Question for the Meat Trollers

[bobdu11]

I've asked this before but never got a "real" reason other than being lazy but here goes...

When trolling for Tuna ....With Witches or Islanders over Ballyhoo, what is the difference between Wire or Springs to secure the ballyhoo.....I just don't see how when the whole front of the Hoo is covered by the witch or islander how a spring could affect the bite verses rigging with rigging wire.....

Thanks.....Bob

[BuffaloHunter]

As simply as possible, imo the degree to which tension (drag) is applied to the hook and not the ballyhoo itself. When there's tension on the hook, the bait spins, especially of the bend in the hook in pulling against the belly of the ballyhoo. In order to get a bait to swim well with a spring I've found you have to really tighten that thing down so that the tension is completely on the spring/pin than on the hook, but when its snug they seem to swim fine. Rigging with or without a pin and wire tends to be a little more stealthy, and if your good at rigging that way, I think the baits swim a little better. Therefore its not so much how the two methods effect "the bite," but how effective each method is at securing the bally. My .02


Brian

[Big Jay]

I used the springs in the past. They were easy. However, many times they pulled the pin rig too much and cause the hook to pull on the hoo, putting an S bend in it. We all know that just results in a spin. That's just unacceptable.

I always run a pin rig. When running hoos behind lures i'll secure it with a rubberband. It takes a while to get the right size rubberbands for the job. The bag we have is at home, so i don't know the number off the top of my head.

When i run them naked/swimming, i'll use wire to make it more hydrodynamic and sleek.

[JRJBfishing]

I use a combination of both depending on the situation. When using skirts in front of the ballyhoo as long as the bait is rigged right the difference in the way the bait swims is minimal. The good thing about springs and rubber bands is they are quick and easy to use, and when you miss a fish you don't have to unwrap the wire and take the old bait off before you re-rig. It is also easier to teach people that haven't rigged that much to use springs as opposed to wire. The down side to springs is if you get a billfish, tuna, or dolphin that grabs the bait but doesn't get the hook, a lot of times it will pull the bait off on the first strike and therefore decrease your chances of a successful drop-back and hookup.

I prefer wire when fishing naked baits, billfishing (especially sails), and when I have experienced help on the boat. When I am the only one rigging and it looks like there is going to be a blood bath, i'll go with the springs or bands to make re-rigging quicker and more effective.

I am by no means a pro, and I'm sure there are other reasons for doing it one way or another, but from the experience that I have had, those are the reasons I would pick one over the other.

JRJB

[megabite]

I have always used rigging wire (long) or rubber bands.

[Bert Rodgers]

No spring , no rubberband, no pin rig. Monel.

Bert

[bobdu11]

Ok Bert...Why ?

[Bert Rodgers]

Just the way I like to rig them. I feel wrapping the monel around the gills and through the eye socket then passing it up through the upper jaw holds them on the hook better and gives a better pull point.

I'm not saying the others are wrong, just the way I like to rig.

Bert

[juicyhook]

It seems when you attach the wire to the hook and use it as the pin it stuff riggs the bait, hook is solid and not limp. A limp hook will result in a miss strikes. When a mouth comes near my razor sharp hook I don't want it to fold over as he clamps down.

Plus it seem on a short stike a spring bait will loss the hoo and there is nothing to drop back.

Not the only way just mine

[austin ensor]

also billfish may feel the spring if your looking for a bonus fish for the day.