Snag-Proof Your Soft Plastics!
Rigging your Squidgies and other soft plastic lures “weedless” or “snag-proof” is much easier than many people seem to think! And once they’re rigged this way, it’s possible to cast these lures into places you could never otherwise reach or cover effectively without constantly snagging up your line and losing expensive tackle. Trust me, you’ll catch a lot more fish as a result of adding this little trick to your rigging repertoire.
These days, at least 75 – 80% of the plastics I cast for barramundi and saratoga in northern Australian waters are rigged weedless/snag-proof. But these innovative rigging strategies go far beyond those species. The same approach works like a charm on any fish that favours hanging out in or around dense snag, rock or weed cover. Bream, bass, estuary perch, flathead, mangrove jack, fingermark, Murray cod, golden perch (yellowbelly) and even trout can all be targeted very effectively by “Texas-rigging” your softies on wide-gape worm hooks.
The most important part of this rigging system is a wide-gaped worm hook, or a jig head or other delivery vehicle that incorporates a wide gape worm hook. These hooks may look a bit odd at first glance, but they work really well. Lots of companies now make this style of hook. Some good ones include Mustad, Owner, Gamakatsu, and VMC. One really interesting new addition to the wide gape worm hook field is the KVD Grip-Pin hook from Mustad. This clever hook incorporates a little pin that helps keep the head of the rigged plastic in place, preventing it from being too easily ripped free or scrunched down into the hook bend by a striking fish. Another very innovative presentation vehicle for this style of rigging is the TT Lures Snake Head.
The best way to learn this deadly rigging technique is to closely study the accompanying photos and illustrations.
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Steve , after listening to you presentation in Mount Isa recently I have become hooked on the weedless presentation , it makes working the weedbeds and rocky bays of Moondarra a lot more enjoyable and productive, I am just waiting to hook that first big lake barra using this technique.Also you will have to come back to Isa again and come out to Lake Julius for some XOS sootie action , one of the prettiest spots I have ever fished.
Cheers
Pete
That’s great feedback, Pete! Thanks. We’re very keen to get back to Isa next year and will definitely give Julius a go if we do.
Have used soft plastics in the past fishing the upper reaches of the canning river, right up to the Kent Street weir for bream.. very effective.. but the way you have shown us with these diagrams to present the lure is awesome.. Your a Legend Starlo! much appreciated.. share the knowledge and we all benefit. 🙂
No worries! I’d be keen to hear how you go…
I’ve been wanting to see the best way of having a weedless rig for a while. I fish in Lake Illawarra quite a bit and there is HEAPS of weed, going to set up a rig next time I go there(probably in a week or so). Your info is just great, thanks Starlo. 🙂
That’s great, Gazza. Be sure to let us know how you go!
G’Day Steve,
I have been using your squidgies now for about 2-3 years and absolutely love them and have been an Advocate for quite some time now for your products.
Have you thought of producing these as Pre-rigged, kinda like your slick rigs? I know that jighead sizes and weights can differ between different fishing applications but maybe you can sort that out with some kind of snap-on or adjustable weight system ?? Surely these would go off !!!! 🙂
Just a thought….. Cheers…
Oh, I forgot to mention 87 Barra caught last season and most were caught on your Squidgies…
I am not here to boast but its a great testament to your Product… 🙂 thank you..
Nice work!
Thanks for that, Shane! Yes, we do play around with ideas like that all the time but so far the Slick Rigs, Mongrels, Ridgebacks and Stealth Prawns are the only pre-rigged models.
out on the boat yesterday with the plastics not one hit and kepted getting abit of weed so changed to snag proof first cast got a nice 40 cm flatty 🙂 your a legend mate
Good for you, Brenton! Thanks for the positive feedback, too.
looking to head to bathurst island again later this year and haven’t used soft plastics for barra fishing before. How much weight are you putting on the worm hooks and how castable are they unweighted?
Does 4/0 sound about right for the 115mm mongrels?
Thanks for the tips – great site
Mark, I’d probably go up to 5/0 for the 115s… even 6/0 in some hook models. The bigger hooks seems to secure better, cleaner connections. Take a selection of #1, #2 and #3 ball sinkers and vary depending on the situation. Un-weighted can be an option, but they don’t swim so well on the drop un-weighted, and that’s when most of your hits will come.
is there any squidgies that are prerigged weedless
No, Johnno. you have to rig them yourself.
hey starlo im just wondering what size tt snakehead you would rig on the squidgy mongrel 115mm for mulloway in the onkaparinga river in adelaide. And also what knot do you attach your ball sinkers to your weedless plastics with? cheers
Probably about a 5/0 or even a 6/0 hook size, Mason. Weight to suit conditions. To be honest though, I find the Mongrels swim better with a ball sinker in the loop knot. We just slide on an appropriately sized loop knot in the BOTTOM of the loop when constructing a Perfection Loop, Lefty’s Loop or Rapala Loop knot. Hope that helps.
G’day Steve, Have you thought about reworking the SquidgyFish and the SquidgyWrigger with a belly slot that will better suit the use of worm hooks? For about 8 years I have been a devotee of worm hooks and making my own jigheads like the Snakeheads TT have produced well before they hit the market. Of late I have been revisiting the Matzuo range and appreciating it’s new line up of worm hooks in the Sickle range…….very very impressed.
I totally agree, Tony, but it’s still really hard to get most people to try weedless rigging… As you know, it works! 🙂
Hey Starlo, my local tackle stores don’t stock weedless hooks like the snake heads or the KVD grip pins so I am going to have to order them online which is always tricky in ordering the right size for my Squidgy Slick Rigs. Can you assist with my selection? Am I right in saying you recommend Snake Heads for Squidgy Slick Rigs as opposed to KVD hooks with ball sinkers? If so what size hook snake heads do you recommend for my 100mm and 110mm Slick Rigs? With thanks.
G’day mate. Sorry for the slow reply, but I’ve been on the road. When chasing barra we normally use 4/0 to 7/0 wide gape worm hooks with Slick Rig, Mongrel and Ridgeback bodies. I mostly just use one of these hooks and a ball sinker in the loop rather than the TT Snakeheads, etc.
Howdy! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you
using for this site? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m
looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in
the direction of a good platform.
Brandon, I’m using WordPress, but my wife has tweaked it somehow… all a mystery to me! 🙂 Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.
Cheers & Tight Lines,
Starlo
Hey starlo been rigging the mongrels like this for fishing the little run ins fishing in tinaroo. Made it so easy getting the big bous now. You ever gonna come up and have a fish man?
Good stuff, Joseph! Yes, very keen to get up to Tinarro. Fished it once years ago without result.
Cheers,
Starlo
Cheers for giving so much advice for free and helping a lot of us learn and be better, ultimately enjoying fishing more and more.
It makes a change from everyone charging fees for every single gem,
Much appreciated and love your work!
Andy
No worries, Andy. Thanks for the great feedback!
Cheers & Tight Lines,
Starlo