Inspiration strikes whenever, wherever and however it chooses. It found me elbows deep in large bins overflowing with soft-plastic baits. I had spent an afternoon sorting them into piles, each comprised of a specific shape and size. The task was slowed by memories — where baits were purchased and the bass that consumed those missing from certain bags.
The largest piles were worms, lizards and a few other shapes, all measuring 6 inches or less. They weren’t being productive in the basement, no matter how neatly organized. They needed to be fished. Sure, they’d catch bass when Texas-rigged or threaded onto a shaky head. A Tokyo rig would work, too. And that thought set my mind moving.
Tokyo rigs, also known as punch shots, are simple contraptions. They resemble drop shots in that a weight rides below a soft-plastic lure. But rather than line tying everything together, its weight and hook are connected by wire. Most rigs use a relatively short piece of stout wire and strong hook, which are held together with a split ring, and plenty of weight.
While traditional Tokyo rigs continue to produce, today’s increasing fishing pressure, both in quality and quantity, has affected many fisheries, making bass less aggressive and pushing them further into heavy cover. Add a growing acceptance of fishing finesse techniques beyond open water, and the time feels right for a finesse version of the Tokyo rig. So, I built one.
What the Tokyo Rig Does
Most bass are found around structure, whether that’s a shallow flat or deep river channel. Cover keeps them in particular places along that structure, and anglers dive into it to catch them. They have started wading into heavy cover with drop shots, for example, the past few years. But their limp structure often leads to tangles and fouled presentations.
A Tokyo rig offers the same bait-over-weight presentation as a drop shot. But its wire elevates its offering above bottom cover and stands up to tangles, allowing you to more efficiently present your lure in heavy cover, especially aquatic vegetation.
While all its components contribute to its productivity, the finesse Tokyo rig leans most on its wire. It measures 8 to 10 inches long, more than double the length used on traditional rigs, and is thin. It raises your bait further off the bottom, better blends in with the surroundings and flexes, adding action to your lure.
The finesse Tokyo rig plays well with almost any soft-plastic lure. Roboworm, Zoom Trick Worm and other straight-tail models from 4- to 6-inches long are a good first choice. Bass always eat them, and their extra soft plastic comes to life on the rig.
But don’t scoff at other soft-plastic baits. The Zoom 4-inch lizard is the perfect size, and its legs and tail bring more action. Small creature baits and craws, such as Reaction Innovation’s Smallie Beaver and YUM’s Money Craw, work, too, thanks to a realistic profile. As with the worms, keep your color selection simple — dark patterns in stained water and low-light conditions and natural translucent ones for clear water and bright skies.
Simple to Build
Finesse Tokyo rigs have a short and sweet materials list. Chances are good that you already have most on hand, and what you don’t is inexpensive to acquire.
Hook: The business end of this rig is a light wire hook. Bypass the extra-wide gap models, whose point hides behind the line tie, and choose one with a round bend. Offset models are even better; their pair of 90-degree turns hold your bait in place while exposing the hook’s eye for rigging. Sizes No. 1, 1/0 or 2/0 are best.
Dropper: Use single strand stainless steel wire such as AFW’s Tooth Proof, which is used for constructing saltwater and musky leaders. It’s available in myriad sizes, though something near 70-pound test will work best. It’s easy to bend and just rigid enough to stay straight at rest and flex when moved.
Snap: Your hook’s eye is too small for a split ring, so switch to a snap. Simple ones, such as Rosco’s Duo-Lock in size 51 or 52, are perfect. If you want to eliminate any chance of line twisting or snap opening, try Sampo’s No. 3 Oh Snap swivel. Its wind-on design allows the hook or dropper wire to be changed in one quick twist.
Weight: Use bullet weights made of tungsten, which is denser than lead. They pack more weight in less space, maintaining your rig’s finesse feel. While technically you can’t add too much weight — you’re using it as an anchor — sizes 1/16 ounce to 3/8 ounce, adding weight as depth and cover increase, are usually enough. The weight’s point should face down, helping your rig navigate bottom obstructions.
Tools: You’ll need a small pair of diagonal-cutting pliers to cut the wire; you may get away with your teeth with monofilament and fluorocarbon lines, but they won’t cut this stuff. Use round-nose pliers to form the loop at the top of the wire. It bends easily, so you can make the wraps at the top and bottom with your fingers. Use the DUBRO Kwik Twist tool to turn tight wraps if you’re a stickler for perfection.
Assembly is straight-forward. Start by cutting a 12- to 15-inch piece of wire. Form a small ¼-inch diameter loop in one end, and close it with four to six barrel wraps. Slide it onto your snap first, then add the hook, ensuring it curves upward when in place. If it’s a locking snap, be sure it’s closed.
Thread on your weight. Adjust the leader length by folding over the wire. But because the wire is thin and flexible, continue folding it in half, wrapping the tag end around the main wire several times. Your weight will work loose if you don’t. Then Texas-rig your soft-plastic bait and start fishing.
Fish it Here
So far, aquatic vegetation has proven the best place to fish a finesse Tokyo rig. It catches bass when worked along the edges of beds and through holes within. And those holes don’t need to be that open, at least in the upper portion of the water column. It also has produced along rocky banks and around manmade items such as docks and seawalls. It also produces when fished across drop offs, points, sunken islands, channel turns and other classic pieces of structure.
The best water conditions for a finesse Tokyo rig are similar to those for a classic drop shot. Depth is important. It seems 5 feet is its shallow limit, though you can subtract a bit in stained water. Keep adding weight, and you can fish it as deep as bass are willing to swim. Clear water is best, and it’s tough to make it work in muddy water
Cast your rig, working it back with short pulls. In between each pull, keep a taunt line, which will help your rig stand up, and gently shake your rod tip. That will bring your soft-plastic offering to life, directly through your line and by flexing the wire. Don’t hesitate to dead stick it. Even if you’re not adding action, your bait and its appendages will continue wiggling.
Despite its gangly appearance, you don’t need much power to cast a finesse Tokyo rig. A 7-foot spinning rod with medium power and fast action is plenty. You can use a medium-light power baitcasting rod of the same length. Spool both with braided line, from 6- to 10-pound test.
Things to Remember
From construction to presentation, this rig is all about simplicity. Focus on finding the bass rather than fumbling with your gear, and you’ll catch more of them. But you should still mind these fine points:
- Deep-six the leader: Tie your braided line directly to your snap or swivel. There’s no need to worry about hiding your mainline with a fluorocarbon leader. The bait’s position and action will have the bass’s focus. They won’t notice your braid or the thin wire connected to the weight.
- Develop your feel: At first, a bite and running your rig into aquatic vegetation will feel about the same. When you’re at that point, keep some tension on your line. Vegetation will feel like dead weight. You’ll feel a bit of movement if it’s a bass. Set the look if it’s the latter, and gently pull your rig forward to get it through the former.
- Give it time: With its wire leader, a finesse Tokyo rig includes a lot more metal than what bass anglers usually fish. It can take some time, along with two or three bites, to build your confidence in it. But when you reach that point, you’ll have one more technique at the ready to help you catch more and bigger bass.
