RIGS
- handy tips & hints

See also Knots & Rigs.
See also Reader Questions & Answers.
See also fishvictoria.com Fish Files.

See the Competitions page to find out what you can win, simple by sending your tip or hint in!

<< BACK TO TIPS MAIN PAGE

Tips added to Fish File pages
Look for this "Readers Tips" logo on each Fish File page to see the tips sent in from readers for that particular fish. Send in your own tip and be in the running for some great monthly prizes!

Steve's best rig ever
From: Steve
I found that I catch more fish by simply broadening my target species. Some fish eat above the bottom and some like it drifting on the bottom. It is hard to know exactly what lies beneath the surface of the water when you are fishing off the banks and shoreline so I use a paternoster rig with a very buoyant float attached to the swivel at the top of the rig so that when the heavy sinker drops into the water the lower hook is for bottom dwellers and the top is for others. I found that if there are fish I would catch them this way. Sometimes I would catch flatties and other times I would catch salmon. Once I know what kind of fish are there I would alter my other rigs for the other rods! Enjoy my secret of success!!!!
(20 July 2004)

Florists wire helps hold bait on
From: Ann Litster
You can use floristry wire to hold your pilchards on to the hook and it comes in different colours which might be an attractive for the fish.
(20 July 2004)

Longer trace
From: Des Mckiernan
Remember when fishing in fast current the faster the current the longer your trace

Lighter is better
From: Jesse Dyke
Use the lightest sinker for the job, sometimes it can be only a little one.
(10 December 2002)

Adjustable floats from corks
From: Jack Nugent
Are you sick to death of using heaps of those expensive split shot sinkers just because you have to make your rig just the right weight for your float, then you can't even use your sinkers again? Wouldn&Mac226;t you love it if you could make the float just right for the rig you&Mac226;re using? If you have that problem then I&Mac226;ve thought of a cheap and easy way to fix it - it causes no line wear and it is also very easy to slip on and off. All you have to do is get a cork and cut it to the right length to support your rig then you cut a spiral in it about 4mm deep all the way around twice so the start and finish are about 2mm-3mm apart. After you have done that then you just slip your line in the spiral at the right length and start fishing. Try just before the pier at Mordialloc, start with a size 12 long shank hook with one pea sized split shot above it about 30cm, for bait use whitebait and use soaked bread and curry powder for berley. You might catch a garfish or 2, it works for me! Give it a go. Good luck tight lines.
(27 November 2002)

Snag-free solution
From: Chris McMennemin
You can make your bottom running lures and spoons more snag-free by cutting off the bottom portion of the treble hook. By doing this the other 2 parts of the treble hook will point upwards and should slide over rocks and sticks on the bottom.
(25 November 2002)

Great way to catch big flathead
From: David Taylor
This is a great way to catch big flathead. Firstly just place a sinker on the line (just heavY enough for the current) and then tie a suicide hook (any sort, but I catch more using suicide hooks) at the end of the line. Place a piece of pilchard (etc.) on the hook and allow the hook to sink to the bottom (straight down). The sinker should be able to touch the hook and run freely up and down the line. Then wind the line up about 10cm off the bottom. Then place the lightest float and tie it on at the water line. Then open the bail and let the bait float down the tide until a flathead grabs the bait and takes back to the bottom. Then close the bail and strike! If you use berley all the better (any sort as long as it has blood in it).I have caught flathead (5kg plus), snapper, gummies and many more with this method. If you put on a pippi or prawn, etc., I have caught whiting, mullet, salmon just to name a few.
(25 November 2002)

Always lubricate your knots
From: Wayne K
When tying knots to rig up, remember always to lubricate the knot with a little saliva or water then pull the knot tight. Make sure fishing line is free of kinks, burs & weak spots. This will ensure that the knot will not slip and unravel or break. "The one that got away", excuse will disappear and become part of folk lore if you take care of line and tie your knots correctly!
(21 November 2002)

Swivel and split ring preferred for lures
From: Mike
Despite Alex's comments below (which I respect!) I'd strongly recommend AGAINST using a snap-swivel to attach a lure to your line (read about my experiences here). The problem is that they can often pop open which results in either the loss of a lure, or fish, or both! Defintely use a swivel, but just a normal barrel-swivel. Tie it to the end of your line, then use a split-ring to attach the other end of the swivel to the eye-ring of the lure. This is a far more secure method. It may take 10 second longer to attach the lure, but it may just prevent you from losing the fish of a lifetime! Cheers!
(10 September 2002)

Use a snap swivel for your lure
From: Alex
Without questioning the pros of connecting lure to the line using a loop, I found that a snap swivel is far better and does the same job. It prevents line from twisting and makes it easy to change lures without re-tying a loop knot. The trick is to make sure the swivel is sized appropriately for the line breaking strain and lure size (small lure, thin line - small swivel). The swivel on the line does not deter fish from striking the lure and also there are different swivel colours available for any fishing condition. Good luck!
(6 September 2002)

Successful redfin jigging rig
From: Alex
Very simple and successful rig to catch redfin from a boat: get a small, coloured leadhead (pea size) with the swallest hook available from the tackle shop. Attach it to the end of the main line (2 kg breaking strain, 3 kg if targeting bigger fish) and bait it with the bunch of worms. Anchor the boat next to the partly submerged tree, lower the baited jig to the bottom and jig it slowly. Make sure you do not make long moves with rod tip, i.e. no longer than 10cm. It works similarly to flathead soft plastic rigs, but baited with worms. Another way to fish an open areas of lakes is to drift slowly and occasionally lift a rod tip. If there is a redfin nearby it will almost always hit the jig. This way you can cover larger area. Good luck!
(29 August 2002)

Make a loop for your lure
From: Luke
When putting a lure on your line make a loop then put the line through it a tie it tight, the lure on it will never break off, it is sure to keep your lure on.
(20 August 2002)

Calamari rig
From: Mappo
When fishing for calamari from a boat I have found that I have better success if I rig the prawn jig on a Paternoster rig with a bit of split shot, which helps to sink the jig quicker. Each time I cast out I dip the jig in tuna oil, I find that this leaves a trail and any calamari close by will come out of hiding. I have found this to be a much better method than casting without the tuna oil on the jig.
(15 August 2002)

Flathead rig without swivels
From: The Champ
When you are fishing for flathead take your main line and make a small loop above the sinker and then twist that loop and put it through the loop that has occured, this will make like a small circle, do another one further up and then simply tie you leaders with hooks on, and remember not to make the leader MORE THAN 10cm. This is a great method, it saves you swivels and the line WON'T TWIST. You will get the fish every time and never get "The Plougue", you can also catch other bottom fish on it. It's a great technicue and I swear by it.
(11 July 2002)

Someone's loss can be your gain
From: Steven
If you are ever surf fishing and there isn't much on the bite, have a look at your surroundings to see whether there is any sea weed/kelp on the beach. If so check it out, you're likely to find a rig or two.
(3 July 2002)

Wooden float best for garfish
From: Alan McFayden
I have found an ordinary wooden float turned out on a lathe is best for gars. This just floats on the water and hangs with the tide and when a gar takes the bait the float will automatically point in the direction the fish is swimming and take the guess work of in which direction to strike. It can be made as heavy as you like for casting and painted any colour. I also use a long shank size 6 hook as this stops the gars "spitting" it out as they do with the smaller hooks. The above tips will really work for you. Just remember to keep your hooks very sharp.
(2 July 2002)

Rig idea for rock fishing
From: Michael Ketelaar
Use running bobby corks to suspend your bait when rock fishing. A float stopper placed 8 feet above the hook enables you to cast easily and still run the bait above the snags.
(22 April 2002)

Adjustable depth is a must for tommy rough
From: John Raimondo
When fishing for tommy rough, ensure that you have a float that is able to be adjusted while fishing as the depth of the rig can really vary your catch potential. I have caught tommy rough in water under 1 metre deep and water up to 6 and 7 metres. Also, when fishing at night try to use luminescent bars attached to your float. This will give better sight (obviously). I have found that maggots are the prime bait for tommy rough.
(11 February 2002)
See also: Peter Jolly's Adustable Depth Rig here.

Jig rig under a float
From: Bob Givens
Fish a jig 1/8th or 1/4 oz pearl pink head with peach color chenial body, peach color tail cut to length of a 1/0 or 2/0 hook. (Tip: use a piece of tiger tail prawn at the end of the hook) You will catch fish with this rig fished under a float.
(18 January 2002)

Handy rig for sensitive fish like bream
From: Mit
Here is a handy rig for fishing for sensitive biting fish like bream. Tie a split ring to the end of the main line. Next tie a hook on a 40cm trace and then attach the trace to the split ring. Tie a snap swivel to a 10 cm piece of nylon and then attach a bomb sinker to the other end. Snap the swivel to the main line above the split ring. This allows the line to flow straight through the snap swivel and transmit any little bite to the tip of a sensitive rod.

Tom's redfin rig
From: Tom
One of my favourite rigs for redfin angling is using a paternoster rig with 2 dropper loops off the bottom. I put a gudgeon and worm in the top hook and a worm on the bottom hook. I put the worm on the bottom because all fish will eat worms but not all will eat gudgeon.

A killer rig for flathead
From: Peter Jolly
When fishing for flathead on the drift, try using a Mr Twister style lure on the bottom of the rig, this acts as a sinker and a lure. Also use a twisted dropper about 30-50 cms above the lure with a hard wearing bait. You will find that the bigger fish go for the lure and they will also go for the higher bait whereas most smaller fish stay away. This is a killer rig for flatty!
Further to the above rig:
Thread a small treble on the hook turn and have one barb into the tail of the lure. Put a rubber line stopper over the barb and slide it down to stop the treble from
riding up the turn of the hook. This will catch any of those fish just having a nibble on the tail. Also when a bite is felt but it does not hook up let out the line by opening the bail for a second or two and then closing it again. BANG, you've got fish!

Tread lightly around bream
From: Mark Bolger
When bream fishing, try to avoid using heavy sinkers. Bream are a very timid fish, and will scare away qucikly if people make to much noise. Avoid banging on rocks, as this causes vibration in the water, and avoid heavy sinkers as nothing scares a nice big bream off quicker than a big splash!
      When baitfishing for Bream, use only a small split shot, say a 'size one'. Put it about 60cms above your hook. This way, when the bream takes the bait, it will feel no weight, and run freely. If a bream feels any weight, it will usually drop the bait straight away. I reccommend a size 4 hook for bream. Best baits are live shrimp and frozen prawns.

Redfin Rig Tip
From: Tom
If you are fishing for redfin use a paternoster rig with a float on the top.
I get my best results using the rig with 2 hooks and gudgeon as bait.

Spare Rigs at the Ready
From: Peter
One of the problems fishing light in reefy areas is that you can loose several rigs in a session. It is easy enough to tie spare rigs but my problem was to keep them so they would not rust or tangle and could be tied on speedily in the dark. I now put each rig in a separate snap lock plastic bag and put those bags in a larger one. The number of empty bags indicates the number of rigs that need to be tied before the next trip.


<< BACK TO TIPS MAIN PAGE