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Are you using a pin through the nose? If not you should. The main cause of the ballyhoo bunching up is that you have the hook exiting to far back in the ballyhoo. This puts a curve in the ballyhoo which makes it spin. I always tell anyone that fishes with me (if they dont rig hoos very often) to short hook the ballyhoo, this keeps the bait from spinning. Short hooking is just that exiting the hoo about a 1/2" short of the bend in the hook. The trick it to keep the broken back of the ballyhoo straight without any curve. Also dont use the springs they will nick your leader on the pointy end. Try them then look at you leader you will see a nick all the way around the leader where the point of the nose spring is located..........Been there done that. Use 20-30 lb Monel wire, copper wire or rubberands. I will shoot you some photos tonight......Mark
Hey guys, I have rigged it exactly like in the picture on that URL...Yes on the pin...my hoo run great with sea witches, naked, Stubby Bubblers...etc...just bunch up on Islanders, I think its the head weight...was thinking maybe a crimp and bead about a half inch up from the pin would help...
Try leaving the beak longer and line the eyes of the islaner up with the eyes on the ballyhoo. Remember the large Islanders have a offset hole in the front, Make sure you line the hole up properly with the ballyhoo..........Mark
Same here and I use the springs with no problems, much easier. If you are worried about it put a chaffing tube in front of the crimp. Also cut a small slit toward the front of the hoo where the hook exits. This will prevent bunching up. Check baits often for wash outs and short hits that do no trip the release but take off the rear of the bait. I do not have to change baits unless I get hit.
Here is a few photos.
This is a Island lure Mistress and the standard pin rig we use with chin weight and monel wire: Yes springs are easier but when fishing for big fish the nick they make in the leader is something you really need to avoid. Using them on wire would be ok but Mono or flouro I would not use them.
Killer White Marlin and Sailfish lure by the way.....
Here is a few photos.
This is a Island lure Mistress and the standard pin rig we use with chin weight and monel wire: Yes springs are easier but when fishing for big fish the nick they make in the leader is something you really need to avoid. Using them on wire would be ok but Mono or flouro I would not use them.
Killer White Marlin and Sailfish lure by the way.....
Don't disagree but unfortunately, you cannot use that rig if you fish billfish tournaments anymore. With that particular head, I don't even use any kind of weight. That looks like a 7732, if you get a chance, try the 7691 if you want stainless or the 3412 needle-eye. The needle-eye doesn't cause the gills of the ballyhoo to flare out. Cheaper than stainless as well. I use SS hooks in lures and non-stainless in bait rigs.
Don't disagree but unfortunately, you cannot use that rig if you fish billfish tournaments anymore. With that particular head, I don't even use any kind of weight. That looks like a 7732, if you get a chance, try the 7691 if you want stainless or the 3412 needle-eye. The needle-eye doesn't cause the gills of the ballyhoo to flare out. Cheaper than stainless as well. I use SS hooks in lures and non-stainless in bait rigs.
Ya we dont tournament fish at all just fun fish. This set up is actually from a tuna trip we just got back from two weeks ago. The chaffing material was for the few Wahoo that were around I like the weight to keep the lure just under the surface when it is rough. We use 7691s as well. For Blue Marlin we use the Hayes hooks on our stiff rigs they are top notch hooks. I had a approximate 600lb Blue bend a 7732 stiff rigged behind a MoldCraft Chugger this year so we made the switch back in June.
Very nice, thanks again...my rigging is not far off from what you show, I don't employ the chaffing guard, and I typically run the pin wire all the way through the hook eye and back into the crimp...but I think I'm on the right track...just need a bit more practice I'm sure..; )
Islander Rigging
