The ledger (or dropper) rig is probably the rig that many anglers cut their fishing teeth on. It’s a series of hooks (usually two or three) branched out from the leader either through loops, dropper knots, or by using branch swivels crimped to the line. But don’t let its basic nature fool you – it’s a versatile and effective rig for many species in a wide range of fishing scenarios.
The ledger rig is a rig that is designed to be fished vertically in the water column and present a variety of baits (or lures) at varying depths. In many cases, it is the rig chosen to avoid getting snagged or because it is simple to manage for a beginner or young angler. A key benefit of ledgers is they may be used to target a wide range of species at different depths. You could have one bait sitting enticingly on the bottom for a cellar-dweller like a gurnard, whilst another bait wafts above and may attract the interest of a passing kahawai or snapper.
The dropper rig also comes into play with techniques like trout jigging and deep-water fishing for hāpuku, bluenose, and bass because it can present multiple baits or lures at depth without getting tangled. In the mid-lower North Island and the South Island, the ledger is the go-to rig for most bottom fishing especially when targeting species like tarakihi and blue cod. In most bait fishing situations, the rig would be dropped to the desired depth and either left with the sinker resting on the bottom or wound up a couple of turns. When drift fishing it’s a matter of constantly adjusting the depth as the depth contour changes.
Ledger rigs are the go-to rig for popular species like tarakihi and blue cod.
For something like trout jigging with flies branched out on a ledger rig, or a sabiki-style rig for baitfishing, the rig is generally dropped to the depth where the fish are holding and then slowly lifted up and down to give the flies some life.
The dropper knot that forms one of the ledger rig's branches. Note the twisted leader that makes the branch stiffer.
Ledgers are also useful for surfcasting, allowing surfcasters to fish two different baits and seldom tangling in flight. But it has limited castability – around 60-80m. Fishing a couple of baits can be effective when fishing for moki or pannie snapper, with two fish at once not uncommon. However, when fishing for rig, there may be some tangling problems as they often roll up the line and embed the hook elsewhere on their body.
Constructing the run-of-the-mill ledger rig is easy and requires three popular knots: the uni knot to attach the swivel to the top of the rig, the dropper knot to form the loops, and a double overhand knot to form the loop at the bottom of the rig to attach the sinker. The hooks and sinkers can then be looped on or quickly swapped out for larger or smaller options.
Check out the video below:
• Ledger rigs are best fished with reel in gear, making circle hooks an ideal match.
• Keep enough space between hooks so they can’t tangle – a good rule of thumb is to keep the traces shorter than the distance between the droppers.
• The weight of trace is dictated by a few things such as the target species and fishing technique. For example, if trout jigging you may use 5-6 kg trace whereas for a hāpuku dropper rig you may use 100kg or heavier.
One of the greatest aspects of using ledger rigs is the chance of double-headers such as these two bass from 380m.
• Ensure the trace is stiff enough to make the droppers hang out and not get tangled when hooks and baits are attached. In most cases the shorter loop will give you a stiffer dropper.
• By twisting the leader (rolling it in your fingers) you can make the dropper branch arms stiffer and help it stand out from the backbone of the rig.
• Add lumo beads/tubing for added attraction.
If targeting fish that sit hard on the bottom like gurnard, ensure the lowest dropper branch is positioned close to the sinker.
• If you are fishing in snag country, use a section of lighter mono (a breakaway) to attach the sinker to the bottom of the trace.
• When using circle hooks allow the fish to catch itself. If you strike the fish with a circle hook you will often just pull the hook away from the fish’s mouth. Allow the rod tip to bounce up and down, then wind the handle of the reel to keep the line tight – this should roll the hook into the corner of the mouth.
• In some scenarios rather than using a dropper loop knot using three-way swivels makes a lot of sense as they greatly reduce twists and tangles on the leader and in the case of heavy dropper rigs can be crimped rather than knotted offering better presentation and greater strength. Three-way swivels on a dropper rig are great for wriggling livebaits.
Ledger rigs can be useful for surfcasting when casting distance is less important.
• If targeting fish that sit hard on the bottom like gurnard, ensure the lowest dropper branch is positioned close to the sinker.
• The best shapes for sinkers on ledger rigs are teardrop or streamlined. Avoid sinkers with flat sides as they will not be as hydrodynamic, and ball sinkers as they may roll around on the bottom.
- NZ Fishing News
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