Bwana's "Swimming Bonnie" Dead Bait

[super_daav]

Mark superb tut!    Quick question: Is the 2nd piece of copper wire used to wire the mouth shut only there to hold the elastic band and sinker copper wire in place? Does it make a difference to the "life" of the bait once in the water?
 
Thanks.

[Bwana]

@SD- I like to wire the mouths of all my deadbaits shut. It prevents the mouth opening into that "scream" look after a while in the water (which can also cause the gills to flare). I suppose you could get away with using the IGFA clip to keep the mouth closed but I use the copper to ensure the mouth is properly closed, then the IGFA clip is primarily a centred towing point. I am sure you can come up with a variety of adaptations to this rig as well. On my live bonnies I use an IGFA clip through the top lip and pin the two hooks as in this case.

[Tommo]

A very well presented tut and a great bait presentation too! I think I will give this one a test drive on my ski and see if I can tempt one of those crocs in my home waters. Thanks Mark and   for you!

[Bwana]

Thanks Tommo, let us know if you catch a bus couta!

[shagnrelease]

With the Cuta comps around the corner, I thought this would be a great thread to bump, get that rigging practice in chaps!!

[jaenswart]

With the Cuta comps around the corner, I thought this would be a great thread to bump, get that rigging practice in chaps!!

I was looking at this last night too

[super_daav]

Trying this tomorrow for sure!!

[PH]

Trying this tomorrow for sure!!

   SD!!! Hope you win the Hilux.

[Bwana]

well guys I wish you all the best of luck this weekend in the comp. I have been using this setup again over the past 2 months with good success, but have also learnt a few tweaks:


1) With small Bonnies (jub-jubs) the elastic often slips off the pec fins so I have been substituting the good old toothpicks instead (push the toothpick into the base of each pec fin and trim off the excess)
2) In clean water I have been leaving the duster off and using only a single glow bead in front of the IGFA clip, when rigged neatly the sinker is not very visible
3) I normally get the most revs with this bait downrigged near the bottom


Give it a go boys, post some pics of the fish you get! 

[super_daav]

Awesome stuff!! Cannot wait to try!

[REEFMAN]

With the Cuta comps around the corner, I thought this would be a great thread to bump, get that rigging practice in chaps!!

Done. Topic stickied and added to featured articles (at the bottom of Home page)

[isivuba]

  Thanks for sharing, will try it but the tooth pick thing on the dorsal fin who knew. Awesome post

[CLS]

Fantastic, thanks for sharing, I will def give it a go., Where do you get the IGFA clips?

[Bwana]

CLS- the IGFA clips are getting quite expensive so do yourself a favour and buy one pack of medium ones, then what I do is bend my own ones to the same shape with #12 single strand wire, by doing this I can vary the size and the big bonus is that the wire is not shiny so it is a more camouflaged rig! Now there's a litlle inside secret!much cheaper too, tight lines and happy rigging.

[CLS]

Thanks a lot, will do that.

[jaenswart]

Fantastic, thanks for sharing, I will def give it a go., Where do you get the IGFA clips?

any fishing store. They go for R10 per packet (2) up here these days.

[Sailor]

Absolutely fantastic. Thanks