Sliding weight bottom bouncer rig8/9/2023 For added attraction, he occasionally adds a single fluorescent bead, or a single 00 flicker spinner. If Roach is pulling crawlers, it usually means he’s moving a bit faster, employing a dual hook harness. At slower speeds he typically rigs a live ribbon leech, small shiner or chub on a single #6 or #4 hook. ”Roach’s power program employs a straight wire bottom bouncer, such as the Northland Slip Bouncer, coupled with a super long leader-up to 15-feet for coverless flats- tied with 8-pound test Berkley XT. Then again in August and September, it really shines as water begins to cool a bit.“Those days when everyone is either creeping along with a standard rig or bottom bouncing at a good clip–especially on flat calm days–that’s when I’ll break out the power rigs. Once surface temps hit 60-degrees or so, it’s time to break out the power rigs. I’ll start doing this pretty early in the summer-right after those initial insect hatches- and stick with it on and off through late summer into early fall. “It’s really sort of a hybrid between slow-down rigging and dragging spinners on three-ways. Rock points, weed edges, transition areas, mudflats-anywhere you can drag a standard walking sinker and live bait, you can power rig,” he asserts. “This approach works on nearly any classic late summer and fall walleye location. I can cruise right along and mow down the active biters.”From a lake-wide perspective, Roach’s power spots aren’t secrets. What I also like is that the more boats there are working a spot slowly with rigs, the better. “I can still put natural bait in front of them, but I can show my wares to a lot more active fish. “What I really like about the power program is that I can work quickly along a lengthy edge or over a vast flat, moving. Later on, as water warms, and the food supply expands, walleyes can turn a little tricky-a slight boost in speed is often all it takes to get fish to go. Early in the season, you’re moving slow with rigs and jigs, presenting bait to fish on a definite ‘feeding bite’ show ‘em a tempting morsel, keep it in front of their snouts, and they’re going to eat. “Sort of like rip jigging, the presentation induces a reactionary response, while the live bait closes the deal. “Power rigging lets me maintain a natural live bait presentation, while triggering fish with a bit more speed,” states Roach. Developed by ace guide Tony Roach, this hybrid live bait system is indeed, as he calls it, “Roach rigging on steroids.” It’s old school rigging (light and easy) meets heavy metal bottom bouncing (head-banging fast), plus a dash of new wave tackle and tactics. Which is where “power rigging” enters the equation. All the while, hooks, lines, and electronics have advanced almost beyond comprehension. Live bait care tools, like those by Frabill, now ensure a healthy supply of critters. The bottom bouncer transmogrified into the Northland Slip Bouncer. The walking sinker evolved into the Quick-Change Roach Sinker. During the same fifty years, a number of nice little developments have transformed a serviceable bait delivery vehicle into a precision live-bait system. Sooner or later, a walleye is going to eat. ![]() ![]() ![]() Get a natural, lively bait to the bottom, and just start creeping your way along fruitful structure. Take a vigorously squirming minnow, nightcrawler or leech, and couple it with a hook, leader and sliding sinker and you’re fishing the deadliest walleye presentation of all time. Nearly fifty years after the inception of the modern live-bait rig-what’s today known simply as the ‘Roach Rig’-its sheer effectiveness still raises eyebrows and turns heads.
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