Teasers

[Patrick82]

I have 10 brand new beautiful teasers thanks to Charlie M. He saw my post that I don't use them much because I didn't have any and he brought me some of his first tied ones. (If I sell them, do I get to sell them as rookies?) Nah, they are beautiful and they will hammer the fish.

Allright, here is my question. For the most part, I've heard three theories on spacing when it comes to teasers.

1. Teasers should be put a far distance above the plug so it looks like the plug is chasing the teaser. If it is put too close it looks unnatural.

2. The teaser should be put close to the plug because the plug will attract attention to the teaser.

3. The teaser and plug have nothing to do with each other. It just doesn't matter.

So which is right? I have the feeling the first is right but I want the board's opinion.

Here is a tip I found. When Charlie gave me the teasers, he had them in individual ziplock bags inside a big ziplock bag. Well I tied the teaser on and I didn't want it to get snagged. I put the small ziplock bag over the teaser and zipped it closed. No more problems!

[Charlie M]

Patrick...Somebody has got to use them, might as well be you. I should have given you the one I never leave home with, but you haven't earned it yet. You gotta catch some bass with these first.

I think that the teaser works in any of those scenarios, but I couldn't tell you when, cause I'm not a bass. Sometimes they are keyed in on smaller baits than your plug. Sometimes you want to have a teaser with a similiar profile to you plug, but in a different color to try and figure out what they want. I like at least 3 feet in between the plug and the teaser, I prefer 4' though.

You should have asked these questions at Don's, I would have shown you exactly what I did there and what teasers I like to use.

Charlie

[Mike P]

I go with #3 most of the time. The times I've caught double-headers were almost always when I was using a small plug behind the teaser, when the fish were on small bait, like sand eels. Can't recall ever having a double when I used something like a darter or bottle plug basically to take the teaser out to where the fish were. When you know what kind of bait the fish are on, I think you should use a plug that closely matches the size of the teaser. I've had a lot of doubles of good quality fish at Nauset using a needlefish on the end and a 6" Red Gill as the teaser. When you don't know whether the fish are on stout or thin bait, I think the better approacg is to use a stout plug and small teaser. Let the fish tell you what they're on. If you're getting all the hits on the big plug, pull the teaser to guard against a bluefish clipping both off your line. If you're getting the hits on the teaser, scale down the plug unless you need weight to reach the strike zone.

I set the teaser way ahead of the plug. I'm not sure I completetly buy Daignault's thoughts on the plug being able to spook a bass zeroing in on the teaser if it should bump the plug---I would think a bass is used to having bait bump it when attacking a school. But, it definitely can't hurt, and if nothing else, it forces you to use a longer drop which aids in loadng the rod on the cast. I don't think you need the plug to get the fish's attention focused on the teaser---if they're keyed on small bait, they'll find it pretty easily on their own.

I run the teaser on its own leader, running off one of the rings of the barrel. I've lost too many good fish on dropper loops to ever trust that knot---especially if you get a double and they're pulling against each other.

[jettyjockey18]

i've got no faith in droppers either...i havent lost any large because of one yet but i have lost 10 bucks worth of teaser/plug a couple of times plus having to retie a leader is a pain...i tie the teaser directly to the swivel also...i usually allow at least 30 to 36inches between where the teaser extends to and the main plug (the teaser is on a 6 to 8 inch piece of mono)...

[DaveS]

Anybody want RedGills? I got about 300 of 'em in all different colors. I cant believe that I went in my cellar today and found a shoebox that was marked R.G. My father stuck it down there in the 80's and it's been hidden ever since, too bad for him, finders keepers= keepers on a redGill,lol.

[10x10]

I don't buy the "the bass thinks it's a smaller fish trying to get his food" theory.Nor do I think the bass gets spooked by the plug.I have had bass butt the plug out of they're way or just swim right around it to eat the teaser.
The teaser looks like what the fish is eating.Plain and simple.If the fish are large and really hitting I don't use a teaser too much as you'll likely lose the thing or possibly the whole rig.
I dunno it's a judgment call on that.I'll bet Stetzko was glad he had one on the night he caught that cow.
I'll use a fly rod if I can, that works better anyway.
One of better nights I had was fishing a black needle with a big black Deciever in front of it.'Til I lost all the black Decievers anyway.
Didn't matter much, they would eat that needlefish too but the deciever was getting more action than the plug.

