Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

A good start for us in the skinny water.....Fished a few hours each day on Friday, Saturday and Monday. Some nice limits and some quality fish. Was not expecting much yesterday with the muddy water but it was the complete opposite on the tide change with constant action.

The wonderful WONDER RIG out produced everything and this fish fell victim to the 12lb test , #2 hook and an Atlantic B&T killie :rolleyes: As they say....Elephants eat peanuts !!! Came to net twice and decided to go back down and check out the bottom. Then my partner decides to smack the fish in rear end with the net !!!! :eek: Needless to say we got all the fight and more out of that fish.
Was approached by a couple fishing in a rental who asked "what in the world are you guys using ?" They were old fashion bait dragging and not having much luck. He said he was trying to get his girl on some fluke. So I quickly tied them a WONDER RIG and said tie this to her main line and follow our drift. At last count before we limited and left she put several fluke in the boat with one being a nice keeper.....They were thrilled.
All in all a very nice start to the season .... Go get em guys.... Tight Lines

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Great report. I’m sure it’s out there somewhere on this site but can you help describe or post a pic of the wonder rig. Want to take my boys out and was hoping to increase my chances of some keepers inside the inlet. Thanks a lot

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Nice post Bobby - it's great to be appreciated. Thanks. But stay over in the Navesink and leave the Shrews to me! Kudos for helping out that other boat. That's what it's all about.
I've only been able to get out one time (Saturday afternoon - nearly dead low tide - not ideal by any means). I took two very enthusiastic young fisher-kids that live on my street and we slayed them from start to finish (which was only 2 hours in the middle of the day with boats galore).

The Wonder Rig proved its worth - and then some. These youngsters have never caught a fish before! On first drift I tossed my line out quickly and while I was helping the first kid hook her killie on, my rod bends straight over. Then, while I start helping her brother hook his bait, she hooks up almost immediately. Long story short, we caught 11 keepers to 22 inches and about 5 shorts. No gut hooks. We left when we ran out of killies. AND - we were the only boat I saw catch ANYTHING. These kids had an afternoon they won't soon forget.
One fish broke this young girl's line at the boat and 2 minutes later I hooked and landed the same fish with her entire rig still hooked in its mouth! Incredible.
All fish were caught on the killie and #4 hook - except for one which had the killie hook AND the bucktail with gulp both hooked in her mouth. These fluke are hungry!
Attachment 123095
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Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Hey Doug..... OK ..I will represent in the Navesink.
Bottom line.... It works !!!
I have turned on a few friends and complete unkowns on the river fishing with their kids to this rig. It is GREAT for kids !!! I have told many many more to watch your youtube spots. Simple and effective !!!! I have also had many who think I am nuts when I cut the hook off the jig !!! Gotta love it .

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

I don't cut the hook off the jig anymore unless there is a lot of seaweed. But even with the regular jig, all fish are caught on the killie (well, 99% I would honestly say)

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Dont get this whole wonder rig thing. All it looks like is dragging bait with a jig for the weight. :confused:

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

couldn't you just tie an extra long dropper loop and eliminate the swivel? I also don't use swivels to the main line, just tie a bimini twist in my braid and then tie a clinch knot with the top shot. I've never had problems with twisting using this method.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

I too use no terminal tackle. Albright knot to leader then dropper loop to surgeons loop. 3 knots Been doing this for years without any issues.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Been using “The Wonder Rig” for 20+ years. Small 3-way swivel..one eye to main line, second eye 8-10 inches of mono to bucktail (originally used bank sinker); third eye 30-36” of light leader material to 1-1/0 live bait or light wire hook.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Sounds to me that its a bait rig with a long leader.. And a jig with no hook as weight...

