How to Make a Redfish Rig

Red fish rigs are built with a large size range in mind.

Redfish are also known as red drums, channel bass, spot-tail bass or simply reds. These fish live along the coast in the Atlantic Ocean. Redfish range in size and can weigh up to 94 pounds. Fishing for redfish can be done off shorelines and docks or they can be found in bays and coastal marshes. The fish typically resides close to sandy bottoms and can be fished for using rigs that place the lure close to this area.

Things You'll Need

• 6 oz. spider sinker
• Measuring tape
• 30-lb. test mono-filament fishing line
• 64-lb. test mono-filament fishing line
• Duct tape
• Knife
• Mullet
• 135-pound test 7 strand nylon leader
• #2 swivel
• 7/0 eagle claw steel hook
• Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

1. Lay your rod on a flat surface in front of you. Identify the end of the spooled line and place it on the right edge of the surface.

2. Measure and cut an 8-foot piece of 65-pound test mono-filament fishing line. This will be your casting leader. Lay the piece in front of you so that one end is on the left and the other is near the end of the spooled line.

3. Grasp the right end of the casting leader and the free end of the spooled line. Overlap these two pieces about 6 inches. Grasp the casting leader in the middle of the overlapped area. Loop the casting down to the left. Wrap it around the overlapped area six times, moving toward the left. The wraps should go through the formed loop. Pull the end of the casting leader through the formed loop and pull the end toward the left. Pulling the leader end will tighten the knot.

4. Grasp the end of the spooled line in the middle of the overlapped area. Loop the spooled line down and to the right. Wrap it around the overlapped area six times moving toward the right. The wraps should go through the formed loop. Pull the end of the spooled line through the formed loop and pull the end to the right. Pulling the end will tighten the knot.

5. Grasp the spooled line and the casting leader and pull firmly in opposing directions. This motion will pull the two knots formed in Step 3 and Step 4 together. Cut the excess line.

6. Measure and cut a 30-inch piece of 135-lb. test 7 strand nylon. Tie a #2 swivel to the right end of the nylon. This is the body of your leader rig.

7. Tie a 7/0 eagle claw hook approximately 3 inches from the left end of the leader rig.

8. Lay the spider sinker on a flat surface in front of you, positioned on the left of the leader rig. This will be the bottom piece of your rig. Tie the free end of the leader rig to the spider sinker.

9. Cut two small pieces of duct tape. Wrap the first piece of duct tape around the knot joining the leader rig and the spider sinker. Wrap the second piece of duct tape around the knot joining the casting rig and the spooled line.

Tips & Warnings

• You can adjust the length of your casting leader for different fishing conditions. The sinker should always be on the bottom of the water body.

• Do not tape the knots connecting the leader rig to the casting rig. This will impede the movement of the line.

References

• Bertaut; How to Catch Redfish!
• Blue Water Candy Lures; Red Drum Rigs
• You Tube; Red Drum Pier/Surf Rig
• "Chesapeake Angler Magazine"; Expert Drum Fishing; Lee Kelly; June 2006