got-cha plug rigging

[bluefish1928]

i always used wire leaders with got-cha plugs with snap. however, the hooks often hok the leader. i have seen people tying directly to the main line. How do u al rig ur got-cha plugs?(leader, snaps, tied directly to main line). and how does offshore angler big shot(the ones at bassproshops, better in my opinion than got-cha) and tsunami zig jig compare to the got-cha plug in ur opinions?

[Newsjeff]

I tie direct with a 30lb mono or fluoro leader.

Never used them knock-off Got-chas.

If you find a way to keep the trebles off your leader, please let me know. :D

[Drumboy]

Tying directly to the main line is asking for a bluefish or a spanish to take 3 bucks right away. I use 10 lb braid tied into 30 lb mono. If the bluefish are very thick I switch to 50, but when you switch to a greater lb leader the action on your plug goes down. Don't know of any way to make the trebles to stop gettin on your leader though.

[SmoothLures]

Tie a uni to uni from you main line to 20-30 lb clear mono or flourocarbon, then tie to the plug. Haven't tried the knockoffs either. If I'm losing plugs and the Spanish aren't around, I'll use a wire leader. But I just accept that I'm going to loose one or two and keep fishing.

[medicdav66]

Now I'm no expert mind ya, but I have tried crimping a short wire leader with a snap-swivel (black) to hook to my Got cha's. Approx 3-4". But the hanging-up the plug on the main-line thing is just a risk and non-fixable as far as I know.

[RuddeDogg]

I use a snap swivel with all my lures.

[Fireline20]

I use a 40-50 lb leader but tie the plug or hook on with a surgeon's loop. It is is quick and it allows the lure to move around a lot more. I have never had a blue bite through it.

If you don't know how to tie a surgeons loop, check out this web site: :D

http://www.animatedknots.com/surgeonsloop/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

[bluefish1928]

i started fishing got-cha using haywire(it prevents the hooks from hookign the leader, but i didn't catch anything that way). anyone tried using double lines and a polmar? btw, what are ur favorite colors of got-chas(red and chartuese is mine)

[AbuMike]

If I'm throwing at Blues I use a bit of Sevenstrand but if the Smacks are around I use the floro. leader. If I get bit off it's just my donation to the fishing gods in return for good JUJU...

[Jesse Lockowitz]

Tie a uni to uni from you main line to 20-30 lb clear mono or flourocarbon, then tie to the plug. Haven't tried the knockoffs either. If I'm losing plugs and the Spanish aren't around, I'll use a wire leader. But I just accept that I'm going to loose one or two and keep fishing.

yep, 20-25lb fluoro draws loads more strikes from spanish, specially if there is a crowd on the pier, you can tell who is using flouro...

i dont care if ur using 20,40, 50...spanish hits it the right way, they are gonna cutcha off....i end up goin w/ 20-25 99% of the times, sometimes 30lb (if blues are thick and i am lazy and dont want to retie a bunch...im lazy alot ;-) )



Jesse

[Reelturner]

yep, 20-25lb fluoro draws loads more strikes from spanish, specially if there is a crowd on the pier, you can tell who is using flouro...

i dont care if ur using 20,40, 50...spanish hits it the right way, they are gonna cutcha off....i end up goin w/ 20-25 99% of the times, sometimes 30lb (if blues are thick and i am lazy and dont want to retie a bunch...im lazy alot ;-) )



Jesse

I started not to respond to this thread since the original poster got some extremely good answers but will add this to what Jessie mentioned above.

I agree 150% to everything he said because I have too, had the same exerience as he described. If that spanish hits your leader, with all the speed that they have, you are going to lose your plug UNLESS you are using a wire, then with the wire the spanish won't touch it, because the wire will stick out like a sore thumb to them and they will turn away. If you go up in poundage test with the leader, then you will lose the effectiveness of the gotcha working in a zig zag pattern.

One thing is that I haven't yet tried and I doubt that it will work cause if if would then I think there are 15,458 others that would have already done it is. To take the lightest strength wire that is made (single strand) haywire it to the gotcha, run about 3" or 4" inches of it and then albright your mono to it, but still think after talkin with some older spanisher guys that target spanish only that the albright knot being the smallest profile knot to use, that the spanish would see air bubbles coming from the knot and therefore would strike your mono where the wire joins it and cutting you off instead.

RT

[Reelturner]

gotcha colors....I've had probably the best luck using red head/white body WITH GOLD HOOKS.

Red head/gold colored body, gold hooks

And last and I couldn't find any when I was looking for them is a solid, one shade of pink with gold hooks. I can find the pink gotchas with black spots, but not without the black spots.

All are 7/8 oz. even though there are heavier gotchas made I can't or don't get the same action with them as I would like.


RT P.S. 10# mono and plug away.

:)

[bluefish1928]

i will retry the haywire twist method(king fisherman will have some left over after catching a fish and are enough for this purpose). btw, if u like having spots on ur gotchas use finger nail polish and put them on. won't last after bluefish keep scratching, but a very easy method to change colors of a lure without retying(let it dry for a few minutes though) or use sharpies.

[rattler]

use 8-10" of the lightest wire you can find. 15 for me. I make them up and keep in the bag. crimp the loop on the pier/beach. works for me.

[Fishman]

I tie directly to the main line with a uni knot

[bluefish1928]

after some thinking i ffound another way.
make a large 6 inch look knot usign the spider hitch(might be called monkey, but anyways it is sometimes used isntead of the binimi twist)
attach the got-cha plug using a polmar knot. this creates double leader and if the fi bites off one side the line is still attached on the other (now if the fish attach both sides at least u hae fish trying to bite through 2 line instead of just one). i will try this in the spring.

[Fishman]

after some thinking i ffound another way.
make a large 6 inch look knot usign the spider hitch(might be called monkey, but anyways it is sometimes used isntead of the binimi twist)
attach the got-cha plug using a polmar knot. this creates double leader and if the fi bites off one side the line is still attached on the other (now if the fish attach both sides at least u hae fish trying to bite through 2 line instead of just one). i will try this in the spring.

Or you can use an offshore swivel knot and still have the double line capability

[bluefish1928]

the only bakdrop i can think of using double liens is can fish see it? if it is as visible as wire then it is practically useless

[SmoothLures]

the only bakdrop i can think of using double liens is can fish see it? if it is as visible as wire then it is practically useless

Use a flurocarbon line.

[dawgfsh]

Tie direct

[Drumboy]

Bluefish I've always found that the bluefish like the red head and the spanish like the golden bodies

[Sandcrab]

Haven't used wire. I use a 4' section of 50# mono leader material. On one end I put a 50# swivel, on the other I put a 50# snap. I use this whenever I fish with metal or plugs (bucktails is a little different). You can tie a dropper loop 1' from the swivel to use for teasers...

Sandcrab

[Juan_EZ]

my preferred method maddness is to tie directly to using an improved clinch knot (usually use 12-15 lb. mono)

my fav. is white on white got-cha... colors really dont matter (from what i've seen) caught blues with the white with black spots metal gotcha (affectionally nicknamed the moo cow!)