Why reverse It?
A reverse Texas rig is compact, with no weight separation when it sinks or
when it’s pulled over limbs or grass, which minimizes snags.
Hooksets can improve, too. If a fish bites the weight, which sometimes hap-
pens on the drop, the fish should get the hook point, and there’s no weight up
the line to blow open the fish’s mouth when the hook is driven home.
When pitching or flipping with an ordinary Texas rig, the bait and hook flip
end-for-end when the weight pulls the rig down into the water. When a fish
bites it on the fall, the angler has to turn the bait with the hookset (see below)
before the point can penetrate. Conversely, when the Mendota Rig sinks, the
hook points up the line in the direction of the hookset. The entire force of the
set is directed toward driving the hook into the fish.
texas rig
mIx & matcH
The following examples show
popular soft-plastic creatures and
craws rigged with the Mendota Rig
weight and various hooks. There
are likely several other hooks that
would work with each plastic, and
while these combos appear to fit
well with the Mendota Rig weight,
they haven’t been tested on the
water to make sure that the hook
can penetrate on the hookset. We’ll
leave that step up to you.
MISSILE BAITS BABY D BOMB
4/0 WIDE-GAP WITH SPRING KEEPER
ZOOM BABY BRUSH HOG
5/0 EWG
ZOOM ULTRA VIBE SPEED CRAW
5/0 WIDE-GAP MUSTAD WITH SPRING KEEPER (INCLUDED WITH MENDOTA RIG)
mendota rig
ZOOM ULTRA VIBE SPEED CRAW
3/0 OFFSET-SHANK WORM HOOK WITH O’SHAUGHNESSY BEND
4-INCH BERKLEY HAVOC PIT BOSS
5/0 EWG MONSTER
STRIKE KING RAGE CRAW
5/0 OFFSET-SHANK WORM HOOK WITH O’SHAUGHNESSY BEND
54
ZOOM Z-HOG JR.
3/0 EWG
fLWfISHInG.com I may-june 2017