Lingcod Rigging: Live Bait Setup
How to set up the live Sand Dab rig for Lingcod fishing
Puget Sound Lingcod love to gobble up live Sand Dabs, and Lingcod elsewhere along the Pacific Coast also can't resist live bait. We have tested multiple setups for live bait and found this to be the most effective, with the best hookup ratio and fewer tangles.
Live bait can come in the form of an 8" Sand Dab, a 4" Herring, or a 5" pile perch. Sharpen those leader tying skills and learn how to tie a snell knot, so that you can tie up a leader where the front hook can be placed in the hard part of the bait's nose, and the trailer hook lands somewhere in the back half of the bait. Often times, we find the Lingcod is so aggressive and stubborn that it will latch onto the bait all the way to the surface without even being hooked... and without letting go. But regardless of that fact, a properly spaced leader is something you should strive towards.
We run a sliding dropper weight to give the bait a little lift off the rocking bottom that Lingcod prefer, and to also allow a Ling to pull on the bait without feeling the resistance of 3 to 12 ounces of lead sinker.
If you have yet to try live bait fishing for Lingcod, you really need to fold it into your arsenal. It's really effective and also alot of fun!
Lingcod Live Bait Setup Gear List
We put this post together as a basic guide on how to rig a live bait setup for Lingcod, including all the tackle needed to do it right. If you want to view our full selection of Lingcod rods, reels and gear, please check out our Lingcod Page.
- Live sand dab, preferred length: 4" to 8"
- Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks, size 4/0 to 8/0
- Maxima Ultragreen leader, size: 40 pound, length: 28" to 40"
- Bead Chain Swivel, size 10 - 6-bead
- Plastic Beads, 5mm
- Rosco Barrel Swivel, size 7, rigged sliding on the mainline
- Maxima Ultragreen dropper, size 20-25 pound, length: 8" to 12"
- Lead Cannonball Sinker, size 3-12 ounce, depending on depth and current
- P-Line EndurX or X-Braid mainline, strength: 50-65 pound. We prefer a 6' topshot of 40-50 pound monofilament, which can reduce tangles.