[mulletman]

when targeting rig use a 100 pound trace with the sinker above the hook it works well of peirs and the beach. For bait im sure you all know PADDLE CRABS rig love them. take the legs off and use bait string to keep it on the hook.

[fishforpot]

Take the legs off if you want the LIVE crabs to rip the baits to bits in minutes , or if you want any sea lice to have a really easy meal….

Leave the legs on if you want to keep some juicy bait in the water for the rig to eat , especially if using thawed X-frozen crabs …as the juicy bits tend to fall to bits in the cast , impact with water , and pickers like crabs etc having an easy feed

By all means remove the shell , use half a crab …..

Of course , if you do remove the legs , shell and use half a crab you will find it a deadly bait for elephants ……but if chasing rig and rig alone …legs on !

Standard ledger rig is fine …2 baits …..and 60lb trace is fine …..I prefer smaller hooks , with a sliding keeper …making sure both points of the hooks are well and truely sticking out of the bait , i.e. if the fish even touches the bait its in deep shit
1 hook in top of the bait ….tie it on …then keeper thru the cotton and out the side of the bait ….

Any other ideas peeps ?

[yellowfin]

I just use a standard ledger rig, either 1,2 or 3 hooks depending on where I’m fishing, if the fish are biting, what the conditions are like, if there’s sea lice or crabs around I use 3. For hooks I use 5/0, a good size for rig and not to big for eles, sometimes I’ll use 7/0 and still hook eles so I guess it doesn’t matter to much. I usually half the crabs take off the shell, mouth etc and tie on with cotton.

[Miliwolf]

90% of the time I use a pulley rig, I use a single 4/0 owner circle hook.

I thread the hook between the crabs legs then wrap the legs around the shank of the hook with bait elastic. Seems to work well.

I sometime use 2 hook ledger rigs, they do work well and catch more fish but I go through my limited crab stock pile quickly and the chance of a tangle is increased.

I

[mulletman]

i was just saying what the north island people use, besides i dont have sea lice where i fish

[Anonymous]

When making your ledger rigs do you just tie a dropper loop or use a 3way swivel ? Notice any differences ?

[Miliwolf]

I use a swivel trapped between a couple of beads and crimps most of the time…. The ledger rigs I purchase are normally done with a knot. I have not noticed much of a difference.

If you are good at tying the knot it would be a quicker way to tie them.

[yellowfin]

I use a normal dropper loop, sometimes twisted dropper. Works fine so I can’t see any point using dropper swivel just more parts and more money for each trace.

[Miliwolf]

Swivel droppers can help prevent Blue Cod tangling the line up.

[yellowfin]

Yeah but this thread is about rig.

[fishforpot]

I use the standard dropper loop , but cut it at one end , then slip the keeper hook onto the line before tying the hook on with a clinch knot …..

The fish must be able to see some lines ..double line to the hook cant be ideal …..plus I imagine the bait will move more naturally on a single line in a dropper setup

[Miliwolf]

zac

[yellowfin]

Crayfish is good for rig too… in fact its really only good for bait anyways….. crayfish im meaning

[PierMaster]

i use 440lb with 12/0 game hooks on a ledger trace in case a broadbill takes my bait instead

[yellowfin]

440lb mono isn’t enough for rig, you really need 1000lb nylon coated wire trace quadruple crimped and 2 X 20/0 circle hooks in case a mako takes your crab bait.

[Author]

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