Thoughts on Tokyo rig?

[J Francho]

2 hours ago, Comfortably Numb said:

On a side note JFranco, you a Diabetic? I have a Medtronic pump but use the Dexcom CGM.

Yes. I don't use any CGM, though.  It's too much a PITA, and I test 6-10 times a day anyway.

[Raul]

On 8/10/2018 at 9:20 PM, Texan89 said:

As the title says, what are y’alls thoughts on the new Tokyo rig they showed off at Icast? Personally I’m interested in how different if any the action is compared to just a plain Texas rig with a loose or pegged tungsten on it. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Tokyo_Rig_2pk/descpage-VMCTR.html. Here is the link if you haven’t seen them. 

My thoughts: that contraption is going to hang up in an eyeblink when you throw it where there are rocks.

[Stein Lambert]

I read about this idea and had to try it. I’m not a huge fan of drop shots I know they are supper effective just not that huge of a fan.

I made my own in the garage with tackle I already owned. I tryed it out today and was blown away with how effective this set up is. Hands down one of my new favorite rigs. I put it in my Fish tank to see the action and the bAit had great action. Stays about the ground. Cast great and no line tangle. All in all amazing. Try it out 

[A-Jay]

14 minutes ago, Stein Lambert said:

I read about this idea and had to try it. I’m not a huge fan of drop shots I know they are supper effective just not that huge of a fan.

I made my own in the garage with tackle I already owned. I tryed it out today and was blown away with how effective this set up is. Hands down one of my new favorite rigs. I put it in my Fish tank to see the action and the bAit had great action. Stays about the ground. Cast great and no line tangle. All in all amazing. Try it out 

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

Would not call that rig a drop shot replacement.

The hardware & the heavy hook make it something else.

So they were biting in your fish tank then ?

A-Jay

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

I think maybe "effective", might not have been the best wording for a bait that hasn't seen any action other than a fish tank. We sold a ton of baits when I worked at Cabela's that looked great in the little display tanks, but almost all of them were baits that caught fishermen and not many fish. Enticing, maybe, effective, yet to be seen. 

[TOXIC]

All these heavier weights attached directly to the hook eye seems to me would allow the fish to throw them easier.  At least with the dropshot there's a lot of slack in the line that will absorb (or intensify depending on how the line is positioned when the head shakes start) the shock and allow the hook to stay planted or not wallow out the penetration hole.  

[J Francho]

40 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

All these heavier weights attached directly to the hook eye seems to me would allow the fish to throw them easier.

On my home made rigs, I go up to an ounce and a half trolling pencil weight.  Since the weight is usually in their mouth, it isn't an issue.  I'd compare it to a heavy, flipping jig.  I think you're right about the rigs with the longer, rigid wire with a heavy weight, though. 

[Choporoz]

First I saw this, I immediately thought of the walleye bottom bouncer trolling rigs in my tackle closet.  I haven't trolled for bass, but I have to think they could be effective.  Anyone ever try them?

[J Francho]

Just now, Choporoz said:

Anyone ever try them?

Not for bass.  They work well for walleye.

[Choporoz]

Agreed.    I think I might just throw one in the boat.  May not be a fall season rig.  But, there are plenty of summer days when I find active bass at a certain depth (deeper than the weeds) throughout a lake.  Instead of casting worms, I may be able to troll this along, say, 12 foot contour lines. 

    Not sure why I always troll for walleye, but have never tried it for bass....sort of a mental thing

[J Francho]

Trolling for bass is a good technique on large waters.  We'd troll Lake Ontario with cranks, at depths where we found smallmouth previously.  If we caught three on a pass, it was anchor up time, and drop tubes.

[claya]

Seth Feider explained that it's good for flipping grass with silty bottoms. The bait follows the weight through the grass. Once it's on the bottom the weight is in the silt and the bait stays above it.

[J Francho]

That is exactly how a Jika rig works.

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, Choporoz said:

First I saw this, I immediately thought of the walleye bottom bouncer trolling rigs in my tackle closet.  I haven't trolled for bass, but I have to think they could be effective.  Anyone ever try them?

I caught my first bass of size on a Crawler harness rigged up with a gulp worm. I was casting and retieving it as I didnt know any better.  

 

 

[Sam]

I saw the video when Ike introduced this rig to us a few months ago.

 

So I went out and found some piano wire at a retired piano teacher's basement which was a disaster plus the fact I could not find the size Ike suggested. The piano wire was also too heavy and hard to bend.

 

So I found the wire at Jann's Netcraft and made a few of these rigs.

 

Threw them only once to see how they would perform so I had no bites or misses.

 

I may fish two tournaments this month and give them a try.

 

Will be interesting and so far, I am not sold on the rig until I throw it in combat! 

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, Sam said:

I may fish two tournaments this month and give them a try.

Why would you try anything you've never had success with in a tournament?

[Sam]

Just now, J Francho said:

Why would you try anything you've never had success with in a tournament?

Good question.

 

Fishing a lake and then a tidal river so when the bite slows down I think I may give it a try.

 

Not 100% sure when I will throw it but I plan to throw it.

 

After all, making them is not easy.

 

Will let you know what happens.

[J Francho]

It's a rig I will never bother with.  It doesn't solve any fishing problem, is not a new presentation, and only presents more complication to a rig I already use and works well for me. 

 

Buuuuut, try it, and let us know how you did.

[The Short Fisherman]

looks like a copy of a dropshot to me

[Gundog]

On a side note, if you take the wire end and attach a swivel and small willow leaf blade you could have a cheaper swimbait flash hook only without the weight on the hook. You might have to wrap the wire around the belly of the hook and bend it downward. As for the Tokyo rig itself, I can't be bothered with it. I already have more stuff than I need.

[Deleted account]

16 hours ago, J Francho said:

Why would you try anything you've never had success with in a tournament?

Because the prize money needs to come from somewhere....

Back when we were cashing FLW striper checks, I'd love to see guys the week before loading up on tackle they had no experience with.

[J Francho]

25 minutes ago, reason said:

Because the prize money needs to come from somewhere....

I've done my share of donating.

[J Francho]

We've always just used a drop shot for that, even before it was called a "drop shot."