Drop-shot trap rig

For trap rigging big baits, traditionally I’ve used a slider on the main line with 8 ounces on the slider. Then a bead and swivel clip for quick replacement of pretied trap rigs on 2-3 feet of 40 lb mono. I just don’t like or trust 3-way swivels and prefer the slider “fishfinder” rigging. This is always on the port side. The right-side rod is almost always spinning now with 40 lb braid main line and hi-low swimbaits on 30 lb leaders.so it’s the second/left-side rod for big baits that presents a variable decision.

The limitation or tradeoff of the slider approach has been the need for mono main line to avoid tangles. When I tried getting nicer sliders and putting them on 30 lb braid, I broke off after hooking a decent fish. So that experiment ended quickly. But I really like my vintage Gliebe rod with 30 lb braid on an old Penn 85.

So I applied my love of dropper loops to the problem and came up with what I’m labeling with a W for wacky on the ziplock bags they go in.

Barrel swivel on ~3 feet of 30 lb mono and tie two dropper loops; one about in the middle and one at the end for a weight. Then separately tie a trap rig on ~2 feet of 40 lb mono with a beefy swivel and a glow bead. Thread the trap rig part through the middle dropper loop. Ideally the weight will be at the bottom and the trap rig part rides just higher than that to avoid snags. These clip right onto the main line for easy replacement and no need to take off a slider if I switch to jigging swimbaits. And swimbaiting the bottom is just better with braid.

I got a nice hali and some lings with this rig on live baits with no tangles or other issues. A tradeoff of running two rods with braid is that it can be more difficult to untangle things if you cross lines with yourself. Still, I love the chance to reel in good ones with my favorite vintage combo.

Gopher!!!

I've been mentally drafting a plan similar to this. you gave me some ideas.

I find a bounce ball (is that what it is called?) with a trap rig about the most tangly twisty hot mess you can drop overboard FOR ME.  I've pulled up a rig and it looked like my holiday decoration lights..just a wad of mess.

right now, I run a dropper loop rig more often.  I put a shrimp fly on the upper dropper, and whatever on the lower.  if something like a 6" rockfish eats the shrimp fly, I would love to move it to the lower dropper for a big Ling.  the single hook doenst always get it done.  I am considering tying a treble on a short leader with a clip at the other end.  then I simply clip the helper hook to the dropper and rig up the poor small rockfish, and send it. 

right now I fish with one rod, so I want my rig modular. 

You gave me an idea for a different sort of rig that could be used both for swim baits and to re-hook any baby rockfish or kingfish as ling bait without having to change rigs or use a second rod. A multitasker that covers my two main tactics.

The attached pic shows the first attempt. I could put a 4-inch or 5-inch swim bait on one or both of those hooks for an effect very similar to my normal high-low swimbait rigs.

And any smaller fish caught could be hooked through the lip or nose with the first hook, with the hook on the end acting as a stinger. Not as mean of a stinger as a treble hook, but there’s always a tradeoff.

 I guess a treble would work OK with swim baits if I used the smaller 4-inch ones. They wouldn’t thread onto a treble like you can with a nice straight shank J hook.

Planning to try this on the left-side, auxiliary rod next time out.

That looks good, I use a very similar rig. Instead of a dropper loop I tie my braid directly to one of those fancy 90 degree three way barrel swivels, the kind with two beads separating the middle swivel. Then I tie my leader and hooks to the middle swivel sticking straight out. It's very strong and I never have tangle issues, those fancy 3 way swivels are the bomb. One thing that i think would greatly improve your rig would be snelling the first hook on. It looks like you used a palamar knot. A Snell knot on the first hook would keep the hooks more in line, it would look cleaner, provide a better hookset with octopus hooks, prevent tangles and provide a much stronger connection for the second hook.

That looks good, I use a very similar rig. Instead of a dropper loop I tie my braid directly to one of those fancy 90 degree three way barrel swivels, the kind with two beads separating the middle swivel. Then I tie my leader and hooks to the middle swivel sticking straight out. It's very strong and I never have tangle issues, those fancy 3 way swivels are the bomb. One thing that i think would greatly improve your rig would be snelling the first hook on. It looks like you used a palamar knot. A Snell knot on the first hook would keep the hooks more in line, it would look cleaner, provide a better hookset with octopus hooks, prevent tangles and provide a much stronger connection for the second hook.

Similar function to the three way swivels is a trolling spreader. Those tend to work really well for me, with about 3-4ft leader and 1-2ft dropper to the weight.

I have always been intrigued by trolling spreaders but never used one. The other thing that I have been wanting to try is a walleye bottom bouncing rig. Its basically a spreader bar with a weight built in. I think an xl sized one would work great for lingcod and be much less likely to snag. What size spreader bar do you typically use? I assume you are using them for halibut?

I have always been intrigued by trolling spreaders but never used one. The other thing that I have been wanting to try is a walleye bottom bouncing rig. Its basically a spreader bar with a weight built in. I think an xl sized one would work great for lingcod and be much less likely to snag. What size spreader bar do you typically use? I assume you are using them for halibut?

I don't know the official size, but the long arm is about 5" and the short arm is about 3".  I use the trolling spreader for pretty much all "bait" fishing - it just lives on my saltwater trolling rod. 

I've not seen that walleye rig before, but it would probably work for saltwater, if you can find one with enough weight.  I usually slow troll, like 1.5kt or so, but with bigger baits and ocean currents/winds, sometimes even slow trolling requires 6-8oz weight to keep my bait where I want it.