Three Hook Flapper
The three hook flapper rig is a short to medium distance rig when used for shore fishing. From the boat, it is a general purpose rig mainly for smaller species.
As an alternative to the crimps to secure the swivels, silicon stops can be used which are movable unlike the fixed crimps. Billy Buckley shows one version of these in use in his video. Coils of telephone wire, wound tightly round the trace body can also be used.
Breakaway Tackle supply an adjustable crimp, these are more bulky and require a specialised crimping tool.
Three Hook Flapper Rig Components
Main Body
1 x Medium Swivel
6 x 3mm Beads
3 x Snood Swivel
6 x Soft Metal Crimps
1 x Lead Link
Approx. 1 – 1.5 metre length 60-80lb BS main line
Snoods
3 x 450mm approx lengths 10-20lb BS snood
3 x 6 to 1/0 hooks
The Rig Body
- Tie on the lead link and thread on the rest of the components in this order;Â Crimp / Bead / Swivel / Bead / Crimp
- Repeat for the other two snood swivels.
- Tie on the swivel or oval split ring to the top of the trace body.
- Fasten the crimps to the line, the distance apart should ensure that the snoods will not tangle when casting or fishing. Care should be taken when fixing the crimps not to damage the line. Round nose pliers work better than “crimping” pliers.
- Tie the hooks to the snoods and then to the swivels; the snood lengths should be around 300 – 500 mm depending upon the length of the trace body. If you need to fish with longer snoods then it will be necessary to either lengthen the trace body, which may restrict casting. or reduce the number of snoods to two.
- Beads and / or sequins can be added to the snoods as attractors before adding the hooks; buoyant beads can be effective on the upper snoods.
- The breaking strain of the snoods and size of the hooks will depend upon the target species.
Click on image for larger version
There are numerous sources of terminal tackle both locally and on-line, here are a few suggestions –
