Riggin a bally

[fischer]

I have seen several ways to rigg a bally. could you just take some stiff wire (like you use on a nose pin) make a pin dubble the wire around with a small chin weight and finish with a haywire to the hook. then use regular soft wire to lash the hoo like normal. Any Ideals?

[Bert Rodgers]

I have seen several ways to rigg a bally. could you just take some stiff wire (like you use on a nose pin) make a pin dubble the wire around with a small chin weight and finish with a haywire to the hook. then use regular soft wire to lash the hoo like normal. Any Ideals?

Sure, but IMO it's easier to just use monel and a swivel. Also it's important that the bait is secured well so those sneaky white sumbichis can't just swipe it. You need something wrapped around the gills and through the eyes.

I have tried about 5 different rigs and have concluded that the best swimmer and easiest to do is the Guatamala style with the swivel positioned in the spot where your pin would be on a traditional pin rig. IMO it swims better than the rig with the swivel between the eyes and you don't need to pop the swivel in.

Just my opinion after trial and error. Also the rig showed to me by a couple of top notch mates.

Bert

[Hroonk]

Bert, I'm by far a newbie with the dink circle (only rigged a few on practice trips this year. I've found that the swivel between the eyes sometimes fouls the hook - the hook swings around and catches the eye socket of the hoo. The bait swam AWESOME, but I fear the hook fouling when a white swipes it. Have you had this happen?

I think I follow you, you're talking about simply sticking the swivel in the baits mouth, then wiring behind gills, through sockets, up through mouth and down bill, right? This way seemed harder to foul for me.

Just want to be sure I understand you.

[Bert Rodgers]

Bert, I'm by far a newbie with the dink circle (only rigged a few on practice trips this year. I've found that the swivel between the eyes sometimes fouls the hook - the hook swings around and catches the eye socket of the hoo. The bait swam AWESOME, but I fear the hook fouling when a white swipes it. Have you had this happen?

I think I follow you, you're talking about simply sticking the swivel in the baits mouth, then wiring behind gills, through sockets, up through mouth and down bill, right? This way seemed harder to foul for me.

Just want to be sure I understand you.

Not exactly , but Bill(Squidnation) posted a video of one done that way.

The way I do it is the same as the between the eye method but I go in farther forward (at the upper jaw hinge). In other words the same spot that the pin on a pin rig protrudes.
It's an easy rig to do and it swims like a champ. I have had the between the eyes method flip like you said and it sometimes seems to lay on it's side. I think having the pull point farther forward on the nose is a lot more consistant and it's a little easier to rig. Also not "Popping" the swivel helps it swim IMO.

The other benifit of rigging like this is saving unused baits ( yes refreezing) to use as dredge baits. They are ready to go and swim as well as a split tail at about 1/4 of the price.

Bert

[Squidnation]

the swivel in the mouth vs the swivel in the head will cause the fish to swim differently IMHO. The head swivel will drop the fish deeper. If done perferctly, I have seen it drop so deep that we missed a couple bites that would have been seen if the bait was on the surface but then again we probably should have been paying better attention . The swivel in the mouth works very well as well and will allow that fish to swim beautifully. The big advantage I see to the mouth swivel is that it is easier to ad a small rubber skirt to the head easier. This will generate a bite sometimes when the fish are spotted but just aren't eating. Also it is a great way to meatfish with circle hooks.

[TunaTeaser1]

How are you adding the skirt to the head with the swivel coming out of the mouth?

[Bert Rodgers]

How are you adding the skirt to the head with the swivel coming out of the mouth?

Cut the top of the skirt to make a hole large enough to slide over the bally's head and the swivel.

Bert

[Small Boat Junkie]

Guatamala style works best for me.