Rigging Fresh Ballyhoo is the Way to Go :
Trolling is a method of fishing that involves using baited fishing lines which will be dragged through the water. It is practiced all over the world and has been done so for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. If you want to go trolling, one of the first things you have to learn about is rigging your bait.
Bait shops carry rigged bait, including Ballyhoo. However, nothing beats the satisfaction of rigging your own fresh Ballyhoo. Here are some steps you can follow to help you rig a fresh ballyhoo.
1. Materials to use include an 80lb mono leader, 6/0 hooks, 15 lb rigging wire (Monel), and wood dowel for eye removal.
2. Ready the fish by removing the eyes using a small dowel. You then need to make the ballyhoo much less stiffer. Do that by pressing the belly starting from behind the gills to the anal opening. Move the fish back and forth in several places to break the back and add stability.
3. Prepare you leader hook by having the monel wrap around the shank. Open the gill and insert the hook into the throatlatch. It should not be in the belly as it can loosen during trolling. The monel should be hanging down. Thread the monel through the eye cavity at least three times.
4. Bring the monel under the hook and pierce the ballyhoo on the center lower jaw. Make sure to close the mouth and pierce the center. Wrap around the bill and the leader. Be sure that the leader is centered under the bill. Doing so helps keep the bill from spinning in the water.
On average, it would take around 3 minutes to finish prepping and rigging the ballyhoo.
