Modifying Slick Rigs

[aaron_gilmour]

Hi All,

I am after some tips for modifying Slick Rigs. I have been using gamagatsu siswash salt water fly hooks as stingers but am more after tips on how to attach a St-66 treble to the lure.

I know this post could be put into tackle directory but i thought there would be a better response from the freshwater guys who have modded their baits for the impoundment barra.

My plans was to use a single strand wire and attach via the hook eye down though the body and attach on the bottom of the bait .

Has any one added the trebles directly to the single hook?

Any info and pics would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Aaron

[1337]

Hey Aaron,

Saw a write-up in a QFM article whereby the slick rig was cut mid-way through the plastic so that the shaft of the hook is exposed - a treble was then attached (would recommend the super strong halco ones) and a large treble was attached. It looked to sit nicely and more split rings can be added if you want more movement to the treble. It looks like a strong link as the only way the treble can slip off is over the hook itself or if the split ring gives way - will be attaching a treble to slick rigs this way myself.

[McCod]

Got a few ideas for ya along with a few photos.
I use heavy braid or twist & melt wire atached to #4 or#2 Owner 4X strongs run up through the belly of the swimbaits then attached to tow eye via crimp, twist weld or knot etc. Or you can run a scew eyelet into the nose of the Jig Head. Frog hooks or doubles can work OK as stingers....... tie and glue a small beak hook on to the double so it can be attached on top or under the swimbait then attach to main hook with some heavy braid or Dacron. The Gamakatsu G- stinger works great as a stinger rigged high on the main hook also.
One thing i must add is all of the modifications done to these rubbers will most likley reduce the amount of strikes in a lot of cases.But if there on the prod then the hook up rate will offset that anyway .

Cheers Les

[TeamThumper]

Bump.
Hi all first post, after converting from a lurker.

McCod, thanks very much for that post, informative and helpful.

I've been dabbling with modifying slickrigs in prep for a upcoming trip.

I've:
-Attached a treble thru the body of the rig to the eyelt, using that knottable wire.
-I've done the same with mono and a crimp.
-I've been shaving some of the lead off jugheads in a effort to slow sinkrate, and try and get a gentle waft type sink.

However, I've been struggling with attaching a stinger hook. That Gamakatstu G-Stinger one looks the goods McCod, have you tested it out ? Is the hook strong enough or does it bend under a big barra ? Also I haven't seen the G-stingers up close, how have you attached it to the hook (looks like some little plastic crimp?)

thanks.

[the_matrix]

If Barra are short striking plastics, they are telling you something.
I agree with Les, often less strikes are forthcoming, and hooks foul.
There is a FAR better answer to the problem..................the answer is pretty easy when you think about it.
Cheers
Jas

[aaron_gilmour]

Thanks les for you pics and info

Sorry should of come up and said hello at Faust on the barra tour. I decided not to rig the slicks with stingers after some discussion and considersation.

Jas makes a very good point about modifying.

Cheers

Aaron

[Bad_Bazza]

Jas,
Thanks for posting that comment "There is a FAR better answer to the problem..................the answer is pretty easy when you think about it."
I had a week at Awoonga from the 29/10 to 4/11 and during the first day started out with plastics and experienced a few short strikes and thought about your above comment and switched to a hard body.
As the say the rest is history!
From there on in things pretty much turned around for me and the weeks results read like this, 45 hits, 36 hookups and 20 fish boated & released. There were only two over the metre mark and most of the others were in the mid 80's range a lot of fun.
I only managed to boat one fish on plastics for the trip.
My fish came from pretty much over the whole dam but there were a couple of "honey holes" away from the crowd that kept producing for me.

