Quick-strike rigs and tip-ups

[pikehunter]

I've seen several posts about quick-strike rigs and tip-up fishing, but am yet to see it explained in its entirety.
Would anyone like to explain to a quick-strike novice how one is made and how it should be fished?
Furthermore, I had always fished under the assumption that these rigs were illegal in MInnesota since it's unlawful to use more than one hook thorugh the ice when it is not part of a lure. Comments would be appreciated.
The Ice clock is ticking!

Happy Fishin!
(ain't it always?)
PikeHunter

[Guest]

I will second that. Some one tried explaining it to me on a previous post but, it did not penetrate my thick skull???

[This message has been edited by chiro (edited 11-04-2002).]

[IcePro]

pikehunter

Quick Strike rigs are legal in Minnesota as long as you have a blade attached to the rig.

Pick up the book from In-Fisherman "Ice Fishing Secrets" they have a section on how to manufacture your own.

[Guest]

I will third that, any help from the experts would be apreciated!!!

Come on ICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[minneman]

what i like to use is a 2-3' pc of braided leader material, make a small loop on one end and crimp, on the other end a treble.
then take a +/- 6" pc of leader and do the same.
take your prefered bait (i use dead) and poke a hole in from top to bottom midway in the bait w/needle nose plyers or whatever, take the loop of the long leader poke it from belly up threw and set the bait on the treb. then slide on the short leader loop on the long leader and set the hook in the nose of the bait. now to make this all legal slide a spinner blade down on the long leader to the bait.
I use a heavy braid line on the tipups and a heavy snap/swivle on the end to hookup to.
one hint, when setting depth with a depthbomb,remember to take it off!
one more, the main leader should be long enough to get a hold of on top of your hole incase you have large fish that wont nose up the hole. at least you have a hold of the strongest link to the fish at that time. have fun!!

[Guest]

Legally, how big does the spinner need to be? I've seen some pretty small ones and assumed they were legal since I couldn't find anything in the state handbook. Thanks -Jess

[IcePro]

The spinner blade can be any size. As long as there is one on the quick strike rig.

[Guest]

I thought I explained this very well last year. I will try again. Here is how I make my quick strike rigs.

Start with a 10 inch piece of leader wire and lay it in front of you from left to right.

Slide a treble hook from the left side of the wire to the right.

Now slide a crimp (the little sleeve thing that holds the two wires together) from the Left side.

Bend the Right side of the wire over the treble hook and back through the crimp and pinch the crimp shut.

You should have one treble hook that is now secured to the right side of the wire.

Next slide another crimp onto the wire from the left.

Then slide another treble onto the wire from the left.

Then take the left side of the wire and feed it back through the crimp.

I vary the distance between the hooks, I make some small and some bigger. Make sure your crimps are pinched tight.

You should now have two hooks hanging from the wire.

Add a swivel to the free end of the wire as well as a couple beads and a spinner to make it legal and you are good to go. If you can't figure it out from this I could email you a picture of one I have made. I have no idea how to post a picture. Scott Steil

[Guest]

Wow, I think it finally sunk in, thanks a bunch!

[pikehunter]

Thanks all! I think I've finally gained the know-how. My apologies to anyone who has explained this over and over over and was forced to do it once again.
Thanks much, can't wait to try it this hardwater season!

Happy fishin!
(ain't it always?)

[Steve Foss]

Thanks Scott, that's a simple, clear explanation.

I may start making my own. I've been using store-bought ones for years for open water fishing with live suckers under bobbers and for ice fishing with tip-ups.

In stores, they only cost $2 to $3, and being chronically short of time I've settled for that. I imagine they'd cost less than $1 apiece for materials if I make my own.

The ones I like best don't use trebles, but have two double hooks, one set on the terminal end and one set sliding. The smaller hook goes into the bait, the larger sticks out. Or the other way around if you have soft bait and the smaller hooks won't hold it.

If I'm going to make my own, I'd like to know where I can get those double hooks. I'm sure they have a name, I just don't know what it is.

[Guest]

That is the beauty of making your own. Sometimes I use a larger treble on the second hook. I put that hook near the dorsal fin in live bait. I then use a smaller hook for the tail section of the bait. For dead bait I usually use two large trebles.

Making your own also allows you to change that gap in between the hooks. I have some with 4 inch gaps in for big dead bait. I think they are easy to make and there is more enjoyment catching fish on your own creation. Good Luck Scott Steil

[Rick]

stcatfish,
the double hooks are called VB quick strike hooks. They are almost impossible to find anymore. I love those hooks. The make the perfect quick-strike rig.

No more waiting for Pike and then gut-hooking them on the tip-up. Just grab and set.

These rigs are perfect for catch and release.

[Lip RIPPER!]

Rick, do you know where you can find those double hooks? I have a couple on my tip ups and would like to make some more with those type of hooks.

[Toad]

I agree. Wonderful hooks-- those Partridge VBs, so-named by their creator, European pike guru Vic Bellars. The beauty of this old hook, beyond it's mind-boggling sharp point, were the two different sized tines-- the larger gap left exposed for hooking fish, the small one for securing livebait.

