Predator fishing tackle and rigs

Between the lure and the braid, or between the livebait and the main line, a predator fishing rig often comes down to a few small components weighing just a few grams: a swivel to prevent line twist, a snap that can withstand a pike's powerful run, and a securely hooked hook. It's these small tackle items that make the difference between landing a fish in the net and a line breaking at the wrong moment. Here you'll find everything you need to make rigs for pike, zander, perch and black bass, using lures, livebait or deadbait.

Predator fishing rigs for lure fishing

When lure fishing, connect the trace to the lure with a snap, so you can change lures in seconds, and add a swivel to prevent the line twisting when using a spoon or a spinning lure. Split rings are used to change the trebles on a hard lure or add an eye to a spinner blade. For steel or heavy-gauge fluorocarbon traces, crimps are secured with pliers and replace knots where a knot would not hold. For soft lures, rigs and stingers add a treble hook at the tail to hook short takes, while inserts are pushed into the lure body to add weight or alter its action.

Rigs for livebait and legering

When fishing for pike or zander with livebait, it all starts with a single or treble hook, chosen to suit the size of the bait. Baiting needles are used to thread the trace through livebait or deadbait without damaging it. With a slider float, set the depth using a float stop, followed by a bead to stop the knot passing through the eye of the float. When legering, weights hold the bait on the bottom, on a running rig or paternoster rig, while bombardas let you cast a lure or bait that is too light to cast on its own a long way.

Brands for your rigs

For hooks, snaps and swivels, you'll find specialist fishing tackle manufacturers such as VMC, Owner and Decoy, renowned for their sharp hook points and strong connections. Savage Gear rounds out the range with rigs, stingers and accessories designed for its own soft lures.