Top rigging an Osprey, or similar flat-backed style bait is a great way to make them more weedless and opens the bait to countless new retrieve options. The procedure required to modify the bait is quite simple and can be done by anyone with just a few simple tools. In order to get started you will need the following:
- Super glue
- Counter weight, in this case 3/8 oz
- .357 magnum shell (or other cutting tool)
- Weed eater fuel line or coffee stirring straw
- Heavy gauge metal wire
- Scissors (or other cutting tool)
To begin: insert the metal wire into the end of the weed eater fuel line until snug. Find where the through-line exits the belly of the bait, move back approximately 1/4" and insert the metal wire. Push clean through the bait until the wire exits through the bait's back. Continue to pull until the fuel line has pulled clear through the back.
Once you have pulled through the bait, pull the wire free of the fuel line. Next, super glue the tube securely in place. The super glue will keep the tube in place while fighting a fish and keeps the bait from tearing prematurely.
After the super glue has dried, simply trim off the excess ends of the tube on the top and bottom of the bait. You now have a line-through swimbait that is rigged to fish with a treble on top, instead of the bottom. However, you aren't done. Doing this disturbs the bait's natural balance and keel and counter-weighting is needed. I typically insert the weight right in front of the rear-most belly fins. For this I use the .357 shell, as it is the right diameter and the metal rim easily cuts through the plastic. Using a twisting motion I push the shell down through the bait to the desired depth then carefully remove the inner material. This leaves a perfect hole for the weight to sit in.
Once this step is complete, I simply drop the counter-weight in the hole and super glue in place. I have found no need to cover this weight with excess glue to hide it. Typically it represents such a small part of the bait that the fish don't even notice its presence.
Now that the bait is counter-weighted to offset the top hook, it should have no problems with rolling on its side at high speed. If you still have problems continue adding additional weights until the bait balances out. To fish the bait, run the line through the nose and out the belly, just as you did when the bait was stock. However, instead of tying on the hook you now run vertically up through the second tube, exit the back, then secure your hook.
As stated above, this is a simple procedure that will allow you to adapt a slow-sinking bait to a deeper style of fishing or will allow you to probe the shallows at much higher speeds. Best of luck this spring!
