Fish Finder Rig vs. Knocker Rig: Pros, Cons, & When To Use Each Rig
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Fish finder rigs and knocker rigs are some of the most popular bottom fishing rigs.
They’re really similar and people often use them interchangeably, but that’s a big mistake.
Each rig has it’s pros and cons which should be taken into consideration when deciding which one to use.
If you use the wrong rig you could make it easier for your line to get tangled, or harder for you to get your bait into the strike zone.
So in order for you to maximize your time on the water and rig your baits correctly, I put together this video showing the differences between these rigs and when to use each one.
You’ll learn:
- Which rig is better to use in heavy current
- Which rig casts farther
- A simple trick to get broken off less
- How to get your hook loose if you get hung up on the bottom
- And much more
Check it out below.
Fish Finder Rig vs. Knocker Rig [VIDEO]
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Before we dive into the pros and cons of these two rigs, I want to first give you a tip about sinkers.
Most people use lead sinkers that have sharp or jagged edges.
Although they may be cheap, the sharp edges can cut your line, so they might not be worth it.
You have two options here:
- Get quality steel sinkers with smooth
- Use a file to soften up the jagged edges
Alright, now let’s talk about these two rigs.
Fish Finder Rig Pros & Cons
Pro:
- You can let out more line when fishing in stronger current and let your bait find fish for you (hence the name “fish finder” rig)
Cons:
- Doesn’t cast very far
- Your leader may get twisted with your mainline as it drops to the bottom because the bait and sinker are apart from each other
Conclusion
If you don’t really need to cast far and there’s a lot of current so you want to let out line and let your bait “find the fish” for you, then this is the rig to go with.
And here’s a tip: be sure to hook your bait in the nose because the bait will be streamlined as it drops to the bottom, which decreases the chance of you getting your line tangled
If you’re using cut bait, you’ll want to hook the thinner side so that’s more streamlined for the same reason as above.
Knocker Rig Pros & Cons
Pros:
- It casts farther
- It’s more compact so you’ll have fewer line tangles
Con:
- You can’t let out too much line because the weight will get in the way
Conclusion:
If you’re fishing in water where there’s less current, you don’t need your bait to move far once it’s on the bottom, and you need to cast far, this is the rig to go with.
Conclusion
Although these two rigs are very similar, they do have their differences in when you should use one or the other.
By choosing the correct rig, you can get your lure into the strike zone more efficiently and catch more fish.
Have any questions about rigging your bait?
Let us know down in the comments.
And if you know someone who needs to learn the differences between these two rigs, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Suggestion/ Question It would be helpful to designate favorite videos or articles for quick future reference.If this capability exists, please advise. Thanks
Hey Richard!
The site doesn’t have that capability just yet, but I will let our team know to see what we can do! You can also bookmark pages to your web browser for quick reference if needed in the time being.
Hey, guys. I might be a little late here, but how would a drop shot rig figure into this rigging competition?
A drop shot rig would be best to keep your bait close to structure, in a specific spot, or dropping straight down. You can also feel strikes much better on a drop shot rig since the hook is above the weight. Very ideal for sheepshead fishing.
when fishing strong current in any kind of depth with a fishfinder rig, if i let out line to “find the fish”, what i seem to get is just a large belly in the line above the sinker, not the bait pulling line through the sinker. Am I doing something wrong?
Hey Terry!
A few things could be happening there. One thing is your bait may be stuck on the bottom. Another issue is your sinker may be stuck on the knot at your swivel, keeping line from coming out. Also, try to use a sinker heavy enough that you can keep the line tight as you let line out slowly. If you let line out too fast the line will start to belly up and then it is actually pulling your bait back to the sinker as your line forms that belly above the sinker. You want you line to be as straight as possible down to your sinker as you let line out.
thks. will up-size sinker when the fall flounder season hits sebastian and watch my technique.
Tony, don’t see you using swivels very often except now and then. You might want to consider having a look at what Hitena has to offer. (Hitena.com) Extremely low profile and high strength. Be interesting to see you do a review on them. In addition, look at their Half Touch Snap swivels. I’m finding these to be very effective for quick lure changes on the surf. No idea where to find them other than ordering online. Shipping is quick and inexpensive.
Thanks Art! I will check em out!
Hey Tony …Knocker rig works REALLY WELL here in Texas Laguna Madre,rockport, Port Aransas area!
I use it with cut lady fish, cut mullet and live and dead shrimp !! I do use 2 red 8mm beads on it though and don’t seem to have any issues !!
In fact my buddy got skunked fishing with me and I had to tie on a knocker rig for him so he could get on the board LOL !! Fish on
Good stuff Josh! The knocker is my go-to inshore. Most of the time I am casting to a specific area and letting the bait soak.