A couple questions about tying quick strike rigs

[Geezle]

Wayne, I'm sure you can help me out on this one

First off, I've never fished with a quick strike. Heck...Wednesday was my first time out ice fishing for pike in probably close to a decade (ugh...that decade word makes me feel old )

On that outing all I did for rigging my bait was to push the shank of a treble up through the bottom of my bait and then hook it to my leader. Simple enough.

Then I wanted to use a bigger bait...something that absolutely required two hooks. The only thing I could come up with on the spot was to use 2 leaders clipped onto a snap swivel with a treble on each. I had a smaller (#2) hook that I pushed up through the skinnier tail section, and then a bigger one that I hooked into the side of the bait. Only had one hit (that I missed on the tip-up) on that one, so i can't really say that it worked all that well.

So, on to the questions. I read an article on the In-Fisherman site that gave me the general idea, and it seems pretty straightforward for the most part. Basically a hook on the end, with a second hook that slides...correct?

For those of you who tie your own, do you have a preference for steel leader material vs. fluoro leader material? Is it best to actually tie the rigs, or are crimping sleeves the way to go? I've never tied the steel leader, so I'm not sure what's actually involved in tying it...I've only ever used the crimp sleeves, though I'm not a huge fan of them. Never tied anything with the fluoro leader material so I don't know how to work with this stuff either.

Also, I saw in the article a hook with two points...one shorter one for hooking into the bait, and then a longer one that stands out from the bait. Looks like a good idea in theory, but has anybody here actually used them? Or even seen them in the store for that matter?

And my final question (for now) involves dressing the rig. Do any of you use beads/spinner blades or anything else on the rig for a little extra flash?

Thanks guys...I appreciate any info you can share

[Gust]

I only started using spinners/flashers with bait this year and seem to be doing much better. But I still like to jig a lure at one hole near my bait hole.

And I have a hook that I found in B.C, where the shank is long and bends at the eye, which allows the bait to hang horizontal like a fish from the middle but has the hook at either end of the bait.

[WayneChristie]

Never tried those style, but I know the big guy up there makes that kind. I have been making mine from 60 lb flouro with crimp sleeves, 2 equal lengths, treble on the end and attach the other ends to a heavy duty split ring. one hook in the head, the other in the side of the tail, hangs even in the water and the bait flashes brightly when you jig it a bit. When the pike start taking the bait in the middle I will make some with three trebles, and put one in the center of the back too. Flame away treble haters! but with this rig the fish doesnt get a chance to get the hooks in deep because wherever they grab the bait theres a hook. And they are usually very easy to unhook since the hooks are near the edge of the mouth. I dont like tip-ups, I use a second rod for the other hole. Got tired of running for flags and hearing the fish laughing as they swim away. with the rod you can leave 2 or 3 feet of slack and have the bail closed, so they get a bit of a running start and then hook themselves. No drag on a tipup so the fish can go as far as they like and have lots of time to take the hook in too deep. Besides, I am not a big fan of handlining a fish that could tow a small truck! I like having 10 fingers!

[Geezle]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

Never tried those style, but I know the big guy up there makes that kind. I have been making mine from 60 lb flouro with crimp sleeves, 2 equal lengths, treble on the end and attach the other ends to a heavy duty split ring. one hook in the head, the other in the side of the tail, hangs even in the water and the bait flashes brightly when you jig it a bit. When the pike start taking the bait in the middle I will make some with three trebles, and put one in the center of the back too. Flame away treble haters! but with this rig the fish doesnt get a chance to get the hooks in deep because wherever they grab the bait theres a hook. And they are usually very easy to unhook since the hooks are near the edge of the mouth. I dont like tip-ups, I use a second rod for the other hole. Got tired of running for flags and hearing the fish laughing as they swim away. with the rod you can leave 2 or 3 feet of slack and have the bail closed, so they get a bit of a running start and then hook themselves. No drag on a tipup so the fish can go as far as they like and have lots of time to take the hook in too deep. Besides, I am not a big fan of handlining a fish that could tow a small truck! I like having 10 fingers!

Okay, so it sounds like you're pretty much doing what I did with my 2 leaders, only a little fancier

Maybe if it ain't broke I shouldn't try to fix it?

[steve]

I make them with tig wire.

With a pair of needlenose you can make a rig in less then a minute.