[Saltheart]

I use a 50 Lb Ande leader and tie a double surgeons loop in the end with a swivel in the loop and a 12 inch tag end and 4 feet long end. I tie the teaser on the short line and leave it about 6 inches long plus the teaser. I bend the leader material so it sticks out sideways from the longer line. Then I tie a snap on the longer line so its 3 feet from the teaser. Whole thing is about 37 inches long plus the plug. I tie onto the swivel. The snap is nice cause you can change the plug easy. I've seen days where fall blitzing fish wouldn't touch a blue and white atom but would hammer an orange and yellow one so its nice to be able to change the plug easy.

I love a popper and a teaser for early morning and late afternoons this time of year. I used a greenish sandeel one Sat afternoon and had a black and white one with me friday night but just ended up eeling and didn't use it. I would have put it on with a black needlefish friday.

One of the things you have to be carefull of when rigging with a teaser is the teaser tangling with the plug line hanging down. A shorter whisker sticking out sort of sideways fron the line hanging down to the plug keeps the teaser frpm tangling. You can't really get that effect if you tie the teaser to the swivel. It just hangs down straight and sometimes gets fouled with the plug line. I guess there's nothing sacred about 3 feet but you shouldn't be too close IMO and you adjust the length for better casting around that 3 foot range.

50 lb Ande is pretty tough stuff but you can even go higher if you want. I've been trying 60 lb instead of 50 for a while now at the Ditch. For the teaser rig , the heavy line makes a nice stiff whisker to keep the teaser clear if you don't make it too long.

[Mr. Sandman]

try them all and do what works best for you. There is no one recipe that is best IMO.

For what its worth I use them about 50% of the time. They do a stimulate a feeding response in fish I think it is called "competitive feeding instinct" or something like that. Any way, I always have a handful of saltwater flies and 4-6" slugos. In my vest. I find they work better on smaller fish, but that is just me. On nights where I have been fishing without one and not had a touch, added a dropper and I caught fish. I have never landed a large ( > 25 lb) bass on a dropper, ever. I know other guys who claim they have. I believe that big fish like big bait. My dad loved these droppers, he would sometimes have two of them on at different postions. He once said, if he could cast an umbrella rig he would. So whatever works for you, fi#^&#^&#^&#^&.

I am convinced they work...the best kind?...frankly I like slugos. they seem to catch more fish and are cheap to replace. Good quality saltwater flies + a quality surf plug can be a costly rig to hang up on a rock. But in rock free areas, I use them .

[Patrick82]

Mike,

I use the same set up as you. Both leaders coming off the barrel swivel.

I guess I'll take the advice of use whatever works.

[Mr. Sandman]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Patrick82
[B]Mike,

I use the same set up as you. Both leaders coming off the barrel swivel.



One thing you can do to have one less knot at the swivel (I use small swivels so 2 knots look a little bulky) is when you tie your leader to the swivel leave a long "tail" on the knot (however long you want your dropper to extend) then use the tail to attach the dropper. I like this for two reasons:
1) one less knot (cleaner)
2) the tail generally is oriented 90 degres away from the leader material, this helps keep the dropper oriented in a good postion.

again, whatever works for you.

[10x10]

I rig my teaser set -up the same way as Sandman.It holds up and the teaser stands away from the line.
Don't think I ever got a bass over about 20 lbs or so on a teaser either.
Sandman,I've been using 60lb.Floro lately.Sometimes 40lb.Give it a try.It costs more sure, but I think I get more fish because of it.Sometimes I am the only one getting hook-ups and I'm using the same lure as everyone else on the same school of fish at the same time..Once Ok, but consistently?....well I'm convinced it makes a difference.I've been using Varivas floro which is pretty stiff,has good abrasion resistance and ties good knots.
Believe me I am as skeptical as anyone about "this is the greatest thing since sliced bread" lines.I am a reactionary Dinosaur and "if it ain't broke don't fix it."is my motto.

[JohnS]

Sandman, 10X10, thats a really good idea for using the "tail" so to speak of the main leader line and just leave enough excess for the teaser one knot nice and neat. Next time I get a change to go fishing and use a teaser/plug combo I am going to give that a shot. Good tip.

JohnS

[chris L]

that is an excellant tip . I learned something today ( 310pm ) wow Im starting late today .