Rigging live mullet - throw bait?

[stalin]

Ja neh, is waar! I need help, each time I cast live mullet for eddies it comes off the hook or at times when reeling line out I find it dead (trace etc perfect).  I've never come right with this one, grrrrrrr. Any tips?   

[CASTSA]

Hi Stalin

Well this is a tricky one, it all depends on how far you are looking to throw your mullet??

In my opinion, there are only two ways to pin a mullet or any other live bait to cast for that matter and this is how I do it.
1) Two hooks, front hook goes throught the top lip and the the back hook between the two pectoril fins. This will mean the mullet is hooked head first and will swim into the currant. This method the fish may put its head down and stay low when swimming into the currant because of the trace and hooks.

2) This is a club labelled the "King of Live-baits" method, dont want to mention names as I dont have permission, they do it the opposite, front hook through the hard of the tail and the back hook between the two pectorils. This method the live bait tries to swim away from the hook and trace and keeps swimming up and thus causing erretic movements and with the placing of the hooks it stays alive for a good period of time.

They both work well, I use different methods for different fish, depending on where I am fishing and he structure. For example you couldnt use method two at a river mouth that has a strong currant because pulling the fish backwards will drown it.

Sorry dont have the time to draw a diagram, just ask if you have any questions...

[adam]

I use a different method.

double hook trace

top hook through the eye socket (this will anchor the bait, and allow a full cast.  will also keep the fish's head into current)

bottom hook along back, beneath dorsal fin (hook can be very proud as there is no real pressure on it)

[adam]

more or less like this.  think you'll have to download pic to see

[ebrahim]

livebait rigging options




single hook for close casting- flicking


double hook for sliding

[Action Man]

Ebriham the way you pin you live bait for sliding will drown it surely? you sliding it backwards

[ebrahim]

Ebriham the way you pin you live bait for sliding will drown it surely? you sliding it backwards

hiya.


backwards? why would drown? on a non return slide it can only swim forward.


been fishing for cob this way for a while and it works fine, the bigger mullet slid out lasts for up to 2-3hrs.


post post a pic of your method so that i may see why my mullet would drown... ?


ebrahim

[Lenny]

and remember that Toothpick just under the skin . Maybe Ebrahim just forgot to mention that .
We rig ours otherwise , the above methods works well too .


Most of our baits we cast out , the most common problems Newbies [for throwing livebaits ] have it giant overruns , 'deadlivies' ,not getting distance [think this is the main reason sliding with livies are so popular ] and hooks tearing out , Livies 'mooning up' on the cast .
Heres a few things to keep in mind that might help guys  .
 Match your hook with the size bait you fishing , I like a Single hook , and prefer a Circle .
Clipping  the bottom part of the livebaits tail with a knife will make it swim away from the bottom , when fishing for Leeries ect .
When choppin of a part of the top of the tail , then it would swim 'low' for Cob ect , this can also be done to Sliding them , they move faster to the Stopper . We cut a small part of the top of , because I use a Sliding sinker rig .
The one pick Ebrahim has posted with the the tail gone , is good for when you have plenty Livebaits , I have not seen anybody use that method in ages ,but like I said Try everything , and see what works for you ! [size=78%] [/size]

When collecting livebaits , remember its beter to have 6 live ones apposed to 20 dead ones ...
When you fishing in Rivers , from a boat , you need to hook the bait somewhere in the head , [I prefer a singel Circle in the top lip , with the hook point facing upwards ]this keeps the bait head first into the current . an helps keeping them alive for longer .
Theres many , many ways of rigging them up , find out what works for you !!!
[size=78%]and when you get that pull let him take line , give the fish a proper chance to get hold of that bait .    [/size]
  [size=78%]  [/size]

[Lenny]

http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,199.0.html


Heres Reefmans Sliding Livebait Thread .

[ebrahim]

a small livie slid backwards will DROWN...




the way we been doing down in the w cape...


the bigger livies when slid, primarily swim to the stopper ring with some slide jerking to help it get there.




when you get a pull on the bait let it go, DO NOT strike... cob wants to descale the fish, before swallowing.


on the run of more than 10 seconds then, give a gentle strike... game on.

[ebrahim]

awesome... i am going to rig REEFMANS method.


looks nice for sliding bigger live ones.

[adam]

Reefman's rig it fine for shad and other large baits, but that rig won't work with a mullet unless you snell the trailer hook.
the problem is that the sliding hook will move down the trace and "bend" the mullet effectively killing it.

regarding your sliding trace for mullet:  (think this is what Action Man meant)
The fish will swim out fine to the stopper, but as soon it reaches it and the current gets hold of it, the hook near the tail will cause it to face down-current causing water to flow in "reverse" through the gills.  If the current is not too strong, it will probably survive.  Switch your hooks around and the livie will face into the current.

[Lenny]

As , I mentioned theres plenty of ways , find out what work for you !
And as far as the small livebaits goes , just throw them ! No hassles ,[you can also scale down your line and reel to a Size 20 and .40mm line ,which can also double up as a Blobbait , or Worm rig if the Livebaits are scarce ] and while the other guys are sliding small livies and sukkeling , you will get the pull .


As far as the bigger baits goes ,I didnt look at the thread before posting the link , but ja that works too , similar to the Baitneedle rig we use on throwbaits , with the hooks pointing to each other .