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by Geezle

Okay, so it sounds like you're pretty much doing what I did with my 2 leaders, only a little fancier

Maybe if it ain't broke I shouldn't try to fix it?

ive tryed many different ways of doing quick strike rigs even have a friend from UK send me the specialized hooks but in the end ive come up with a simple and effective design.
1. i use a single strand wire 27lb non coated wire
2 i use Owner broadhead point trebles
3 i use various colored beads
a- first gently bend the Owner hook eyelet to about 45 degrees offset
b- hay wire twist a qaulity snap and attach non modified hook. i like the snap to be removeable at times i remove the hook to attach various power baits thru the shank
c- slide down beads on to wire right on top of your twist. add as many as you desire to separate the hooks. orange and chart. have been my best colors for big pike
d- slide on the treble with the bent eyelet.
e- knock down barbs before using...........Done

[WayneChristie]

[QUOTE=chubbdarter;769762]ive tryed many different ways of doing quick strike rigs even have a friend from UK send me the specialized hooks but in the end ive come up with a simple and effective design.
1. i use a single strand wire 27lb non coated wire
2 i use Owner broadhead point trebles
3 i use various colored beads
a- first gently bend the Owner hook eyelet to about 45 degrees offset
b- hay wire twist a qaulity snap and attach non modified hook. i like the snap to be removeable at times i remove the hook to attach various power baits thru the shank
c- slide down beads on to wire right on top of your twist. add as many as you desire to separate the hooks. orange and chart. have been my best colors for big pike
d- slide on the treble with the bent eyelet.
e- knock down barbs before using...........Done


Im not sure how you hang the bait level with this type of rig, but then some days pike could care less. Other times they are pretty picky and want a lifelike presentation. I use the flouro so they cant see anything but the bait, but I do use red hooks, look a bit like the bait has a bloodtrail.

[chubbdarter]

[QUOTE=WayneChristie;769871]

Originally Posted by chubbdarter

ive tryed many different ways of doing quick strike rigs even have a friend from UK send me the specialized hooks but in the end ive come up with a simple and effective design.
1. i use a single strand wire 27lb non coated wire
2 i use Owner broadhead point trebles
3 i use various colored beads
a- first gently bend the Owner hook eyelet to about 45 degrees offset
b- hay wire twist a qaulity snap and attach non modified hook. i like the snap to be removeable at times i remove the hook to attach various power baits thru the shank
c- slide down beads on to wire right on top of your twist. add as many as you desire to separate the hooks. orange and chart. have been my best colors for big pike
d- slide on the treble with the bent eyelet.
e- knock down barbs before using...........Done


Im not sure how you hang the bait level with this type of rig, but then some days pike could care less. Other times they are pretty picky and want a lifelike presentation. I use the flouro so they cant see anything but the bait, but I do use red hooks, look a bit like the bait has a bloodtrail.

heres my theory.
predators rarely stalk when the prey is in the alert position. a cougar stops sneaking up when the deer has its head up. i like my bait in the feeding position. i grew on a farm with many large irrigation ponds. one winter i made a underwater observation room on the shore to watch fish thru the glass. baitfish nose down feeding is a life like presentation. my sucess has greatly improved with this presentation over the swim position of my bait. we target only big pike and its caught us over 40 pike over 25lbs. i havent found a red hook that even comes close to the broadhead owner. thats the beauty of fishing we all do it our own way......good luck

[Cal]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

Never tried those style, but I know the big guy up there makes that kind. I have been making mine from 60 lb flouro with crimp sleeves, 2 equal lengths, treble on the end and attach the other ends to a heavy duty split ring. one hook in the head, the other in the side of the tail, hangs even in the water and the bait flashes brightly when you jig it a bit. When the pike start taking the bait in the middle I will make some with three trebles, and put one in the center of the back too. Flame away treble haters! but with this rig the fish doesnt get a chance to get the hooks in deep because wherever they grab the bait theres a hook. And they are usually very easy to unhook since the hooks are near the edge of the mouth. I dont like tip-ups, I use a second rod for the other hole. Got tired of running for flags and hearing the fish laughing as they swim away. with the rod you can leave 2 or 3 feet of slack and have the bail closed, so they get a bit of a running start and then hook themselves. No drag on a tipup so the fish can go as far as they like and have lots of time to take the hook in too deep. Besides, I am not a big fan of handlining a fish that could tow a small truck! I like having 10 fingers!

I do pretty much the same thing as you but I use old guitar strings, the B string does OK but nothing beats a nice skinny G string...

[beetlebailey]

Lets say you catch a 23# pike on one of these 2 or 3 treble hook setups, not a single walleye jigging hook. Do you still stick most of your arm down the hole to retrieve the fish?

[npauls]

Hey Wayne,

Alot of guys I have talked to like their big baits for pike to be laying right on the bottom as if it dead or dying. I have seen some pretty big gators pulled out this way. Also the other style of having your bait with its tail sticking up and the head on the bottom seems to work pretty well.

Big gators are always looking for an easy meal. Nothing easier then swimming up and eating a bait. Alot easier then chasing something around.

You think someone who eats fast food all the time wants to chase it around to eat it or just walk up and order with no work at all to get the meal. Same goes for the big gators.


Nate

[WayneChristie]

BB yes, thanks for the useful info. Nate I usually lay my bait on the bottom too, just jig it now and then to give off the flash so the pike can see it. Do most of my pike fishing shallow enough to watch their reaction, sometimes they take it on the bottom, sometimes they just stare at it until it moves. Ive caught a lot while its horizontal as well, depends on the fish. Thats why I like sightfishing you can change your presentation if they dont like what they see. I do like the idea behind the feeding position and Im going to add that to my methods too, thank you for teaching me something new! You can never know too much about fishing.

