Walleye Express: Tot Rigging??

[Powerdive]

Dan, a couple months back I was trolling on Bull Shoals, snagged a stump, got free and pulled up an old 1/2-oz. Tot and a small swing-blade spinner in a ball of mono. The hooks and finish on the Tot were eaten away, but it still had a length of heavy mono attached. Funny thing was, it was tied underneath the lip, not on top. Couldn't figure out why.

The other day, same thing. Pulled up a much more recent original Tot, but this time the whole rig was intact. It went like this: 8-10# mono main line, then a heavy barrel swivel, then 2 feet of stiff 20-30# mono tied underneath the lip of a custom painted AH47 Tot, then 6 feet of 8-10# mono tied above the lip (other end of the connecting link), then a 1/4-oz RoosterTail spinner.

You'd think tying underneath would take away some diving depth, and also that the metal lip would eventually damage the line (guess that's why the heavy leader). I didn't get a chance to tie one on "upside down" and find out.

From the knots, I'd bet it was the same guy pulling those rigs in different years. Anyway, have you ever seen or heard of this type of rig? What are your thoughts? Thanks,

Mike

[Walleye Express]

>Dan, a couple months back I was trolling on Bull Shoals,
>snagged a stump, got free and pulled up an old 1/2-oz. Tot and
>a small swing-blade spinner in a ball of mono. The hooks and
>finish on the Tot were eaten away, but it still had a length
>of heavy mono attached. Funny thing was, it was tied
>underneath the lip, not on top. Couldn't figure out why.
>
>The other day, same thing. Pulled up a much more recent
>original Tot, but this time the whole rig was intact. It went
>like this: 8-10# mono main line, then a heavy barrel swivel,
>then 2 feet of stiff 20-30# mono tied underneath the lip of a
>custom painted AH47 Tot, then 6 feet of 8-10# mono tied above
>the lip (other end of the connecting link), then a 1/4-oz
>RoosterTail spinner.
>
>You'd think tying underneath would take away some diving
>depth, and also that the metal lip would eventually damage the
>line (guess that's why the heavy leader). I didn't get a
>chance to tie one on "upside down" and find out.

>From the knots, I'd bet it was the same guy pulling those
>rigs in different years. Anyway, have you ever seen or heard
>of this type of rig? What are your thoughts? Thanks,
>
>Mike


[b] Mike.

It's my guess he was trying to use the tot as a (poor mans) dipsey diver. But I can't figure out why he would tie off like that. Tying to the bill of the tot would kill any of it's usefull action. It might try to wobble back and forth a little, but it would practically loose all it's crank bait kick.

I've tied off from the front belly Split ring on the 1/2 once tot's after adding a beaded swivel, while fishing for kings on the rivers. This is where the actual word Hot-Shotting came from. A 3 to 5 foot length (or whatever your own liking) of heavy mono was tied off from the front belly split ring to a #4 or #6 treble hook that was globbed with raw spawn. With the right amount of line out, the tot would keep the raw spawn offering in the proper swim zone and in the faces of the migrating kings. The kings would either slam this rig or simply swim up and engulf the spawn. Either way, hang onto your Butt when the rod went down.

[Olyolson]

Dan's right, the only way this would work right is if you hook to the belly split ring. I've used them on the Rogue River quite a bit for steelies and kings with roe or sand shrimp. They are perfect for water 5 - 10 ft. Every once in a while you get hammered and get nothing but teeth marks on your plug. But other times it's Katy bar the door! Fish On!!!

[Powerdive]

I'm going to stick this rig in the water this weekend and see how it looks, tracks and dives. It's just too weird to not look into, considering the unique way it's rigged up. I have comparable Tots, spinners and line--I'll let you guys know what happens. Thanks. :)

Mike