How to Tie a Tope Rig

by David Proudfoot

The boat tope rig is constructed with a bite length of either heavy duty monofilament or a short length of wire.

It also incorporates a rubbing leader to help protect the rig from damage from the tope’s rough skin.

Tope Rig Components

Tubing Boom

1 x Bead

1 x Link Approx. 500 mm 60-80lb BS line

Main Body

Approx 2 metre length 80-100lb BS rubbing leader

Snood

2 x Heavy duty swivels

1 x 300 mm of 80 – 150lb multi-strand wire. This can be omitted if using 250lb nylon.

2 x Crimps

1 x 1.2 to 3 metre length 150 – 250lb BS mono snood. Skippers prefer the heavier nylon as it is easier to handle the fish at the side of the boat.

1 x 6/0 to 8/0 hook, either barbless or with barb flattened with pliers to facilitate an easy release.

The Rig Body

  1. Thread the leader line through the tubing boom, thread on the bead and tie on the link to the other end. A zip slider can replace the tubing boom.
  2. Crimp the hook to one end of the wire and a swivel to the other.
  3. Tie the heavy duty snood length to the second swivel and to the swivel attached to the wire. A link can be used to quick change the hook length.
  4. Attach the trace swivel to the link below the boom.

Click on image for larger version

tope rig

There are numerous sources of terminal tackle both locally and on-line, here are a few suggestions –

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