[Geezle]

Originally Posted by Cal

nothing beats a nice skinny G string...

True story!

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by beetlebailey

Lets say you catch a 23# pike on one of these 2 or 3 treble hook setups, not a single walleye jigging hook. Do you still stick most of your arm down the hole to retrieve the fish?

drill a slide out.....only takes 5 extra seconds with the lazer

[iliketrout]

Would you have to put a weight in front of the front hook to get the nose of the fish down? I don't know why but I am imagining that the bait would be nose up, not nose down...

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by iliketrout

Would you have to put a weight in front of the front hook to get the nose of the fish down? I don't know why but I am imagining that the bait would be nose up, not nose down...

No weight required...end hook is lightly hooked into mandable of herring/mackeral second hook between dorsal and tail lightly skin hooked. will hang about 45degrees or more head down

[iliketrout]

gotcha, makes sense, thanks for the tips.

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by chubbdarter

drill a slide out.....only takes 5 extra seconds with the lazer

hmmm explain slide out? I do double holes, so its easy to get their head up when they are done running. that what you mean?

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

hmmm explain slide out? I do double holes, so its easy to get their head up when they are done running. that what you mean?

drill overlapping holes from the actual hole your fishing from. usually 3 0r 4. first one deepest. the trench will fill with water. the pike will usually swim right out to a position you can grab it. simple work and effective

p.s all the holes fill with water from the original hole but none of 3-4 slide out holes are completely thru the ice

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by chubbdarter

drill overlapping holes from the actual hole your fishing from. usually 3 0r 4. first one deepest. the trench will fill with water. the pike will usually swim right out to a position you can grab it. simple work and effective

p.s all the holes fill with water from the original hole but none of 3-4 slide out holes are completely thru the ice

sounds interesting for sure, I just overlap 2 holes and so far havent had any problems getting them out. might try doing one more 3/4 of the way through just to give it a try. thanks for the info

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

sounds interesting for sure, I just overlap 2 holes and so far havent had any problems getting them out. might try doing one more 3/4 of the way through just to give it a try. thanks for the info

yup once the big girl lays her head in the slide out they usually swim right out. and with water floating her there is way less strain on the tackle to pull her.

[WayneChristie]

now Ive learned 2 new things from this thread, no wonder my head hurts!!!

[iliketrout]

^^^^
x2 that is a really good idea to land a large fish on the ice. Hopefully I get to try one day!!!

[chubbdarter]

the other benifit on really cold days. it allows the fish to stay wet while with normark water proof gloves you remove the hooks and shoot her back down the hole. freeze burn on their eyes and fins can be prevented this way.....if its that cold we dont even lift them to take pictures. big mamas are to precious to the lake

Chub... Makes alot of sense to me. preventing a breakoff and also keeping the fish in a nice pond is a good idea. you also dont have a hole big enough for your kid to fall through either.

I will seek out some big flouro and some trebles. That puny little rapala rod i just bought isnt going to hold much heavy flouro. what do you normally spool on your reels, what size reel and rod????

the 15 pounders will try and run a spool but ive found the big girls come in much more lazy. would you agree?

thanks for the tips.

[Geezle]

Originally Posted by pelada trochu

Chub... Makes alot of sense to me. preventing a breakoff and also keeping the fish in a nice pond is a good idea. you also dont have a hole big enough for your kid to fall through either.

I will seek out some big flouro and some trebles. That puny little rapala rod i just bought isnt going to hold much heavy flouro. what do you normally spool on your reels, what size reel and rod????

the 15 pounders will try and run a spool but ive found the big girls come in much more lazy. would you agree?

thanks for the tips.

IMO for pike, don't spool your reel with fluorocarbon, use a heavy braid so you can get more on your spool, and then just use a heavy fluoro leader. I think most of us that use it are using Trilene Big Game fluorocarbon leader material.

[Guitarplayingfish]

Heres the style I use. REALLY easy to make, takes like 2 minutes per once you get the hang of it.

[vital shok]

Do u use some sort of wire crimpers to make these rigs if so were do u get the crimpers and fittings to build these

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by Guitarplayingfish

Heres the style I use. REALLY easy to make, takes like 2 minutes per once you get the hang of it.

pretty much what I make, only I use a swivel on the loop so I can clip on my leader, and I make the 2 lines longer so the sleeve isnt right in their face when they are checking it out. I use the trilene big game fluoro for my leaders, and so far have been very impressed with it.

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by vital shok

Do u use some sort of wire crimpers to make these rigs if so were do u get the crimpers and fittings to build these

any of the bigger sporting good stores have the gear, if its in stock. you can buy a cheap crimper or I have been using vicegrips to crimp mine since my crimper is lost in my gear somewhere. just make sure your flouro is side by side in the sleeve so you dont squish one side of the fluoro. you can also make them using the perfection knot, but make sure you seal the knot with superglue, I used one like that for quite a while last winter, then it came undone and I lost a nice fish.