Thread: MY Worm/nightcrawler rig.

Here above are the components for my worm or night crawler rig, you will see from hook to float or bobber how to assemble them. This rig requires a slip knot tied onto the line above the float to determine the depth of water in which it is to be fished. This rig is particularly good for deep wide slow flowing rivers that contain fresh salmon. This a a commonly used rig in Ireland, and especially used on the westcoast of mayo on the moy river for atlantic salmon. The picture below shows different types of jumping jacks or sinkers which have been adapted for soft shingle, sand, clay, and rougher bottom river beds and come in different sizes. The reason they are so good in these conditions is that the tube simply keeps the line off the bottom and the bait flowing freely.




You can see from the picture below that everything has been assembled on the main line except the dropper to the hook. Even the tied stop knot has been positioned above the top bead ready to be slipped up the line, these stop knots can be ready made and looped onto the line before te rig is assembled. This type of float is very light for its size and salmon love to take them for a spin and when they do, they go fast. Normally i would put a flourecant bead at the bottom end near the swivel, just a personal preference. If say your main line is 20lb, try and use a lighter dropper to the hook, say 12lb. That way if you do get hooked up on the bottom for some reason, you are only going to loose the hook and not the whole rig which you will have to assemble again.











Here below with the help of my office door is the whole rig. i would normally use ths rig for sea fishig as well in twenty to fifty metres of water for larger fish, its great visual disapperance is a joy to watch. It is such a simple rig to use and deadly for salmon with a healthy bunch of worms/night crawlers on the hook. I would normally use a number four beak or bait hook with this rig for early spring salmon and for grilse and late fish. I also use barbless hooks and strike early when thinking of catch and release, if ya don't hook it, ya won't spook it and ya might just get a second chance.



Below is how the rig would fish for salmon, lets say the float or bobber is on the surface of the water and the jumping jack is on the bottom of the river. Notice how the float should lie flat on its side. The flow of the river would be from left to right in this shot, so your worms or night crawlers should be fishing in front of the weight or jumping jack. Note that the length of line from the swivel to the hook should be at least three feet or more, this gives the line free movement on a wider scale on the bottom of the river. When the fresh fish start tugging on this rig wait and wait until the float takes off upstream, towards, or away from you. Te strike should be on the forward movement of the float/bobber. Also note that the jumping jack can be tied between two swivels with about eighteen inches of line in between, that will stop tangling on the cast but make sure all the knots are secure.
So thats my worm rig, what about some more guys?



Regards
SDD