Bad_Bazza

[the_matrix]

BB,
Simple fix eh? Bugger adding hooks to plastics I reckon. Ive been down that road, and as you found out the answer to the problem is staring you in the face!
Barra have many moods with varying strike methods, sometimes you just need to sit and think about it logically.
Short striked???? A Barra that is not "lit up" needs something in its face a little longer, and with more hooks.
Other times, the faster the better with a slick rig.
Thats Barra.
Well done on your week mate, sounds like you had a blast!
Cheers
Jas

[Big_Ren]

"There is a FAR better answer to the problem..................the answer is pretty easy when you think about it."
I had a week at Awoonga from the 29/10 to 4/11 and during the first day started out with plastics and experienced a few short strikes and thought about your above comment and switched to a hard body.


Bad Bazza

We encountered similar short striking issues on our recent sabbatical to Awoonga. We were fishing hard with plasics, and for a few nights, we were plagued by short strikes, taps, mis-hits, and timid bumps:-[ Dead set, we thought they were catties until we decided to change tack. Just couldn't get a solid hook-set.

Two of us (Vin and myself) stayed with the rubbers, while Navi swapped over to an X Rap.

I call it the Milo moment...marvellous what a difference it made....second cast...whack Navi was on...a little bit more hang time in the water column and that extra dangly last treble...enough to secure an 80+ barra, determine the real "culprit" and restore some much-needed confidence....the barra confirmation allowed Vin and I to stick with the slick rigs, but modify our technique....we both scored another 80-odd and a 74, and eventually a 110. Well worth the late night stake out.

Cheers
Paul

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[artesian]

well blow me down, I've learned 3 things from this post and my last trip to Lake M.

For me the most important is that suspending lures don't work as well on exploratory casts into timbered gullies (monduran) as floaters but work better along weed beds. This is because I can back floaters out of snags, but as a mug I can't get the suspenders out and have to drive my boat in to the hot spot
Alternatively I have completely missed the point on where these Awoongafishers were plying their trade

[the_matrix]

Artesian,
It has nothing to do with the environment you are fishing mate, weedbeds or timber. Short striking is a common problem.
Yep agree that when the subsurface make up is unknown, then a floater will save you a few lures. But it may also cost you fish if you need to keep the lure in their space.

Barra's moods and differing methods of striking, and how to combat such problems is a subject we could talk forever on.
Cheers
Jas

[Awoonga]

Short strikes happen with all lures....The reason a stinger hook is attached is to increase the odds in getting the fish to the boat.......With Slick rigs...... l seem to have more hookups on them than any other lure...But there is a downside...only one contact one point with the fish so a lot of fish are lost after the hookup....

[the_matrix]

Short strikes happen with all lures....
You have missed the point Awoonga................its the retrieve that is the problem, not the lure.
If you constant wind a hb of course you can have short striking problems. That can be addressed with a HB.

The point is, you cant suspend/pause slick rigs, thats why there is a better option when fish are short striking them............for me it tells me what sort of mood they are in.
Short striking occurs because of the mood the fish is in, weather, feeding cycle, competion as well as other factors unexplained all contribute.
If they are short striking there is a better option to catch them.

As Paul mentioned above, Navi in a recent email, as well as bad bazza, they had problems until they had a think about it and modified their approach.
Its not a straight swap to a hb that makes the difference, or the fact that a hb has more hooks, its the retrieve modification that is the key.

As stated, Barra have many moods, and many many strike methods, therefore you need many tactics to counter this.
If you stick with plastics alone, you will limit you chances big time in whats available, purely because Barra attack their prey in many more ways than just track down and smash.
The more strings in your bow, or in this case more lures and rerieve styles, the better.
Cheers
Jas

[Dicko]

I used the The new Pro Series (I really hate names like that ::)) down at Faust a month or so ago. I liked 'em. Much lighter than the original for slower working in shallow water.

[McCod]

Quote:


TeamThumperBump.
Hi all first post, after converting from a lurker.

McCod, thanks very much for that post, informative and helpful.

I've been dabbling with modifying slickrigs in prep for a upcoming trip.

I've:
-Attached a treble thru the body of the rig to the eyelt, using that knottable wire.
-I've done the same with mono and a crimp.
-I've been shaving some of the lead off jugheads in a effort to slow sinkrate, and try and get a gentle waft type sink.

