish or anything 'unusual'.... whip that hook set! Run backwards if you have to. What ever it takes to keep the line tight immediately after the set!
I use these with and without bait. Note the knot is way back on the hook shank in the sample pic. I do that to accomodate sand shrimp and prawn meat. This keeps the line from 'cutting it off' when pulled tight. I slide it up towards the eye when using eggs, otherwise they fall off easier or hang off the back, away from the rig and expose the hook.
I hope this helps! Here is another pic showing alot of color combos:
You can go here to see a tutorial on how to tie the leader spool in that picture:
http://www.northwestfishing.info/content.php?4
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any questions!
Ed
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks