FF Striper/Drum rig

[Charkbait]

I've gotten more then a few requests from buddies and some other sites to post the terminal gear I've been using for stripers and drum. It's nothing different then most sites will show but I figured I would put it here so I don't have to send so many emails.

I have a 20# ande running line that is albrighted to an 80# shock leader on my conventionals and 50# on my spinners.

Here is a link for the albright, I also cut the shock leader tag end pretty tight to the coil and at an angle so it looks like a ramp, hopefully to lessen the chance of getting caught on a guide on the way out...see avatar.
The Albright Knot

The shock leader is about 30' long, it gives me about a 5' drop and 6-7 coils around the spool, enough to cut and retie a few times before replacing the shock leader.

I then put on a bead, an 80# swivel and another bead. As you will see the swivel acts as my fish finder rig. The beads I believe are a must, the top one keeps the swivel from riding up over the shock knot, once it does it is not likely to go back over it back down to the hook. I handlined in a couple fish because of this and went back to the bead on top as well.

I only use a clinch knot to connect the shocker to the 100+# swivel that is next in line. I don't know why I use this knot other then I've been tying it since I was around 8. One thing I do that many probably don't is use a lighter to melt the tag end so that it is not likely to pull through, very much like a blob knot. You'll see I also tie the same knot on the other end of the swivel, blob included there as well.

Here is a link to the improved clinch, I do the same thing without threading the tag end through, I don't think it improves anything, especially with the blob on the end.
The Improved Clinch Knot

The hook is an 8/0 big eye circle gamakatsu and is snelled with an 80 lb flouro leader ranging from 3-6" for stripes and 1-3" for drum. I just tie them all around 3" and use them for both since I pre rig everything. I also blob the tag end of the snell to prevent it from pulling through.

Here is a link to a snell knot.
The Snell Knot

Once that is tied I use a split ring to connect my frog tongue sinker to my swivel that I tied as a fish finder.

Here is the way I steak out my bunker, if they are small I leave the jaw on. The generally have to be pretty big for me to cut the jaw or distance has to be paramount. If you have a rod not rated to throw up to 10oz cutting the jaw will help to not kill your gear too.
How to Cut / Prep Menhaden / Bunker and Bait your Hook | Red Drum, Striper, Rockfish, Shark Bait | Hatteras Outfitters
I think one key to getting a better hookup on your heads is to find the nasal passage on the bunker and try to make sure your hook comes out a nostril, it seems to pull out of the bait much easier that way other then out the top of the head as pictured.

There you have it, hope the pics make sense. There are better knots out there, not many that are easier to tie then these and with the blob they hold pretty damn good.

As far as why I rig it like this, there is an element of personal preference but I mostly like to cast FAR and this helps, I'm not ready to go to a cannonball rig just yet though. At a 3" leader with a big head I still get some helicoptering but not with a chunk. And yes I just went in the garage and cut this off a rod I fished this weekend, thus the rusty hook and tattered gear.

[Meat]

nice rig ben, where could i find them sinkers or a mold for them they look pretty sweet!

[trowpa]

Very interesting Ben - thanks for sharing. See what happens when you start catching fish?

What was that commercial in the 90's? "Must be the shoes"

[ocsnapper]

Originally Posted by Meat

nice rig benben, where could i find them sinkers or a mold for them they look pretty sweet!

The sinkers ( I call them frog tongues) can be found in most tackle shops I know that Bev at Harbor Tackle carries them from 4oz up to 12oz, as for molds I've not seen them anywhere.

[mdram]

the only place ive seen the frog tongue mold is online

http://www.shawncollinscustoms.com/sinkers2.htm#FrogTongueSinker

[Meat]

thanks bud.

[Sam]

Good stuff, Ben! I've been wanting to do that for quite some time now. Thanks!

[esoxangler]

Nice Ben. I think I might try throwing a cannonball rig on one of my rods this weekend and see how it goes.