Can't recall the company's name, but a European tackle importer out of Duluth previously offered this hook. But that's been at least 10 years ago. Then the BaitRigs company sold these hooks on their 'Quick-Set' rigs for a few years. Though last time I looked, this rig was sold with a treble hook, not the classic double Partridge VB. Luckily, I've still got maybe a few dozen of these left. Still, think it may be time to do a bit of investigating. See if we can't find a new manufacturer . . .

In the meantime, something some of you may want to consider is to simply snip the third tine off the trebles on your QS rigs. You're hooking percentages will remain very high, while reducing the chances of damaging the sensitive gill areas of pike.

-a friend called Toad

[This message has been edited by Toad (edited 11-06-2002).]

[Guest]

Now are you guys talking about the hooks that look like a treble just missing one side or are these the ones that I've seen that would lay flat with both hooks 180 degrees from each other?

[Lip RIPPER!]

Toad, I agree about the hook sizes. The big and smaller hook works great and the hooks were razor sharp. When and if you find some info on those hooks, please let us know.

[Rick]

Hey Chiro,
the VB hooks are flat. Super sharp small hook that hooks into the bait and larger hook that sticks out for hooking the fish.

[Guest]

ScottS,
My email is "[email protected]", I want to check to see if i made mine right?
I think i just think i might have it!
I just want to check to make sure.

------------------
FISHSTUNNER

[Raven]

Hey Scotts - I followed your directions last season and made up several rigs. Did vary some of them too. Had some really good luck using them towards the end of the season. Appreciated the advice. I guess that is why I really like this web site. It attracts some straight shooters most of the time

[Raven]

Meant to ask if anyone has tried that tip-up called a "Warrior"? You use your own rod and reel with this set up. It still flags you when you have the hit, but you are able to fight the fish with rod and reel instead of having to hand line it. I bought one from Fleet in Bemidji last year and they work great. Going to get another one this year. It ran about $15.00.

[Guest]

I have the digital picture of the quick strike rig but I don't know how to post it in this forum. Someone who knows how to do that email me at [email protected] and I will send it to you. That will help everyone and save me from sending it so many times. Scott Steil

[Steve Foss]

You can still find some of the quickstrike rigs with those VB hooks. I've thrown away the packages, but the cardboard backing was a green/blue color, and I don't recall the manufacturer. Also, these were quite long, about 18 inches from the swivel to the terminal hook. The wire is black and coated, and there is a very small red plastic "spinner" attached as well. These were the ones I always looked for.

Fisherman's Corner is the best place for bulk make-it-yourself tackle in Duluth/Superior, and they said on the phone they have two sizes of the double hooks in stock. Not sure if they're true VB hooks, but I'll be checking that out and I'll let you know.

------------------
Steve ([email protected])

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 11-07-2002).]

[Toad]

Made a couple phone calls about the VB hooks. Joe Puccio, co-owner of Bait Rigs, Madison, WI, says that they indeed still offer the Vic Bellars hooks on their "Tandem Quickset" rigs. He also told me that they don't sell the hooks by themselves, but maybe we could work something out . You guys, I'm sure, have probably seen stuff from Bait Rigs before-- i.e. Slo-Poke jigs, Willospoon, Odd'Ball jig, etc.

So the VB hooks themselves apparently aren't available in the U.S.; at least not via retail. The hooks are manufactured in England by Partridge of Redditch who only distributes their hooks through retailers.

One little wrinkle that makes the rig really slick is the adustable upper hook, which slides on the wire to accomodate different baitfish sizes. This is accomplished by not crimping your sleeve completely shut, but just tight enough to hold the hook in place.

For my part, I'll again be employing circle hooks on tip-ups this year, as part of a little 'cause-and-effect' comparison between friends and I. Should be interesting.

-a friend called Toad

[Steve Foss]

Well, turns out it's Oxboro that makes the quick-strike rigs I was talking about with the double hooks.

Problem is, Oxboro's gone out of business, and there isn't much of their stuff still in stores.

They also marketed the double hooks separately, and I was able to pick up one pack at Fisherman's Corner in Duluth (Hermantown, actually).

They're different, I think, from the VB hooks. As I understand it, the VB has two hooks on a single shank, one smaller than the other, and projecting 180 degrees from each other, so the hook would lay flat on a table top.

The Oxboro hooks are similar, except that they are at a 90 degree angle to each other.

Toad: The Oxboro quick strike rigs also have the adjustable hook, except that the leader wire was simply threaded through the eye so the hook could slide up and down the wire, anchored only by a piece of shrink-plastic over the eye.

I'll either use the adjustable method you described, Toad, when I make my own, or I'll cut a piece of wide rubber band and stick the leader wire through it before putting on the second hook, and will just allow the second hook to slide freely on the wire, with the rubber stopper being moved up and down the leader to adjust distance between hooks.

We'll see.

------------------
Steve ([email protected])