Ever since the Tokyo rig was introduced in the U.S., many anglers have experimented with different uses for the rig.
At first glance, people see the rig as a combination of a compact, hardwired drop shot rig, stubby Carolina rig, oversized jika rig or very strange Texas rig. Looks to me like it's a uniqe rig with a number of interesting possibilities!
But does the Tokyo rig truly offer advantages over a traditional Texas rig as bass pro Mike Iaconelli states in the following video?
The Tokyo rig is a popular rig used in bass fishing that originated in Japan. This rig is known for its versatility and effectiveness, making it a go-to choice for many anglers. Here's a short overview of the Tokyo rig and how it can help you catch more bass.
The rig consists of a heavy-duty wire with a swivel at one end and a hook at the other. The wire is attached to a weight that can be adjusted based on the depth of the water and the size of the bait being used.
The unique design of the Tokyo rig allows the bait to move more freely, giving it a more natural appearance and making it more enticing to bass. Additionally, the wire and weight help keep the bait close to the bottom of the water, where bass tend to congregate.
Another benefit of the Tokyo rig is that it allows you to fish in different parts of the water column. You can adjust the weight to make the bait sink quickly or slowly, depending on where the bass are located. This means that you can fish in shallow water or deep water with the same rig, which is a big advantage when you're trying to locate and catch more fish.
To use the Tokyo rig, a soft plastic bait, such as a worm, crawfish, or creature bait is attached to the hook and cast into the cover. The angler then retrieves the bait using a a variety of retrieves, allowing the rig to work its magic and attract bass.
Take a moment and watch as bass pro Seth Feider explains how he uses the Tokyo rig to catch bass in shallow to deep cover...
The Tokyo rig has been one of the "hot" systems for fishing a variety of soft plastic baits during the past few years. Up until recently, many bass anglers have been using the Tokyo rig power fishing larger plastics with great success.
Now with the introduction of VMC's Finesse Tokyo rig, light tackle enthusiasts have a shot at using the Tokyo rig for finesse fishing especially when the bite is tough.
Take a moment and watch as Rapala/VMC bass pro Gerald "G-man" Swindle gives an on the water demo for fishing with a finesse Tokyo rig when the bass have tight lips...
Swimbaits on Tokyo rigs for bedding bass... really?
Just before MLF pro Ott Defoe won the 2022 MLF Heavy Hitters event down in Texas, he posted this video with his take on fishing the Tokyo rig.
In the video, OD admits he has limited experience using the Tokyo rig but also noted he has had great success using the rig in the picture in bedding bass.
Turns out he was right. Defoe credits the Tokyo-rigged swimbait as a major tool that helped him win the Heavy Hitters event!
Take a moment and listen as the "Otter" gives his view on fishing the Tokyo rig...
Here's a link to the other video he mentions where he used the Tokyo-rigged swimbait on bedding bass (watch between 9.5 and 12 minutes)...