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Yeah, I've seen plenty of guys use this, they just call it a standard bait rig for fluke....no wonder except to those who have been just recently introduced to it. I give my friends a hard time about all the "jewelry" they use too lol Incidentally, this rig works really well with a gulp mullet and a 6/0 gami octopus hook

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

2nd image off google, I actually like the 1st one you see better with the slider rig

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Great report Bobby. Some good vibes coming your way for helping that couple out.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Nope - the wonder rig is made with very light line and hook to let the killie ride high in low speed drifts

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

But the rig is tied in the same manor, just with a lighter leader. As I said, I’ve been tying (using a light leader and small hook), fishing and catching with this rig for 20+ years. I’ve also used spearing in place of a killie and had excellent success-especially on certain flats in the bay.

I also use the same basic clam rig (fish finder, swivel, leader, hook) when clamming stripers only difference is I again employ a lighter than most leader of #20. And guess what, I usually get more strikes than those using the same rig with a heavier leader. It’s all about making whatever bait you are using look more natural and unimpeded.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Yep...the classic old fashion bait rig is pictured......Go to youtube and search fluke wonder rig and watch the Arbutis videos.....

The real WONDER RIG is different for many reasons.... and this credit goes to Doug Peterson...aka Arbutis from this site. I know he covered this before.
1. very light leader - 10 -12 pound test.... main line for me is 8lb braid with 10 lb shock leader tied to SMALL...like size 12 three way swivel.
2. very small hook - #4 up to #1 depending on the size of the live killie... These two together allow for the killie to swim natural and not be dragged down by a hook bigger than the bait and piano wire leader that is overkill with today's rods and reels.
3. ratio of dropper line to jig vs line to hook and killie...... one foot to jig vs no more than 2.5 foot to hook and killie..... This puts the killie very close to the "attractor" bucktail and draws the live bait strike.
4. Works fantastic as dead stick with very light tackle.. with just enough line out for "attractor" bucktail to bounce the bottom.... in the shallows (15 foot or less) of the river a half ounce bucktail is usually more than efficient.

I have posted also before using this approach with slight modification to use live snappers and peanut bunker in Raritan Bay fluke haunts.... IT WORKS FANTASTIC....

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

....forgot the rod I use for this rig.....
Ugly Stik gx2 spinner....5'6" Medium 6-15lb line.
USSP651M
Beautiful light tip for dead sticking with enough backbone to wrestle a fish like the 27 incher in the pic above. Light tackle tons of fun.:rolleyes:

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Think very light hooks.... http://www.orvis.com/dry-fly-hooks

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

I'm not trying to get into an argument about this, but just using a different lb test and size hook doesn't make a new rig. If that were the case, I invent a new rig every time I change a jig or a bucktail lol. "Hey guys, I invented a new rig! I changed from a 2/0 octopus to a 1/0 octopus. I'm calling it the super duper tog catcher rig!" I'm going to video me tying it and put it on youtube, maybe even get a patent and try to make some money off it!" ...see how ridiculous that sounds?

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

lol:D

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Hey Skolmann,
Thanks for the post. You find 1/0 hooks big enough for large mouth fluke?
Thanks

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Put it to use elsewhere in the Shrewsbury on the opener. Worked well on good size fish in the skinny water . Took it outside the hook and it was 50/50 with strip rigs. Sundial zeroed in on the lonesome killie quite often. See you out there with the grandkids in tow!

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Yankee ...you're talking apples and oranges here . See the video and the purpose and difference will be evident. Not your common stip dragger's rig.
Thanks Doug for giving us this varied approach.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

I use a #4 gami blood red octopus... small enough for you. Killies have no problem swimmin and havent gut hooked a fish yet...go figure.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Lots of great replies!
From whats described, do most use different size hooks early in season then go bigger. Or pretty much the same all year. Lots of replies say 1/0 or smaller. I never used less than 2/0. Go smaller?

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Ok, so I'll talk apples and apples... "hey guys, I invented a new rig! It is based on the WONDER RIG, but uses a #3 hook instead of a #4 hook! If you click on the link in my signature, you can watch a youtube video of me tying it. (You can also see an ad for a fad diet that I am selling too, but that's inconsequential.) I'm calling it the SUPER FLUKE RIG. and far out fishes the WONDER RIG, or the standard bait rig that the WONDER RIG is copying, er, I mean, based off of..."

