Some thoughts on Riggies

[chefchris401]

my obsession with rigged eels started 3 or 4 seasons ago.

after hearing all the good things about them i rigged up 3 eels, two normal size and one jumbo.

first time i fished them i brought my usually plugs and the 3 eels in a ziplock, started with plugs and no love, 2nd cast with the rigged eel in the same spot produced a solid 20lb fish, and it continued 4 or 5 solid mid 20lb fish on one eel and i understood the appeal.

i rigged mine with small zipties, ive never used dacron or rigging floss and have never seen the difference, you can rig an eel in under 7 minutes.

that first big eel i rigged caught 9 fish according to my log, from 18 to 27lbs, until it had its tail bitten off by a blue, it was so beat up, blue skin, guts starting to fall out and it stunk, but it keep producing.

the first year i fished them they were my number 1 producer, and i always brought plugs with me too.

Ive had a few nights were i start with a rigged eel and nothing, then go to a needle or darter and fish on right away, go back to the riggie and nothing. those fish are keyed on the action or profile vs. the scent and appeal of a big rigged eel.

If i have a solid bite in front of me i like to switch plugs out and try and see if its action, color, profile, etc so my findings are based on a lot of experimenting

i always carry a few on me, i rig them up, a little water in a heavy ziplock and freeze up, usually 2 or 3 in a bag, grab a bag and by the time i get to my spot they are almost good to go, if they are little frozen i just soak em in the sea water and start with plugs then switch over to riggies. Having them frozen and ready to go is one of the biggest appeals for me.

for me this season has been the slowest ive seen on rigged eels, just not getting the love from them, but darters have been slaying fish like its going out of style.

eelbobs and skin plugs are a most too, skin needles slay.

great thread, especially for august!