[Pennellug RagFlappa]

Been a while since I've been on the tackle forum.. but have a query
Been making my own rigs to various patterns for a while now with different degrees of success... What I want to know is anybody else making rigs with different size hooks and snoods? -

Specifically three hook flapper or scratching rigs ..IMO the whole idea with a 3 hooker is to find out whats in front of you .. so I've been making up 3 hookers typically with size 0/4; 1/0 and 3/0 hooks on the same rig body with different rated snoods (17, 20 & 30Lb) depending on hook size

Invariably I've been catching school bass on the 1/0 and 3/0s and then changing to a pulley pennel. When I catch the odd flattie on the 1/0 and smaller flatties and a weever on the 0/4 hooks I've carried on using the scratching rig.

Is anyone else doing this ?

 

[wolfgang]

yes i do similar, i wouldnt personally class a 3/0 hook as suitable for 'scratching' rigs though, the purpose of a scratching rig being the ability to hook whatevers about when the goings tough. my scratching rigs have either size 1, 2 or 4 hooks with breaking strain lines between 14 and 25 lb. remember a size 1 hook will hold just about any fish your likely to catch, i save the 3/0s for my specialist rigs...

 

[red90]

I guess it depends on whether you are happy catching smaller species, or whether you just want to target one particular specimen. For donkey's years I used two-hook rigs with size 2 hooks, because there were plenty of sizable flatfish in my local area, and with luck I still managed the occasional larger fish.

Since moving further north my approach has changed to suit the fish available. I now target the larger fish that are available here, albeit in smaller numbers. Most of the time I use a single or pennel hook rig with hooks in sizes 1/0 to 4/0, depending on what I am after, and a bait to match. I blank at least as often as I catch, but when I do get what I am after, it makes it all worthwhile.

And through the winter I improve the average a little by fishing a two-hook rig on one rod in the hopes of some better whiting. They have been quite large in size, these past seasons.

 

[morg66]

on my scratching rig, I normally use 20lb Amnesia on hook length and size 2 hooks. then give a bit of movement between the to crimps so the swivel isnt tightened right down, thats if im just fishing 10-30yrds form the tide line, or if its further then that ill normally tighten the swivels down or make clip downs. But normally stick to the size 2 hooks. Like other people have said, depending on the species and size, but I wouldnt use 3/0 on scratching rig, id put that on a pulley rig.

 

[Pennellug RagFlappa]

I used to use 1/0 and progressively smaller on my scratching rigs.. I now throw on the 3/0 as I fish the same mark (a clean shallow surf beach) week-in week-out.. usually in from low the first hour after low I expect small flatties to start coming in on the lug beds 2 hours after low when the (shallow) gulleys come into play I expect bigger flatties and the schoolies to come in and once there's a bit of surf I expect it to be bass all the way up to the beach and I've been fairly successful this year adopting these tactics.... But I have been suprised at very low water by the odd decent size bass and I've lost one (and fishermans tales aside think it was a good 3 pounds plus) and that was on a 1/0 Sakuma in about 4 inches of water. (Like an eedjut dropped my rod as I tried to run after it and catch it by hand :doh: got soaked to the skin making a dive for it and my multiplier was full of sand for the rest of the session)

 

[Pennellug RagFlappa]

Thanks for the replies guys - Nice to know I'm not the only one putting a bit of thought into my fishing and trying stuff like making up rigs with different size hooks

Tight Lines :thumbs: