"Tying" a T&W rig

[Bill Becker]

I've been planning to make my own T&W rigs and have a couple questions.

1. How important is the bent limerick hook to the action of the tube?

2. What type of wire do I thread through the tube?

3. Where do you guys buy your spinner blades and glass beads?

Thanks for the help.

Bill B

[Bill Becker]

I've been planning to make my own T&W rigs and have a couple questions.

1. How important is the bent limerick hook to the action of the tube?

2. What type of wire do I thread through the tube?

3. Where do you guys buy your spinner blades and glass beads?

Thanks for the help.

Bill B

[Ken L]

I haven't tried it but a big circle is making more and more sense to me. The commercial versions all seem to use a length of stranded stainless but I can't see why a piece of single stranded wire leader wouldn't work. I think the biggest challenge is the rudder which you can get from Jon. I use two BB swivels in the deal because aside from the action of the tube twisting the line, all the drag some of these fish pull adds a lot of twist too.

Ken lyons

[JonS]

You don't need the curved hook, but I don't know about the circle. It needs experimenting.
I would use a few strands and twist it up. MOre spring in multiple strands.
You don't need a spinner of beads. I wouldn't tie one up with them. JOev's tubes don't have them and they work well.

baja55@optonline.net

[JLH]

Can anyone recommend a place to buy the surgical tubing for making the TnW rigs? I would like to try tying a few of my own.

[JonS]

NilsC, good idea on the snap. Even better would be a breakaway clip. Think I'll do that so I can experiment with hooks.

baja55@optonline.net

[Bill Becker]

Thanks for the advice guys. Nils, great idea with the snap swivel or break away clips.

Jon, what gauge wire do you use?

Surgical Tubing can be purchased off the following website.

http://www.4fishin.com/surgical_tubing.htm

[JonS]

I haven't but I'm going to take a tube to the welding supply store today and get some. Then I'll let you know.

baja55@optonline.net

Another place to buy the tubing is SNL corp (772) 589-3087. The tubing quality i.m.o. is excellent, is the same material as the ones NilsC uses (I know because he gave one to me) and is half the price of the tubing at the above web site.

As far as the wire goes, I ve been using multi-strand galvanized picture hanging wire which has worked well but will rust out eventually. I tried to find out from Nils where he gets the wire for his (with the nice coil to it) but he never answered me, maybe he's keeping it a secrethttp://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I think I'll check a welding supply store like JonS said. Thanks Jon.

As far as the limerick hooks, I wouldn't waste my time with them, In my experience they're used to give action to a short length of tube as on a umbrella rig etc., but if you're using the right tubes and wire, and keeping them tied in a loose overhand knot when in storage they'll have plenty of action without the limericks and then you're free to use good sharp hooks like Gamis etc.

As far as using circle hooks in tubes, I've used Gami circle hooks and gotten plenty of fish but I've switched back to reg. Gami Octopus out of concern that I might be missing some strikes.

Good idea about the snap Nils, I still plan to check out the wire periodically though to see if it needs replacement as single strand in particular can become kinked and break with a powerful fish on. I lost a good one this season because the galvanized wire I was using had rusted and weakened.Good fishing. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[JonS]

I'm using the 1/16" straight SS wire. It comes in 3' legnths and is sold by weight. I simply bend it to shape and its worked well.

baja55@optonline.net

[Bill Becker]

Thanks for the alternate tubing source. I ordered from the site that I posted earlier in this string and the Red tubing is a little different in color than what I have been using. It's more of an apple red than a blood red. I haven't tried one of these tubes yet, but I'll let everyone know if they work well.

After loosing another fish yesterday, I finaly swiched to a Gami hook on my tube last night. Hopefully that will do the trick.

I think SS wire is the way to go. I would hate to loose a fish to a rusted out rig.

Bill B

[This message was edited by Bill Becker on October 13, 2003 at 09:45 AM.]

[DMala]

I just build the lure using 80lb test mono (I use crimps which are easier than making knots on a thick line), then I slip a section of zinc-coated (stainless steel would be better, but I did not have it handy) through the tube, tie one end to the ring of the hook, cut the other end flush with the egg sinker at the proximal end of the lure, without tieing it to anything, since it just serves the purpose to keep the coiled shape. If the steel wire rusts, I just replace it without having to retie the lure.

DMala