Right And Wrong Way To Rig A Brush Hog

[airborne_angler]

Was watching a vid last night and the guy mentioned there's a right and wrong way to rig a brush hog. Not sure if its true,but the explanation made sense.

Try this...take a Brush Hog,and let it hang off the edge of your hand,(the edge you would do a karate chop with) or even form your pointy finger and thumblike a gun and let the bait hang down between the 2.

Now take the Brush hog and drag it slowly over the "edge" of your hand and watch what the "pincher like" appendages do. Then take the bait and flip it on its other side and try again.

Theory is that if its rigged correctly,those "pinchers" should spread open as its coming over cover like rocks and logs.

If its rigged the other way,the pinchers will close when dragged over cover.

Not saying it REALLY matters,but there's a visible difference in how those pinchers act when rigged differently. May help trigger some strikes.

*EDIT* Now that I think of it,this theory may not be correct. In the video demonstration,the guy was dragging the Brush Hog unrigged,no hook or anything. If the bait was rigged correctly,I would think the hook might keep those pinchers from contacting the structure,and the hook is going to cause the bait to ride tilted to one side or the other...

[eyedabassman]

Was watching a vid last night and the guy mentioned there's a right and wrong way to rig a brush hog. Not sure if its true,but the explanation made sense.

Try this...take a Brush Hog,and let it hang off the edge of your hand,(the edge you would do a karate chop with) or even form your pointy finger and thumblike a gun and let the bait hang down between the 2.

Now take the Brush hog and drag it slowly over the "edge" of your hand and watch what the "pincher like" appendages do. Then take the bait and flip it on its other side and try again.

Theory is that if its rigged correctly,those "pinchers" should spread open as its coming over cover like rocks and logs.

If its rigged the other way,the pinchers will close when dragged over cover.

Not saying it REALLY matters,but there's a visible difference in how those pinchers act when rigged differently. May help trigger some strikes.

*EDIT* Now that I think of it,this theory may not be correct. In the video demonstration,the guy was dragging the Brush Hog unrigged,no hook or anything. If the bait was rigged correctly,I would think the hook might keep those pinchers from contacting the structure,and the hook is going to cause the bait to ride tilted to one side or the other...

I am not sure if it works that way with a hook or not. I am sure, that I catch ALOT of bass on a brush hog and the baby also. Maybe if you have fish tank you could see if that is true or not. I don't worry too much about them things. I think it has to do more with the speed of the bait,color,and motion of the

bait.And where you are putting the bait. JMHO.

[Marty]

I can't say why, but I wouldn't put a lot of stock in that.

[Jonas Staggs]

Are you supposed to tear the little triangle arms loose so they can wiggle or leave as is? I been tearing mine.

[roadwarrior]

Break them apart, but be careful not to tear them off.

[OnthePotomac]

Wow, I never put that much thought in rigging a baby and regular brush hog.  I Texas rig it with a Gammie EWG, put on a 3/16th bullet sinker and let it fly.  What ever i am doing works fine.

[Choporoz]

On 11/25/2020 at 2:09 PM, roadwarrior said:

Break them apart, but be careful not to tear them off.

I just tear them off, tear off the head, toss it in bottom of the yak and put a lizard or Rage Bug on. 

 

Aside from a couple dinks, brush hogs of any size have never served me too well

[Team9nine]

Same with things like Yammi Hula Grubs. I would never say right or wrong, because I’m fairly confident bass could care less, but I always start my rigs aligned for the best flare, then rotate if or as necessary.

 

As for the little wings on BHs, I never touch them unless it is to completely remove them when used as a trailer. Again, a more personal preference quirk that the fish could probably care less about. 

[Sam]

5 hours ago, Choporoz said:

I just tear them off, tear off the head, toss it in bottom of the yak and put a lizard or Rage Bug on. 

 

Aside from a couple dinks, brush hogs of any size have never served me too well

I caught a 4.4 pounder on the Historic James River on a baby brush hog.

[Bluebasser86]

I leave the arms alone. Baby brush hogs and full sized hogs are big time confidence baits for me.

[NorthernBasser]

7 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I leave the arms alone. Baby brush hogs and full sized hogs are big time confidence baits for me.

Have you tried the new mid-size? Not sure I'll ever fish the larger ones again. 

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, NorthernBasser said:

Have you tried the new mid-size? Not sure I'll ever fish the larger ones again. 

I have 2 packs I've fished a bit this summer. I think I caught 1 fish. They'd be more likely to replace the baby than the full size for me. The full size hog is considerably bigger than the mid size.

[NorthernBasser]

2 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I have 2 packs I've fished a bit this summer. I think I caught 1 fish. They'd be more likely to replace the baby than the full size for me. The full size hog is considerably bigger than the mid size.

Yeah, I fish all 3. I'm sure I'll still fish the full size one since it's been a staple for so long. But I really like the medium size. The baby will always have a place for me, especially for smallies on a shaky head.