As most of us know, many toothy game fish have a knack for short striking live and dead baits, often just missing the hook and leaving you with nothing but a head. Not only is this frustrating, it can be very expensive. Most of us also know that a stinger hook can make all the difference in hooking these bait stealers. I’ve tried many variations of stingers in the past but just recently have found one of the easiest and most effective ways of rigging one. Simply get a pack of vertical-jigging assist hooks in the correct size. Pass the Dacron loop end of the assist hook around the bend in the main hook, pass the assist hook point through the Dacron loop and pull tight. Then embed the assist hook stinger back in the body of your bait and get ready to catch more fish.
Chris Tilghman
Ocean City, Maryland
