The concept of a reverse Texas rig
isn’t new. A version called the
Okeechobee Rig was introduced by
Uncle Josh about a decade ago but is
no longer being made, and anglers
have been putting together their own
variations over the years, usually for
the purpose of punching thick grass.
The Mendota Rig version, which is
named for Lake Mendota near the
Madison, Wis., home of its designer,
Jim Torgerson, offers anglers a com-
plete, refined system that includes
weights, hooks and soft plastics
designed to fit together. The included
weight only comes in 1/4-, 5/16- and
1/2-ounce sizes, so it’s not intended
for punching the thickest of mats, but
it’s still a good option for pitching and
other vertical-type or lift-drop presen-
tations. Steve McQuin, president of
C to C Bait Co. in Beaverdam, Wis.,
the company that manufactures and
sells the Mendota Rig, says it’s more
of an all-purpose weedless rig for
fishing around pads, brush and other
shallow cover.
Here’s how to assemble it:
may-june 2017 I fLWfISHInG.com
groove
eye
1. tie on the hook.
2. insert the weight’s spear point into
the craw’s tail, making sure to align
the line on the weight with the
groove in the plastic. the weight’s
eye should end up centered within
the groove.
3. twist the screw lock into the craw’s
“head” – the opposite end compared
to a normal texas rig.
4. bend the plastic so that the hook
point can be passed through the eye
in the weight and out the opposite
side of the craw. it should end up in
the open groove. Leave the hook
point exposed or skin-hook it,
depending on the cover being fished.
line
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