Swimbait rigging Help

[SaminVa]

Hi there, new to the forum, went out to Briery Creek in Farmville Va yesterday.. 38* water, nothing biting the jigs, silver buddies or crank baits... decided to tie a Large money minnow with the money minnow(to see how it works) weighted hook... darn thing kept spinning & helicoptering... any tips on how to make these things swim straight? Thanks, Sam

[BigBassin144]

The only thing I can think of is you didn't have them rigged perfectly straight. You really got to watch that.

Also, if you were swimming them too fast they may barrel roll.

I haven't fished these a lot, so someone with more knowledge on them may be able to help you more.

BB

[bamabassman]

welocme ot the bes tsite on the web buddy. as for help with a swim bait.........sorry, i can't as i haven't got a lot of experience with them. but i will read this so i can learn as well.

[SaminVa]

Have been using the storm wild eye's in the crappie & golden shiner versions with great success & figured I try that money minnow & freaked when it started spinning.

[bcklash]

Hey Saminva, we fish Briery creek 3or4 times a year. But we had better luck at Sandy River last year.

OH and Welcome to the nut house.

[boloson]

i've never had a problem with these rolling over & i use a weighted hook with the cork screw coil to dig into the head of the bait. what type of knot are u using to the hook? a snap/ swivel to the eye of the hook will most likely solve the barrel rolls. my guess is the weight on the hook is sticking out of the belly more then usual. try to cover the weight into the belly of the bait more. and make sure the hook is on straight when it comes out of the back of the bait. hope that helps.

[keithdog]

I started using that style swimbait last spring. I tried several brands and one thing I can definately tell you, the rigging has to be perfectly straight. If the hook is off to one side even slightly, it won't run right. Also how far you have the hook impaled into the bait makes a difference in how it swims in the water. It took me a while, but once I got the rigging down I started really nailing bass on them when the water was cold. Once it hit 55 degrees or so, it started slowing down. I can't tell you why, but thats what happened to me. Just hang in there with different sizes and styles of weights. After some experimentation, you'll get it down pal. And it'll be worth the trouble.

[SaminVa]

I have the patience to fish them all day long... just gotta get it rigged correctly I guess. Thanks for your tips.
Big baits catch big bass....

[Rebbasser]

Sam, if you are using weighted shanked hooks-the kind with the lead molded to the shank-don't try to rig then in the traditional T-rig method. Instead, start with the eye of the hook and work it "backwards"-push the eye of the hook into the head starting at the bottom of the bait and work it to the nose.

If you try to rig it ion the traditional T-rig it will tear up the plastic and make the bait off balance.

If you need pictures of the rigging that is not a problem.

Welcome to the forum, BTW!

[SaminVa]

Hey Rebbasser, I think I understand. But if you have a chance to put up a pix that'll work...I now have all kinds of hooks.. screw type with weight & regular w/ weight.. I'm tying a palomar knot... will try to get it rigged exactly straight & give it another try...
BTW we just got 2" of snow today... supposed to be in the 50*s this weekend though!!!

[Rebbasser]

Sam, I'll try to get some pics in the next day or so. a picture paints a thousand words, so....