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USEFUL FISHING RIGS

Rigs used to fish a bait near or on the bottom

Rigs to fish a bait near the surface to mid depth

Rigs used to catch bait

Trolling Rigs with bait

Trolling Rigs w/o bait

Miscellaneous Rigs

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Balloon Rig

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Popping Bobber Rig

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Saltwater Sliding Bottom Finder  (modify for freshwater as below) 
(for freshwater use disk weight/bank weight according to depth and current-usually 1oz to 3 oz, and use a leader equal to main line)

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  European Feeder style rig with Hair hook (classic match type rig) Click for image full size.

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  GOLD HOOK RIG

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SQUID CATCHER RIG (uses 4 drop loops)


Main Line: any
Hooks: #4 treble hooks with white or glowing  string tied around each shank, tie off and leave ends hanging behind hooks
Weight: either 1oz to 4oz bank sinker, or tie a squid jig in lieu of the weight

Jig under lights at night just under the surface or during the day deep through a squid school.

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Straw Squid Catcher Rig

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  Octopus rig- No Bait Option

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  Simple Lure (trolling feather, etc.) Single Hook trolling rig with beads (Picture)

Notes: Most commonly used rig for tunas (can use a double hook too, though I usually don't, this is how I rig for trolling for albies out west and mahis out east), cudas, ceros/sierras/spanish mackerel, and mahi, esp. in Keys or open Pacfic. Works with 60lb+ flourocarbon or single strand wire. Put a ball-berring swivel at the top (mostly use 2 rod lengths of leader +/- hook to swivel, tie main or bimini to swivel)
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  Octopus rig with bait (use mono or Florocarbon leader for Stripers / Dolphin / Sailfish)

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  Poor Man's PVC Pipe Jet Head Trolling Lure Pull at 6 to 12kts, will make a 'smoking' bubble trail when rigged and running right. Works for King Mackerel, Barracuda, Little Tuny, Yellowfin Tuna, Yellowtail, Mahi, and many others. Vary size of PVC and skirts to down size or up-size lure. CLick image for Full size.

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  New England Flounder Rig Used to put clams or bloodworms on the bottom for winter flounder, sand dab or fluke. Hook without float has a longer leg then the one to the float. Make sure to hold the line tight enough to feel the bite. CLick image for Full size.

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Egg Weight Rig  for use with Dough Baits
Main Line: 2# to 4#- Smaller trout/ Bullhead Catfish/ Minnow/Small Carp; 8#-15#: Steelhead/Larger Catfish (channel catfish)/Large Carp; 20#+: Very Large Catfish (dough/worms/liver)/Sturgeon/Large Steelhead
Leader: either pre-tied snelled hook (single or treble) or mono: 2#-4# for Trout or very clear water, otherwise the same strength as main line.
Hook:
FISH Trout/Small Carp/Minnows Midsize fish Large fish
Treble #14-#10 #8-#4 #4-#1/0
Single hook #12-#8 #6-#2 #2+ (only if very firm dough bait)
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Natural bait (or Salmon Egg) Rig with Slip Lead for Freshwater

Main Line: 2# to 4#- Smaller trout/ Bullhead Catfish/ Minnow/Small Carp; 8#-15#: Steelhead/Larger Catfish (channel catfish)/Large Carp; 20#+: Very Large Catfish (dough/worms/liver)/Sturgeon/Large Steelhead
Weight: Smallest possible-from 1/4oz to 3 oz depending upon current.
Leader: either pre-tied snelled hook or mono: 2#-4# for Trout or very clear water, otherwise the same strength as main line.
Hook:
FISH Trout/Small Carp/Minnows/Panfish Midsize fish (inc. Basses) Large fish (inc. Basses
Single hook #12-#8 #6-#2 #2+ 
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Split Shot rigging with Bait

Note: Use small split shot up to 1/4 oz and pinch lightly 12" above the hook.  Use a small enough hook that the intended bait completely covers the hook (a bait hook or salmon egg hook is recommended).

