Simple and Friendly Thresher Rig

[BiggestT]

I got tired of making repeated posts, so here's a picture of the leader I use to slow troll bridle rigged mackerel for threshers:



The circle hook is a heavy duty Owner. I believe the size is 8/0 or 9/0, but I placed it next to a 5 oz torpedo weight for reference. There's approximately 2' of 400 lb cable and 10' of 400 lb mono. I use a 400 lb wind-on (by Basil) above this leader, so my main line is well away from the thresher's tail. The weight is attached just below the wind-on connection with a #32 rubberband using a 5-turn cats paw so it won't slide down the leader. The #32 rubberband breaks about 10 lbs and the weight will typically drop off during the fight. I usually use 6 oz to 8 oz weights, depending on the size of the mackerel.

Slow troll at 2 knots. I use a single 48" chute to slow my idle speed from 2.7 knots down to 2 knots or less. You will not cover much ground, so find your fishy areas, whether it's feed on the meter, birds, have even got them in areas with porpoise. Drop 2 baits in and work the area for 30 minutes. If nothing, then move to another fishy area. Troll the baits with the drag set to where the line stops paying out. Sometimes they will inhale it and are off to the races with the reel screaming, then just push the drag up. If you get a zip from a tail slap, stop the boat and let the baits sink out. You may have to wait minutes, but observe your baits to make sure they're still there as I've had them swatted completely off the hook. Typically they'll come back around and inhale the bait they just swatted. We had a 300 lb T inhale both baits last August. Give the fish a good 5 to 10 second count, push up the drag and you should be on.

Your hook-up ratio will be soooooo much higher using this method. Every missed tail swat on a Bait-O-Matic will most likely become a hooked fish because you're feeding them as opposed to trying to snag them. You'll know a mouth hooked thresher because they'll put on a aerial show and your jaw will drop when you see a 300 lb slob come completely out of the water. Also, there's less chance of the deep death dive with a mouth hooked T. Once you get their head, you can get their tale to work for you by using the boat. None of this straight up and down pulling on a tail hooked fish. We've brought 300 lb fish to the boat in less than 20 minutes and rarely go over 40 minutes on them.

[ConSeaMate]

Great post...............

[sdfishkiller]

Sweet instructional report. Definitely a "Sticky"

[Reelveal]

Bingo - now how many Capt Jacks will apply this knowledge.

[Stanley]

I'm all for banning the "Drag & Snag"...not to mention posting pictures of multiple Threshers on your swimstep.

Anglers need to realize how valuable this fishery is and (more importantly) how close we are to having it closed from February through August.

This was an excellent post.

[ECMFab]

Thanks for taking the time to write that!

Originally Posted by Stanley

I'm all for banning the "Drag & Snag"...not to mention posting pictures of multiple Threshers on your swimstep.

Anglers need to realize how valuable this fishery is and (more importantly) how close we are to having it closed from February through August.

This was an excellent post.

This is VERY true. Saddens me to see the multiple Ts on the step too. I dont get why people think they need like 400lbs of that meat.

[Bigfish69]

Awesome tutorial steve thank you for that.

Now i just gotta pray!

69R

[Husker Heaven]

Very good info!

[Bank Robber]

Great post Steve.

[BiggestT]

Please put this to good use and report back. Just trying to jump guys down the learning curve. I think it's a win-win solution across the board for both the fish and the anglers. It's something long over due to be implemented.

I'm off tomorrow night to Boise for a couple days of fishing the Big O, which is going off. I should get my 20 on a 20, that's a 20" trout on a size 20 dry fly.

[South Bend]

Thanks Steve. One thing I like to add (not to thread jack), but these caught fish need to be taken care of. What I mean is, I know everyone loves the money picture with the full weight of the fish, but I recommend cleaning the fish immediately and putting ice on it, just like you would with any other fish. I laugh when I see T's stacked up on a swim step and all dried out, because they've been out trying to get another one.

I gut them, cut the head, tail and fins off right away. After this process the fish is very workable and you can cut it up in sections to fit in whatever fish holds you have and pack with ice. I've done it this way and I've also kept them whole and cleaned them at home. The meat is much better when immediately cleaned and iced. Just my $.02.

[el capo]

Originally Posted by Reelveal

Bingo - now how many Capt Jacks will apply this knowledge.

That's a good one Kevin.