Maniac lure questions

[Elkoholic]

OK, for those of you who use the maniac's how do you rig them and fish them. I remember reading posts where they have been mentioned so I started looking into them. Some look like a plastic worm. How do you rig them? Just like an ordinary worm? What about the Predator (I think it is) that looks like a lizzard? What fish do you use them for? Are they primarilly a warm water fish lure?
If you could include some photos of the rigged up that would be great.

Thanks.
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[whit210]

I have fished mostly the reaper and craw in the local waters and have caught SMB, LMB and Muskie's on them. I like to fish the reapers with a black yamamoto jig head and the craws carolina rigged. I have also used the Maniac stick baits Texas rig and wacky with great success. You might want to PM Maniac on this board, James can give you a better scoop on how he likes to fish his baits.
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[PREDATOR]

Rigging options are a function of three things.

1) The cover you are fishing. If you are fishing very thick wood, grass, or open water the type of water you will be fishing it through should be your first consideration in selecting a rigging.

2) Depth. How deep are the fish holding? Select a rigging option that allows your lure to be placed in the strike zone for the longest period of time.

3) Speed. How fast will the rigging choices move your lure and how fast do you want them to move?

If you want to hold a lure in the same place but it needs to be up off the bottom to keep it out of brush or weeds, a drop shot rig will allow you to place the weight on the bottom, keep the lure above the cover, and move the lure without pulling it out of the area you want to fish.

A carlolina rig will allow you to keep your lure up above the cover as well, but you would use it if you wanted to keep the lure moving slowly rather than holding it in one place.

Texas rigs will allow you to move a lure through coverright smack on the bottom since the weight is in contact with the bait.
You can also move the texas rig fast to keep it up off the bottom and still have a weedless rig.

Wacky rigs are good when you want a real slow fall. They arent really a great option for heavy cover since the lure is turned sideways and tends to have much more surface area to bring through the cover plus they have a bit of an exposed hook on them. But if you want a slow fall that will just drift through the water depth range all the way to the bottom, its can be very effective.

So on and so on.
Basically your question was a good one. You will find lots of answers because you asked whats your favorite way?
Lots of guys have a favorite way. They fish a rigging in all types of water regardless of the conditions.

My favorite is an exposed hook on a lead head. Thats my favorite. But if you fish it at jordanelle, you will loose a ton of stuff to the submerged wood. If you fish it in heavy weeds, you will bring back weeds on nearly every cast. Kind of hard to catch them that way.

Favorites aside, I would rig your stuff for the conditions you are fishing onthe lake based on those three things. I think if you do, your will be a well rounded angler who finds success more often than not.

But, theres a ton of riggings out there, so buy a new tackle tray.
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[maniac]

I personally had good success with texas rig, split shot, drop shot, Carolina rig, and rigging the salt sticks wacky style wich is hooked through the middle, this method is a slow fall on a slack line. Also the 4-1/2" drop shot is very effective on a worm harness dragged on the bottom for Walleye. These baits are mostly designed for bass, but you can catch other species on them. I have even caught Wipers twitching a 3" salt stick just under the surface. I hope that helps!
If you have any more questions feel free to send me a P.M or call me @ 435-279-8058
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