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Seawitch Rig with bait

RIGGING TABLE

SPECIES/Bait Size King Mackerel/Wahoo /other Saltwater toothy Pelagics Large Stripers/Mahi-Mahi Salmon
LEADER #4-#6 single strand wire -36" to 48" (smaller fish-24"/#4) 40# to 80# mono - 48" #3-#4 wire, single strand wire -36" 
First Hook 1/0 single or 1/0 treble 1/0 single  3/0 single barbless
Lead to Stinger& Bait Size Large Baits (14"+) use 6" of #6-#8 wire and consider a second stringer  near tail of bait.  Use 1/0 to 2/0 treble.    Smaller baits use a single stinger 1" forward of the tail, #2 treble. (IF stinger is allowed, (note: Might not be IGFA Compliant)) rig 60#-80# mono so that hook is 3/4 of way to the tail of the bait, use a 3/0 short shank single hook.  Use a loop knot or crimp to allow bait to swimh freely to attach stinger. (if allowed) #4 wire to a 3/0 barbless, 4" between first hook and stinger 
Notes
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Striper Buster Trolling Rig
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Diamond Jig Rigs and Employment

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Nymphing Rig with Weighted Bobber

Notes: First try on the nymph, then pinch on the split shot (1/16 oz)  12" above the nymph, then clip the bobber so that the distance from the bobber to the splitshot is equal to the water depth.  Use the smallest bobber possible (.5" to 1.5" diameter).

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Casting bubble with Fly

Notes: Run the main line through the Bubble and to a barrel swivel that is just arge enough not to slip though the bubble.  Tie 24" or longer length of leader to the barrel swivel and tie the other end to the fly.  This rig will work with any light lure (or soda straw and treble hook) and is used not only with light leaders (1# to 4# mono) for rainbow trout in freshwater, but with heavy leaders  and larger lures for mackerels (40# mono ) in saltwater.

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Crankbait with Leader
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Jig Drop Loop Rig

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Tube Mackerel Rig

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Uncle Big John's Crappie Trolling Rig

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Jig and Bug Rig

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Nighttime (Pacific) Mackerel Pier Rig

Use under the lights or in the dark for mackerel, jacks, and similar smaller schooling fish..soft plastics or squid/worm/shrimp strips work, may need a slight wiggle of rodtip to get them to bite.Click for image for full size.

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Russian Carp Doughball Rig

(note: Not IGFA Compliant, check regs for your area) uses 1-3 treble hooks (#4) or single circle hooks(more ecologically sensitve) (#1) Employ by baiting each hook with a doughball or corn kernels, then pitch into your favorite carp holding hole. Click for image for full size.

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Inverted school rig for surface fish. Click for image for full size.

Zip accross the surface for any surface hitting fish (or baitfish). Trailer hooks (as one would use on a plug or spoon) work just as well as jigs.

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Casting jig and bobber rig for asian carp. Click for image for full size.

slow retrieve with pulses.

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2 Jig Rig

Bigger jighead is on the bottom, smaller jig head on the top, DO NOT ADD A WEIGHT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE! I make a loop and cut it. For IGFA rules, make sure the distance between the two jig heads is under 12 inches. The bottom jig head has to be bigger than the smaller top jig head. Slow retrieve with pulses along the bottom, make sure you feel the bottom, deadly in the shallows around piers for halibut, corvina, and the like in the Pacific, or flounder, jacks, and pompano in the Atlantic.

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SF Shark Rig

A good rig when fishing for bay sharks in California, or for any bottom fish in high current when the bait MUST be on the bottom. (i.e sand dabs out east, flounder/redfish/whiting down south, etc.) The slider is constrained between the barrel swivels (and optionally beads), yet can transmit even light bites.

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2 Jig River Walleye/Sauger Rig

uses 2 floating jig heads and a minnow style soft plastic in high current for sauger and walleye in places like the Mississippi River near Chain of Rocks and other high current spots. Use a long spinning rod (11ft +/-) and use small diameter superbraid line for long casts. Keep the weight in contact with the bottom!

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tube jig body and bead rig with heavier hook for large deep asian carp

cast, let sink to bottom, then jig back.

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How to rig a dodger or flasher and fly or lure or bait (such as plug cut herring) for salmon and trout in the ocean and Great Lakes

Troll VERY SLOWLY (as in 2-3 mph)

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