How to rig a whole squid

[Tarpon4me]

The ''quick and dirty'' squid rig involves squeezing an egg sinker on the leader a few inches above the hook, then threading the leader through the squid's body. The sinker acts as a stopper to hold the squid in place, and the hook is hidden in its head. This method works well when rigging small squid for dolphin, but Mark Pumo advises using a crimp to stop the sinker because squeezing the lead (some folks just smack it with a hammer) can damage monofilament and cost you a fish.
Taking time to bridle-rig squid results in a more natural presentation, whether the bait's trolled, pitched or for broadbills drifted deep. Pumo notes that more light-tackle anglers have been using this soft-bodied, boneless bait because ''you can rig squid on smaller hooks and still hook billfish solidly.''
There are several key points to properly rigging squid. Keep the head from tearing off by sewing it to the mantle. Make all stitches through the mantle's toughest part, along a line in the middle of the back. Bridle length must allow the squid to hang naturally straight (too short and the leader bends; too long and the squid bunches up on the hook). Hook, leader and bridle should be centered so that the squid trolls without spinning. Store squid in very cold brine solution because contact with fresh water causes discoloration.

Begin by inserting the hook in the valve in the squid's head and pushing the hook point out the beak. This method is better than simply spiking the head on the hook, which leaves too much meat in the hook gap and could interfere in hook-setting. It also provides consistent entry and exit points when rigging and keeps the hook centered.
Slide a single-barrel crimp far up the leader (to be used later for attaching the bridle), pierce the mantle's apex and push the leader into the tail and out under the mantle at the head. Crimp the hook to the leader with a double-barrel crimp, then pull the slack through the mantle and out the tail.
Sew the head to keep it from tearing off while trolling. Use a 20-inch piece of floss and begin stitching from inside the squid, passing the needle out through the tough part of the mantle (along the center of the back) about 1 1/2 inches from the head. Cross over about half an inch, and push the needle back inside and out under the mantle by the head. Then stitch through the head just behind the eyes.
Tighten the box stitch so the size of the loop holds the head in a natural position. A loose loop lets the head flop about and eventually tear off; a tight loop pulls the head inside the mantle and looks unnatural. Tie off with a double-overhand knot (running the tag ends through the loop twice) to anchor the loop, followed by several single overhand knots.
Squeeze the single-barrel crimp onto the leader about 2 inches above the point of the tail, then use a 2-foot piece of floss to make a bridle. Begin stitching about an inch down from the point of the tail, running the needle perpendicular to the leader and taking care not to pass floss under the leader. Leave about 10 inches of tag where the floss enters the squid. Move about 1 1/2 inches toward the head and make another stitch through the body. Run the needle through once more beside the first stitch to complete a box, leaving long tags on both sides. This box stitch distributes the load over the squid's tail when trolled.
Complete the bridle by pulling the tag ends snugly enough to keep the squid from bunching up on the hook, yet loose enough to let the bait hang straight without bending the leader. Anchor each tag end with a half-hitch, then tie several overhands on either side of the leader and lock them with a double-overhand knot.
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[gdn443]

Never seen that rig, it does make me glad I use plastic. I'm not that great at sewing. []
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[Tarpon4me]

It's actually a pretty darn good rig, but time consuming to do. The way I usually do it takes about 2 minutes. Like previously mentioned, I use an egg weight to catch the mantle of the squid and just push the single strand wire through the top. [cool]
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[JapanRon]

Hi Tarpon4me,

That must be to troll a bait for a long time. Here in California we fish the California Yellowtail (like an amberjack) and White Sea Bass with live or fresh dead squid. We use a winde-gap leadhead and put the barb through the tail end of the squid 3 times. Do it the right way and the squid pretty much stays put for a good amount of time!

JapanRon
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[Tarpon4me]

Well, the biggest thing about that rig is that it keeps the squid from seperating at high speeds, and it helps it maintain a more predictable presentation.

When using squid for slow trolling or casting/chunking, the ol' egg sinker in the mantle works just fine, atleast from my experiance. [cool]
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