The Tokyo Rig!

[Glenn]

Ever fish the Tokyo rig?  Here are 4 ways to fish it (yes, there's more than 1 way!).  Have you tried these? What are your tips?

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Never tried one, I could see where they'd have their uses though.

 

[geo g]

I have fished with guys that use the Tokyo rig, but my traditional techniques, like split shot trick worms, and wacky rigs, were just as good those days, and easier for me to rig!

[TcRoc]

Been making my own for a few years but just don’t fish them much anymore.  

[MickD]

Tokyo rig works great with Keitech 3.8 fat  and KVD Perfect Plastics 5 in swimbaits for SMB, LMB, pike, and walleyes.  They go through weeds well and just don't get snagged on rocky bottoms.  

Just now, MickD said:

Tokyo rig works great with Keitech 3.8 fat  and KVD Perfect Plastics 5 in swimbaits for SMB, LMB, pike, and walleyes.  They go through weeds well and just don't get snagged on rocky bottoms.  

They are a little pricey, but easy to make by buying the wires and coupling them with a bullet weight, a snap, and the hook of your choice.  Much cheaper and work just as well.

[@reelChris]

27 minutes ago, MickD said:

Tokyo rig works great...They are a little pricey, but easy to make by buying the wires and coupling them with a bullet weight, a snap, and the hook of your choice.  

What kind of wire do you use?  

[gunsinger]

I just bought a couple VNC brand rigs.  I’ll see how they perform on my lake and, if I like the way they work, I’ll start buying the material to make them myself myself.

[TcRoc]

34 minutes ago, @reelChris said:

What kind of wire do you use?  

Just cut to length you want

[MickD]

10 hours ago, @reelChris said:

What kind of wire do you use?  

There are wires available in multiple packs from Lure Parts Online and Cabelas that work fine.  About 3-3.5 inches long, about .030 diamter, I think.  I didn't have to cut mine.  But they look just like the ones shown in the photo above.

[TcRoc]

10 minutes ago, MickD said:

There are wires available in multiple packs from Lure Parts Online and Cabelas that work fine.  About 3-3.5 inches long, about .030 diamter, I think.  I didn't have to cut mine.  But they look just like the ones shown in the photo above.

I believe that is the diameter of what I pictured. I prefer them longer as being able to cut if you want or you can ride them off the bottom  higher especially on silty bottoms

[Black Hawk Basser]

I've done well this summer with Tokyo rigs, fishing them nearly vertically around docks.  I've had better results than I usually have with a Texas rig.

[the reel ess]

It looks like a killer way to target bedding bass. I made my own using a big paperclip for the weight.

[gunsinger]

37 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

It looks like a killer way to target bedding bass. I made my own using a big paperclip for the weight.

I read where it's not recommended to use a paper clip for two reasons.  One, they rust and, two, many of them contain zinc, which is harmful to the fish/environment.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, gunsinger said:

two, many of them contain zinc, which is harmful to the fish/environment.

And the lead that most people still use for weights isn't?

[gunsinger]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

And the lead that most people still use for weights isn't?

Touche.  I didn't mean to come off as accusatory.  Was just passing along what I'd read.

[the reel ess]

9 minutes ago, gunsinger said:

I read where it's not recommended to use a paper clip for two reasons.  One, they rust and, two, many of them contain zinc, which is harmful to the fish/environment.

I have never used it so I haven't done any damage with it. We throw a bunch of stuff in the water that rusts. Lead oxidizes. 

[kingmotorboat]

I use multiple sizes. My favorite being the 2/0 with a trd finesse worm. And they usually eat it deeeeeep

[gunsinger]

I fished the Tokyo rig (3/0) today. Caught 7 on it. Zero missed fish.  All the hook sets were in the roof of the mouth. The bite was very slow today for all who were on the lake.  But, I’m liking the setup.  The bite was similar to a t-rig. The Tokyo was very weedless though I did manage to lose one rig on a 25 stump that refused to let go. 

[QED]

Do you get much different results vs a short, pencil weight drop-shot rig?  Seems the only difference is the wire at the distal end (vs regular line in the drop shot case).

[CalvinMax]

Been fishing it a lot the last couple weeks, so far so good, it’s everything a drop shot is, minus a little finesse but only just. Far easier to rig, cast and work, but far far more versatile. 

[CalvinMax]

1 hour ago, QED said:

Do you get much different results vs a short, pencil weight drop-shot rig?  Seems the only difference is the wire at the distal end (vs regular line in the drop shot case).

I wouldn’t say the results vary drastically, what I would say is there’s more baits you can put on it than if it were a drop shot with one of those typical hooks. It’s basically a drop shot Texas rig hybrid… that you can throw swim baits on too.