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Have you ever seen the size of a big fluke's mouth? You can fit your entire fist inside a door mat's mouth, but not recommended...The guys in this post are just trying to get you to click on a youtube vid to either set up potential sales of a "new rig" or to check out the "wonder diet" or whatever it's called.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

I Wonder how much controversy the Wonder Rig is going to stir up this year - seams like it's always the same. I hope you can all agree that the entire purpose of this rig, videos, discussion, etc. is to show people (mostly newbies to fluke fishing) a simple, yet very (very) effective way to catch lots of fluke - both large and small. Perfect for kids - but I'm not a kid and I use it in the shallows whenever I fluke fish. Prior to using this rig I was bouncing jigs just like the guys all around me and not catching much. Now they all Wonder what I am doing. I actually thought of another good tag line for it today. . .
The Wonder Rig - you can't buy it, just learn how to tie it!

Just got back from a couple hours in the Shrews this afternoon and it was on fire once again. Got a beautiful 24 incher, along with a 23, 22, 20 and after we limited out we were throwing back 19 inch fish.
Still think the #4 red Gama Octo is too small for 24 inch fluke - check the photo. Right in the lip.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...71&oe=5BBD9869

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...5c&oe=5BBA2394

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...61&oe=5B7EF26B

To damnyankee - I know you're just having a discussion about this topic but try to understand that I put this info out there to the world to help people out who don't have the knowledge of an otherwise experienced fisherman - like I was once - like you were once. That's why Gerry created this forum and I'd like to think that my videos, photos, and experiments on the water have helped many, many people improve their fluke catching ability. (and you should try the Survivor Diet - lots of fun! ;))

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Arbutis - I believe you when you say you are trying to pass on information to a new group, but the way you package it is very misleading and leads to reactions like mine and, from what you referred to past controversy, others in the past. The fact is, you didn't invent anything, just put lipstick on a pig and called it a cow, yet call yourself the inventor of a new rig. There is no controversy about that. Posting pics of catching keeper fluke on a small hook is about as useful as posting a pic of me catching a keeper tog on an ava jig (that was actually posted by Joey Tomatoes a few days ago). What I mean is, just because it works in certain conditions, or works on a fluke occurrence like the ava jig tog, doesn't mean it's new or even the best method available. Like every tactic in fishing, it is all based on conditions like tide, water temp, wind direction, drift speed, depth, current, etc. All of these factor in to what bait or rig to use that will be the most effective at that particular moment. To come on here and tout that a bait dragger rig with a smaller hook is revolutionary and the best method for any condition is simply passing on bad advice to new people. A broken clock is correct twice a day...

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Don’t know why all the hating. Doug is just trying to share what works for him. And he has been sharing this for years.

Thanks for sharing airbutis

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Every few years Arbutis put his thought on here to help others. He is not selling a damn thing. I can't understand all the animus this man receives.
Thanks Arbutis for trying to help others!

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Holy cow!
https://assets.pando.com/_versions/2...g_featured.jpg

some people just don't get it.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Blah Blah Blah...If you have not fished the Wonder Rig, you dont know what it is about. It is ENTIRELY different from a bait dragger rig - which is hard to visualize if you are a knuckle dragger

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

There is no hate here, just questioning motivation and perception of the OP. Well, I'm not a knuckle dragger, so hopefully I will understand. Please explain to me how the WONDER RIG is radically different from a standard bait dragger. Here's what I understand it to be:

Set up for bait dragger:

leader from main line is connected to 3 way swivel
top eye ofswivel is connected to a trailing hook
bottom eye of swivel is connected to sinker and/or bucktail

Set up for WONDER RIG:

leader from main line is connected to 3 way swivel
top eye of swivel is connected to a trailing hook
bottom eye of swivel is connected to bucktail

From what I understand the thing that makes it the WONDER RIG is only the line and hook sizes, is that correct?

