Swivel Rig tutorial

[dodger]

I  have been pondering how to rig Kona’s without using the Stiff Rig arrangement  or Chain Gangs. We use Chain Gangs and they have a very good hook up rate,  which is not so with Stiff Rigs. We have even used Stiff Rigs made by a very renown  charter skipper and the results are the same i.e. a poor hook up rate compared  to the Chain gang.
Thinking  about this I read somewhere about a Swivel Rig, this allows the hook a bit of  movement in the skirt from the hook and the swivel. I needed to rig some small  lures and this is what I did.
You  need
·          Small  Kona head – I have used a Black Bart Beast
·          Small  Power swivel
·          200  lb split ring
·          Length  of 200 lb nylon coated wire
·          Hook  to suit the diameter of the Kona head
·          2  copper crimps
·          4  pieces of shrink fit (only 2 red shown we need 3)
The  wire should be the length of the skirt from the underside of the head.
   
Bend  the wire to fit the swivel, I use a pair of modified circlip pliers to get a  nice loop
Fit  the split ring to the swivel, and crimp on to the wire. The length of wire  should have a longish tag end through the crimp which makes fitting the crimp  easier. After Crimping cut trim the tag end

[dodger]

Fit  one piece of heat shrink on over the lower eye of the swivel
Fit  a section of heat shrink over the shank of the hook, this allows the final heat  shrink to bond firmly
Put  the copper crimp onto the wire and the 2^nd piece of shrink fit.  Check the position of the hook in the skirt allowing for the leader chaffing  cover & crimp. The eye of the hook should be just inside the skirt.
    Bend the wire to suit  and crimp, cut off the tag end

[dodger]

Fit  he shrink fit over the crimp and loop such that it is adjacent to the hook eye.
Fit  the last piece of shrink fit onto the shank of the hook and cover the eye adjacent  to the wire loop
the finished rig
The lures ready to go

[HooknCook]

Stiff Rig should give you a good hook-up ratio. Just make sure your Hooks are sharp and orientated correctly. With the swivel rig, its designed to be used with a Keel weight from pakula Lures. Seems you have rigged the Black Bart Micro lures here, i would just rig then with a small double semi-stiff hookset or a single hook free to swing. A swivel rig with a keel weight will be too bulky for those little lures.

[John F]

Nice one dodger!!!

The Pakula swivel rig... works very well. Even better with some lead in the hook (keel rig) to ensure the hook point is always facing up.... excellent hook up rate!!!

Why the split ring? I think it weakens the whole rig...

[John F]

I see you have beaten me to it charles... fast fingers

[dodger]

Stiff Rig should give you a good hook-up ratio. Just make sure your Hooks are sharp and orientated correctly. With the swivel rig, its designed to be used with a Keel weight from pakula Lures. Seems you have rigged the Black Bart Micro lures here, i would just rig then with a small double semi-stiff hookset or a single hook free to swing. A swivel rig with a keel weight will be too bulky for those little lures.

We have tried all of that, with 60, 90 & 180 deg rigs, hooks are new Dojos or Mustad southern Tuna and still not a good hook up rate. Richard on the charter now only uses chains which have a much better hook up rate. Basically what I have done is a single hook that is not fixed and with the swivel has some movement. As I started my Tut, we have used lures rigged by a very experienced skipper, using southern tuna hooks and last week we dropped lots of tuna at the boat


The split ring is for the chafing tube on the leader, on small rigs like this the eye in the swivel is a bit tight on the leader

[John F]

As I started my Tut, we have used lures rigged by a very experienced skipper, using southern tuna hooks and last week we dropped lots of tuna at the boat

The split ring is for the chafing tube on the leader, on small rigs like this the eye in the swivel is a bit tight on the leader

Two comments:

1. I think losing fish at the boat has very little to do with the hook set... how big were those YFT? What were they eating (large/small bait)? If you managed to bring them to the boat then you managed to hook them in the first place....

2. That split ring will give on a big fish... trust me... you'll have to fish with lighter drags... which means, more fighting time and more chances to get taxed...

[dodger]

Thanks Marcos - noted, I will change the rings to shackles

[tkei]

I also like the swivel rig, but not int he small sizes like this. I use them on my bigger konas only.
On the small lure si use 90 deg stiff rigs on salmon swash hooks (sail set up). Of late I have had 100% hook up rate. i have caught the carpet numerous times, the lure bag 90% success rate) and other lures leaders 98% success rate. Luckily it has missed my 7 yr old and the dog so far.


WRT the split ring,. IMo its an unnecessary link and additional point of failure. Rather use a bigger swivel. As a keel i have split barrel sinkers with a hack saw and heat shrink them to the shank.
Hook wise, I dont like southern and tuna. I use the owner Jabu (nice and sharp but the black ones corrode where the cable goes throught he eye due to different metals. I havent used the chromed with sacrificial annodes yet.
I otherwise use the mustad open gape hooks (I think 7632). I like my hooks open looking for meat. I read the southern style should be used with light drag to work almost like a circle. Not sure I like that idea.


Chains are great for hook ups, Not great if you want to release fish, and are dangerous as hell. I have had one free swinging chain through my croc(punishment for wearing crocs I guess) and another swing and catch my bucket srap right nect to the last place i want a 10/0 and angry dorado attached. Both times were dorado on or come off the gaff. They are just too dangerous and I am too s$#t scared to bill a billfish with chains, unless I can see both hooks firmly in the fish.

[John F]

I'm with you Adam...

On smaller lures and rappies I have been using the Mustad Hoodlum from 6/0 up to 10/0... either single or 90o stiff. Sharp, wide  and relatively cheap. They do rust but at for their price, well worth it...

[dodger]

A small double semi stiff hook set, what exactly does that look like