Extend a tube into the gills and out
through the anus of the fish.

Push your leader through the tube
then remove the tube
leaving the leader in place.

Attach a suitable size hook to the leader.

The knot shown is suitable for heavy
monofilament leaders but
you will have to use a metal sleeve
of the correct size and a crimping tool,
if you are using a 49 strand wire leader.

Now we have to stitch the mouth
and gills closed.

Begin by looping a 40 cm length of thread
over the nose so the loop lays under
the head of the fish.

Then, thread the eye of your stout needle
with both tag ends and drive the needle
down through the nose of your bait fish
from top to bottom and forward of the
underslung loop. You may need
your awl to initiate the puncture.

Pull the needle right through and with it,
both tag ends of the thread.

Now, re-thread the needle
with one tag end and pass it through
the eye tunnel of the fish as shown.

Pull the needle right through
and with it, the tag.

Then thread the needle with the other tag end
and pull it through the eye tunnel of the fish
in the opposite direction.

Tie both tags together using a granny knot
and pull the entire stitch really tight.

Now, it is important to use a knot
that slips, like a granny,
otherwise the knot might lock
before the stitch becomes really tight.

Use your awl to make a puncture central
to the head of the fish only far enough back
on the head to allow space for a suitable size
bean sinker to be rigged under the head.

Take about 40 cm of galvanised wire
and push it right through the puncture
made by your awl.

Then thread on your bean sinker
which should be about the size
shown in the diagram relative to
the baitfish you are rigging.

Push the tag of the wire back
up through the hole
originally made for the mouth stitch.

To form the towing bridle, raise the leader
protruding from underneath the gills to
a fairly sharp angle to the head of the fish.

Bend the wire protruding from the head
forward, then sharply upward,
to lay alongside the leader.

Then commence a series of firm wraps
around both leader and head wire with the wire
protruding from the top of the fish's nose.

Having made a series of firm wraps
around both leader and head wire,
finish off by making another series of firm
wraps around the leader with the tag
of the protruding head wire.

The result should look something like this
with the fish secured on a bridle, which -
in combination with the sinker
under the head - should make it swim
in an attractive manner
beneath the surface when towed
directly from the rod tip.

All illustrations and text are reproduced with the consent of
Australian Fishing Network, the publishers of
the "Complete Book of Knots and Rigs" by Geoff Wilson.

This book has become the "Knot Bible" for both experienced anglers and beginners alike,
and should be essential reading for anybody who has lost a fish because of a failed knot!

Attach Line to Reel | Blood Worm | Bounce Balling | Bridle Rigging
Chumming | Drop Back | Estimating Weight | FAD's

Hook Sharpening | Skip Bait Rigging | Squid Rigging | Strip Bait
Swim Bait Rigging | Switch and Bait | Tag Line | Tuna Fillet Rigging

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