I have seen lots of comments in the past on using "backer rod" for making rags. No one fishes with them here in the Midwest. How big should these things be, and is there a chance that you can do a "how to" on your video clips sometime this winter? I'm heading to Yakky next april, and would like to give them a shot. Thanks.

I've seen them mostly made with white backer rod. I have a bunch of blue rod (just to be different). I cut the backer rod into pieces 3/4" to 1". In the top 1/3 or so of the rod string yarn (2 different colors, making a cross) through the backer at a right angle (to the length of the backer). I use white and red, white and orange, white and chartruese, etc. The yarn should not stick out too far (1/2" or so..)

They seem to make a large silouette in the water so I tend to use them when there is 2 - 4 feet visibility. I squirt shrimp oil on the yarn and also use a shrimp tail on the hook. The rags also have a lot of bouyancy so my leaders aren't real long (18" - 24")

Then again, I don't catch many fish, so take this advice with some caution...

It is a good idea to use a sequine(I think that is how you spell it),on the bottom to keep your hook from ripping through. That is the best thing I have found. I have used them without for a long time, but they had a tendency to spin around and the hook got caught in the yarn or around the line. They are awesome though under the right conditions!! Used them on the Quinalt last year and really spanked them!! An easy way to get the yarn through is to take a short piece of wire and put a bend in it about 1.5'' and push it through the backer rod, put your yarn in and pull it through--its alot faster than using a needle and a piece of line.
P.S. I think fish tend to "glom" these a little longer and harder because they are soft. When using scent-squeeze the foam,add scent and then let the foam expand with the scent on top--just a thought

Crayfin

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[This message has been edited by crayfin (edited 12-13-1999).]

I'll have a tip and video soon ... looks like the rivers are gonna be out for awhile, so as soon as I get all my domestic duties donme, I'll get it up!

You can make rags any size you want for the river conditions. I often use rags in gin clear water. You can get several differant sizes of backer rod. Grey is the only color I've ever used and it seems to work fine. I've found that the fish tend to hold the rag longer than hard baits making bite to hook up ratio's better. Use your imagination on color choices. For clear water I found a dull pink yarn in a craft store that has produced well for me. In clouded water I go with a large half inch rag with chartruese and flame red yarn. My smaller rags are made with 3\16th inch backer rod. To make your rags thread the yarn through the middle of the backer rod( for larger rags use about 3\4 inch to 1 inch sections of rod and for smaller clear water rags use about 1\8
inch to 1\4 inch )with a large needle. Trim yarn to desired length.

Do you rag fishers ever throw on a chunk of bait? Shrimp tail perhaps?