mendota advantages and disadvantages
The one disadvantage of the Mendota Rig weight compared to other similar reverse Texas rig weights is that it doesn’t
come in any sizes heavier than 1/2 ounce. For that, you’ll need to consider an alternative such as the Zappu Sasuteki Sinker,
which comes in sizes up to 1 1/2 ounce. Or you can make one with a heavy tungsten sinker and a piece of wire. Bend the
wire in half to create an eye, and pass the two tag ends through the sinker. Bend them on the opposite side so the wire
stays in place. It’s crude, but it works.
The advantage of the Mendota Rig as a whole is that C to C has already worked out all the details. The plastic is designed
to fit the 5/0 Mustad hook that’s included, and a hollow space in the bait makes it
1 1/2-OUNCE ZAPPU SASUTEKI SINKER
easy to hook the weight. Torgerson worked out the kinks to make sure the weight
and bait are less likely to ball up on the hook and prevent a good hookset.
The rigid spear point is also a smart concept.
“The problem with a wire weight is if you set the hook really hard, those
things [wires] just break,” says McQuin. “We wanted to solve that problem.
Another thing is they kind of flop around with the wire. It’s not really incorporat-
ed that well into the bait. We wanted to come up with a plastic that was actually
designed to hold that sinker. The third difference is we’re the only ones that
have a weight like this that has a skirt attachment.”
Plastics
C to C sells three soft plas-
tics that fit the system: a craw,
skirted craw and tube. The
tube is not a traditional hollow
tube. It’s solid so a screw lock
can be used.
McQuin says pretty much
any soft-plastic creature or
craw can be used, but you
might need to tinker with the
hook size or cut down part of
the bait’s body to get every-
thing to line up right. Wide-
gap hooks and offset-shank
worm hooks work with the
weight, too.
Stocking up
C to C sells packages with one weight, one hook and four
plastics for $9.89. Sinker packs, which are most popular,
include three standard weights and one hook for $4.99 or
three skirted weights and one hook for $6.49. Skirted
weights come in only 1/4 and 1/2 ounce. They’re available at
slopfrogbaits.com.
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fLWfISHInG.com I may-june 2017