When you rig your squid....?

[Nick C]

Do you sew the heads on? For the tournament, I sewed(I think that's grammatically correct?) both the head and the mantle, but it takes up time, and I was wondering if it's worth it?


Thanks for the help!

[Beerman]

If you put the hook threw the head, then no sewing, but if not then sew it, makes it last longer, escpeially if they are not "fresh"

[Anonymous]

I used to sew the heads on, but I don't do it anymore. Nick, you can if you want to since you are already sewing the bead in place but it is not a needed step, if you rig the squid the way Zac or I showed you.

[Nick C]

Thanks Scott and Zack! You are the 2 people that have taught me how to rig!

Now let me ask you guys this, are there any down sides to putting the hook through the head?

BTW, I rig the way Swordslasher does, but Barry rigs Zack's way. They are both pretty much the same though. But we both use the Swordslasher rigging tube! What a help that is!

[JR.ANGLER 1]

Swordslasher rigging tube? Care to explain nick? :?:

[LETSRIDE]

use LIVE BAIT!! bridle them n don't even bother with squid except for emergency such as pitch bait or you run out of livies!!

[Nick C]

Jr., over break I'll show how to rig. I have an extra rigging tube too.

Letsride,
Capt. Mitch and a buddy of his did a little comparing one year. While the one boat had more bites on the live bait, Mitch caught more fish on squid. I have yet to see a swordfish with anything other than squid in it's gut.
I think mixxing it up the good way to go, but like Beerman and Capt. Mitch have taught me, there are a million way to catch these fish, so whatever way works for you!

[RiskTaker]

Perhaps a Movie would be cool: 101 ways to rig your Squids.... along with some XXX hotty assistants to model and narrate.

P.S. - And maybe a movie trailer: the pitfalls of going out with live bates. :lol:

P.P.S. - Any Downside to rigging baits in the head versus mantle? Ans. Yes, the main downside and perhaps a fundamental reason for less hook-ups, is that if the mantle happens to slide down the leader, it will likely bunch up around the bend of the hook and provide additional padding between the hook tip and the fish. It is very easy to rig squids with the hook in the mantle (hidden or exposed - you will have to choose that one). A single floss stitch connecting the head to the mantle is optional as well; however, a single sword whack will like sever the head off. So if you want the bait to stay intact (a little longer) from a marauding fish, a stitch may eliminate the choice (from a freebie head piece or the mantle piece with the hook in it. If I do a double hook on a medium to large squid I will run the last hook through the head, perpendicular between the eyes.
(Remember this technique is for slow-troll/drifting applications only) For regular trolling, the technique would likely be cross-stitching and hook through head and a plug at the apex of the mantle.

[Beerman]

Originally Posted by Nick C

Now let me ask you guys this, are there any down sides to putting the hook through the head?

No, its a preference thing for me......I hooked em in the head and missed alot of fish, so I dont do it that way anymore.......just a prefence for me, but most like the hook in the head......like I said many ways to do it

[Islander]

Beerman, Do you have any illustrations or pix of how your rigging your squid. also is the tag end pre crimped w/loop befor running it through the bait or do you do this after? The reason I ask is because I know some guys utillize a tube to rig with.
I missed your swording 103 ](*,)

[Beerman]

No I sure dont, but will work on it for ya.............I run the line up and then crimp, but some people I know have it pre crimped and cut the end of the squid off a little (that way your loop goes through) and then sew it onto the line.....many different ways to do it


I do one stitch through the head and mantle....thats becuase I dont put the hook throught he head, but if I did, I would not waste the time stitching it......the stitch takes 5 seconds Nick, the one i do at least, so its not that time consuming

[Nick C]

Thanks Zack. Mitch must have been distracting me at SF 102 so I couldn't pay attention :lol: .
I guess I'll stick to just doing one stitch through the head. Barry is picking up a flat tonight, so we're gonna be busy rigging baits soon!

[Islander]

Thanks Beerman!
Are you guys getting frozen sguid, rigging and refreezing. If so are you finding any porblems with the Quality of the bait.
And do you ever use a brine solution.

[tunaman81]

I rig the squids by sliding a float down the leader to the hook. I slide the end of the leader through the mantle and slide the squid down onto the float. I normally put the hook through the head and have not had any problems.

BTW I was out a week or two ago and I had some live squid follow the baits I reeled up. Has anyone else been seeing live squid out on the grounds?

[RiskTaker]

Tunaman81:

I would have to say that you have your bases covered when you rig with a plug. I imagine that your squid never slips down over the hook when rigged like that. That seems to be your most versatile rig since you can drift and troll.

Have you ever tried varying the plug between a float and a 1 oz. or less lead weight to see if there are any advantages between them?

[CaptainEd]

I buy my squid from Baitmasters and they always have excellent quality squid. There are a few other wholesalers I use when their squids look good. I usually buy in bulk. I thaw out the 30 or so lbs, brine them and vacuum seal them in bags of nine and freeze them for my trips. Then the day before the trip I will rig them and put them back in the freezer. If I run out of rigged baits on a trip I will re rig out on the water or if the bite is really hot use the coat hanger/long line method. I have found it easy to use a float or weight for a stopper even with a quick rig. My preferred way to rig or quick rig is to bridle the top of the squid with wax line. It never slips, always stays on, it's fast and gives the squid a more natural presentation.

I spent a lot of time, trail and error rigging squids. This is the area that made my swordfishing come up the most. I don't miss fish very often anymore. One last thing. I always sew the heads. Here's why. If you have a sword whacking around with your bait (sometimes they like to "play" with the bait) and the head comes off they wont touch it again. You may never know the heads been knocked off if it isn't sewn because an unsewn squid head comes off so easily. If you rig your hook through the head you'll miss a lot of fish from the cartilage like head material filling the j in the hook resulting in a poor hook set or miss. Sewing the head is also something that only takes another minute to do.

[tunaman81]

Risktaker:

I have also fished squids rigged with a one ounce egg sinker above the hook and I have not seen any significant differences in strikes. I prefer the float because I think the float along with the weight of the squid allows for a neutral buoyancy of the bait and a very lifelike presentation. It also allows the bait to sit more horizontally, like a live squid. But this may all just be my preferences.

[Sword Hunter]

Before u crimp on the hook run a few small beads on the leader get some zapit and stick them to the mono evenlt spaced then u can tie to them if needed for smaller baits pull a bead through the squid. I like to pre rig 14 squids and a few secret wepons this makes it realy fast. I do tie the heads.