However, I've been struggling with attaching a stinger hook. That Gamakatstu G-Stinger one looks the goods McCod, have you tested it out ? Is the hook strong enough or does it bend under a big barra ? Also I haven't seen the G-stingers up close, how have you attached it to the hook (looks like some little plastic crimp?)

thanks.


TeamThumper' Sorry for the late reply but i missed it...... many weeks away from Ausfish fishing i guess:) Yeah mate they work good and there attached via a sleeve of rubber and a dob of super glue to keep it up high on the hook.






Now i was going to post this coment in the tackle area...... but as we have a few lookers and i lot of fresh water junkys here' Re the Slick Rigs' I would be interested if many are having quality problems with Slick Rigs? Allmost every Slick Rig pack i've got over the last few months has been total junk to put it nicely and especially the Pro Slicks....... A big rip off so far as every pack " 4 of so far" has been faulty with bent and dented bodies' Tails etc way out of shape!! @ $10:95 a pack you would expect more:-/

Cheers Les

[moggy1]

Keep playing with the slick rigs boys, a bit more thought and you can actually make one suspend. Les i think the soft plastics see you comming. All that blastfimy over the years. I will have you converted shortly, maybe another scratchie on first blood again.
Cheers Moggy

[killitfillit]

if you have to modify a lure to that extent you are using the wrong lure.imagine a rattling suspending treble equiped soft plastic,storm has had one for quite a while but because they arent in the barra magazines they musn't work.try telling guys from tinaroo and darwin that they don't work

[the_matrix]

Keep playing with the slick rigs boys, a bit more thought and you can actually make one suspend. Cheers Moggy
I have made a suspending slick rig, but it was unstable and I did not like it.

Theres a heap of great suspending hbs on the market.
Slick rigs/swim baits were designed to be reaction lures.
Plastics cannot do everything, and are not meant to.
You are only limiting yourself if you believe so imo.

Yes I have used the Curly tail storm suspending shads, problem is by the time you remove the crap treble and replace with a decent treble, they become sinking shads.
They do work though and definantly have a place.
Cheers
Jas

[Barraboy7]

Ah, reading this thread is why I love Ausfish! Great Info here boys! Thanks Jas for your input! We seriously upped our catches by taking note of these "little issues" and not just settling back into old methods.

I'm thinking here of times using slick rigs, getting those little hits and going DOH! why didnt I change to a HB and suspend and twitch mmmm... Like Jas, Retrieve variation is something Johny Mitchell talks all the time, as well as the constant variation of Barra behavior.
Great article in Freshwater Mag on the One Percenters Jas, all Barra fishos need to read it, very informative. Thanks for getting guys to think and solve their own problems, as well as challenging some thinking.
I wonder how many people end up at Awoonga or wherever without any research or taking some serious note of such advice. Maybe a survey of glum faces at the ramp might give an indicator....
Cheers
Barraboy

[McCod]

Keep playing with the slick rigs boys, a bit more thought and you can actually make one suspend. Les i think the soft plastics see you comming. All that blastfimy over the years. I will have you converted shortly, maybe another scratchie on first blood again.
Cheers Moggy


Yeah mate i still owe you one'
And yes there could be a few boxes of H B's for sale soon as I'm running out of room fast!
Dam rubbers take up so much room;D

Cheers Les

[the_matrix]

I wonder how many people end up at Awoonga or wherever without any research or taking some serious note of such advice. Maybe a survey of glum faces at the ramp might give an indicator....
Cheers
Barraboy
I reckon your right BB7.............some do expect to just turn up and catch fish.
There was a day that did happen................but they are gone now.

ALL impoundments that see extended periods of fishing pressure will develop inhabitants that are always "on edge". (and a little stressed!):-[
This means that if you want to be successful, you too need to be on edge. Continually modifying your approach, tactics and style is the name of the game, which you have applied and seen the results first hand.

A word that I have always hated using, "finesse" becomes a potent factor.
Finesse in every thing you do on the water.

Glad you liked the FWF piece.
Cheers
Jas

[Bad_Bazza]

Firstly to Aaron, thanks for starting this thread. There has been some great incites revealed in the thread.
I know my next question has probably been discussed elsewhere (I have not been able to find a specific one) but I would like to raise the issue of line colour.
Whilst at Awoonga on my last trip I used two rods & reels, one for plastics and one for my hard bodies, the plastic line has Stren (I think) yellow line on it and the hard body has a Tuff X green line on it.
All of my fishing was from dawn to dusk and usually I only fished until the latest at 7 pm at night.
My question is this how important is line colour especially during daytime hours?

I know that I am about to answer my own question, but it appeared to me that when the sun got on the water (around 9 ish and onwards) that the yellow Stren became very conspicuous to me so would it be that visible to the barra also?
What are others thoughts on this?

Bad_Bazza

[Steve B]

Bad Bazza.

I dont beleive line colour has any effect on hookups. I might be wrong. A ledgendary angler to me once " get a ball of string and tie a fluffy toy to the end then dangle it in front of a cat!!......what does the cat see and attack......the toy not the string."

I reckon that sound a feasable reason!!

cheers steve.


PS. Enjoying the slick rigs info. Very interesting.

[the_matrix]

My question is this how important is line colour especially during daytime hours?
Bad_Bazza
BB, certainly an interesting topic and not one that can be answered in a short sentence.

Barramundi have a highly evolved arsenal of sensors which they utilize to survive, including (but not limited to) hearing, lateral motion detection and eyes with a reflective layer behind the retina of the eye. (Tapetum Lucidum)
This reflective layer serves to reflect light back to the retina which basically increases the quantity of light caught by the retina which in turn improves vision in low light. Many nocturnal species have a TL
Studies point to the tapetum lucidum being able to see light reflection, illuminated objects and light angles in daylight hours and a "greyscale" vision in low light periods.
In other words they have bloody good eyes.
How this translates to fishing lines is certainly subjective, and Steve makes a good point about that.

Me personally?
I have had instances in the past where I have had barra investigate my braid and leader to the point of feeling it.
A strange "bite" has made me go hmmmmmmmmm, closer inspection reveals nothing suspicious on or near the lure, yet 10 metres down the braid a very noticable scuff mark has been discovered.
I shook my head at first, but after talking to Johnny Mitchell he too had similar experiences, and awoke me to what was happening. It all made sense!
A Barra has investigated a suspect intruder and had a bite.
It has since happened more times, and also on my leader more than a metre away from the lure.
In pressured impoundments like Awoonga, I believe bright braid can be an issue, and I either dye my braid or use dark greens.
Its possible that it is through lateral line detection, but more likely light angles have been picked up through reflection of your braid and/or leader.

It probably does not answer your question but may give you an insight into the complexity of the question.
Cheers
Jas

[McCod]

Yeah the line colour choice is not an issue on most occasions....... but a lot depends on the mood the fish are in ........ On 1 end of the scale I've had Barra bash the leader knot on several occasions on the surface after following the lure in. And on the other end of the scale had great success using bright yellow 130 lb Fire line as leader 0.70mm diameter so its quiet thick and on several sessions used double 130 lb yellow Fire line as leader with good results. Barra can be the dumbest fish around or the most finicky at times....... very moody fish!:shifty:

Cheers Les8-)

[moggy1]

if you have to modify a lure to that extent you are using the wrong lure.imagine a rattling suspending treble equiped soft plastic,storm has had one for quite a while but because they arent in the barra magazines they musn't work.try telling guys from tinaroo and darwin that they don't work
You have missed the point about modifying. Yes it is done to temp the fish to some thing a bit different or different action. It is also done as enjoyment. I get as much a kick out of trying something different that you have conjured up yourself as actually catching the fish.