If that is correct, and your assertion is that those things make it an entirely new invention, that logic would apply to any configuration. Hence, every common rig can be classified a new invention by changing the line size, line length, and/or hook size. So take a snafu rig for example: instead of using the recommended size hooks, I change it to a smaller hook, say a 1/0, and I am in my right to declare I've invented a new rig, and can promote it as such. According to what I understand you all are trying to say, I have a right to say I am an inventor of a new rig. Is that correct?

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

It's just useless. :p
Nice work on some WONDERful fish today Doug !!! Hope to hit the river tomorrow afternoon and Saturday.... Just retied my WONDER RIGS.
Tight lines to all and to all tight lines.....

Mr. WONDERful

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

As I’ve said, I’ve been fishing the described “ Wonder Rig” for the past 20+ years-long before this forum was around. The only difference between the rig I used was the hook size. I used a #1-1/0 on a very light leader. Not the #4 hook that the Wonder Rig calls for. I originally used a bank sinker until jigs/bucktails became the rage. But since the original Wonder Rig had the hook cut off the jig I see no real difference. So I understand what DammYankee is saying.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

Try 2 smaller fine wire hooks, around #2 size, about 18 inches apart with a killie or spearing on each one.. Use a big split shot either before or after the hooks doesn;t matter either way... Fluke after fluke after fluke.. On a decent day you run out of bait before the fish quit hitting the rig.. Its a "wonder rig" without the "wonder"..

Not many guys use finesse when fluke fishing, and thats basically what the wonder rig is doing.. Fluke get every bit as excited seeing 2 killies or spearing following one another as they do seeing a killie following a jig with the hook hacked off..

The plain old fluke "dragging rig" works but is not the best setup for shallow water.. Too much junk... Try a big split shot or 2 of 1/4 oz, instead... Hell you can even paint them, if it makes you feel better, but for me, there was never a need to.... bob

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

So let's all review ...shall we ?

1. My little report and attempt to share information about a rig that hands down increases catch numbers in the River (and Raritan Bay for me and my boyz) is approaching 3000 Reviews.:D WOW.... so hopefully it succeeded and many many more drink the real WONDER RIG cool-ade and experience more bends in their rods. Preferably light tackle rods. ( witnessed by me Monday when a girl who never caught a fluke put at least 5 in the boat in 30 minutes once the WONDER RIG was deployed. High fives and hoots and hollers from a rental boat on the Navesink...brought to you by the WONDER RIG..THATS WHAT THIS POST IS ABOUT. THANKS JERRY)
2. This rig when tied as shown on the Arbutis videos and as described in detail in this post is GREAT FOR YOUNG KIDS.
2. ARBUTIS ROCKS !!! HE IS THE "WONDER" MAN....
3. Pigs look good with lipstick on :eek:
4. Nobody cares who tied what, used what, sized what.... yesterday or 60 years ago on a Tuesday at 3pm in Raritan Bay...I never asked for that in this
post !!!..Use this board to share meaningful information that helps others spend more time "catching" and enjoying the sport.
5. Watch the the WONDER RIG youtube videos to learn more....the camera does not lie.
6. Big fluke REALLY do not like being hit in the ass with a net !!
7. Blackfish season can not come soon enough

Peace and Love....Peace and Love...... Peace Out....

BBTT Forever

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

I believe this part of BB's post says it all :
Quote :
4. Nobody cares who tied what, used what, sized what.... yesterday or 60 years ago on a Tuesday at 3pm in Raritan Bay...I never asked for that in this
post !!!..Use this board to share meaningful information that helps others spend more time "catching" and enjoying the sport.

Amen BB. If one doesn't like what's shared on this board don't have to read.
Thanks Gerry for maintaining it.
Tight lines all,
Tom K.

Re: Great Opening Weekend ...... Wonder Rig Strikes Again !!!
 

You are absolutely correct.. Kindly accept my apology for throwing my 2 cents in when it wasn't asked for. I get pissed off when it happens on my posts , and I should know better than to do it to others. bob