Minnow rigs

[esh21167]

Hi all. New guy with a question on minnow rigs/leaders.

 

I've been making my own mono minnow rigs 2 ways:

 

With a treble hook tied on one end and loop on the other, then I use a needle and feed through the vent and out the mouth. Or,

With a loop on both ends, feeding through the mouth and out the vent, then attaching a 'split' double hook. That's a little cleaner. 

 

I'd like to get a wire rig of the same type. I tried Malin SS wire but when getting the loops small, it tends to kink. Also, the tag always creates a bit of a hangup when threading the minnow. And they actually seem to break more often during use than the mono ones. Probably the work hardening/stress of the small loops/kinking or perhaps a sharp end actually rubbing on my line.

 

I like the Al's Goldfish setup since it's twisted the whole length and seems it would easily feed through the minnow. There's also the 'Invisible Minnow Rig' that has a spring that's supposed to keep the minnow on the rig better. 

 

http://www.alsgoldfish.com/Minnow_Rigs_p/mr.htm

 

http://www.invisibleminnowrigs.com

 

 

Has anyone had success in making their own leaders/rigs of this style with the new 'knottable' SS/Ti wire? That's not cheap, so I don't know if I'd actually gain anything over just buying the AL's or Invisible rigs. Thanks.

[roadwarrior]

Perhaps unnecessary...I fish a split shot rig with a #4 or #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook.

To rig the minnow run the hook through the lower lip and up through the nose. The minnow

will stay alive and active. I would recommend using a thin, strong line such as Yo-Zuri Hybrid

#4 (8.5 lb breaking strength) or #6 (11.95 lb breaking strength).

 

 

[esh21167]

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Perhaps unnecessary...I fish a split shot rig with a #4 or #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook.

To rig the minnow run the hook through the lower lip and up through the nose. The minnow

will stay alive and active. I would recommend using a thin, strong line such as Yo-Zuri Hybrid

#4 (8.5 lb breaking strength) or #6 (11.95 lb breaking strength).

 

 

I have always done that until recently, and the minnow certainly stays alive longer, but it's not uncommon for the bass to attack and tear the minnow off the hook without getting hooked. Generally using 3-5" shiners. As I get older, I don't like just feeding fish as much, lol.

 

Since I've been using my homemade mono rigs, the 'strike to hook ratio' (just made that up) has definitely gone up. Maybe the whole wire idea is overthinking it, even for toothy fish like walleye. I don't ever recall losing a walleye because I didn't have a steel leader. A muskie once, but my gear wasn't up to it anyway. Medium light spinning w/8 lb. test.