Readers of this site and regulars at Round Valley will probably recognize the rig I refer to as the best all-around fishing rig for bait fishing in Round Valley. I certainly did not invent the rig, it was shown to me many many years ago by a compassionate shore fisherman reaching out to a (then) bumbling teenager.

Nowadays I’m a bumbling 30 something year-old and again, a shore fisherman has extended an olive branch to me. Frank from Manville shared the below with me on my last fishing trip. It’s a take on the above mentioned rig but differs in that Frank places a small cork on the line between the hook and barrel swivel to lift the hook and bait off the bottom.

Materials Needed:
Besides the rig, you’ll need a natural replacement cork or sometimes called a cork stopper. I believe Frank buys his from Walmart but I found packages of cheap ones using Google Shopping too. You’ll have to drill out a small hole through the center to pass your line, but since cork is super soft, you can do this with a small drill or Dremel tool. I actually did one the other day just spinning a drill bit between my fingers. Whatever technique you use to make the hole, be safe and don’t do anything stupid.

Rigging:
To get the cork to stay about a foot, foot and half above your hook, simply pass your line through the cork 2 times. No knot is needed (and indeed a knot here would weaken your line).

Fishing:
That’s it, now tie on your hook and you’re ready to go fishing. The rig works great when fishing with garden worms, meal worms or powerbait on the bottom, keeping your tasty bait up out of the mud and in the view of would be fishes. Using the float and a circle hook like the Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks in a size 8 or 6 will also greatly reduce your chances of snagging the bottom too.

Thanks again to Frank from Manville for showing me this rig. If you’d like to share your rig with us, send us the details and an image or drawing and we’ll post it on Round Valley Fishing.