Part of the River Salmon cluster: Start with the How to Catch Sacramento River King Salmon, then use this spoke to dial in the specific setup.
To rig a Brad's Super Bait or cut plug, thread beads or tubing so the trailing hook sits just past the bait's tail and clears the back, then keep the top bead larger than the hook garage so it cannot slip inside. Scott Kaul of Brad's rigs the standard 4 inch cut plug with an 8mm top bead over 5 to 6mm beads. Fish cut plugs and Super Baits behind a flasher on a slow troll or river drift.
How do you rig a Brad's Super Bait cut plug?
Set up enough beads or tubing so the trailing hook sits back past the bait and the gap clears the back of the bait. On the standard 4 inch cut plug, Scott Kaul uses an 8mm top bead over a stack of 5 to 6mm beads. Do not fixate on bead count. Getting the hook set back is what matters.
What hook size for a Brad's standard cut plug?
Scott Kaul runs anywhere from a size 1 up to a 6/0 hook in the standard cut plug. Hook size also tunes action. He reaches for a 6/0 in a big tide to slow the bait down, since larger hooks slow it and smaller hooks speed it up.
Why does the top bead need to be larger than the hook garage?
The top bead stops the hardware from sliding into the hook garage, which keeps the hook set back where it belongs. Scott Kaul uses an 8mm top bead above smaller 5 to 6mm beads so it seats correctly. You can mix bead colors below it.
How do you rig the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug?
Captain Jeff Goodwin rigs the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug with a 1/0 or size 1 VMC open eye Siwash hook pinched onto a six bead chain swivel, then a 5mm bead. The bead keeps the hooks from pulling through and adds distance. Standard rigging runs the line through the top front hole.
What is the wacky way to rig a Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug?
Instead of threading the line through the front hole, Jeff Goodwin leaves the hook, bead chain, and bead running through the hook garage only. That gives the Kokanee Cut Plug an erratic action at the same troll speed. Scott Kaul showed him the trick, and it earns more bites on Shasta Lake.
How do you rig the Brad's Super Bait Skinny?
On the skinny Super Bait, place a bead in front of the hook garage so the treble cannot bury inside. That blocks the treble and shows all three hook points, a tip guide Chris Turbey shared. You can also rig it with a double or triple octopus setup where regulations allow.
How do you rig the Brad's Super Bait Mini and Skinny Mini?
The Mini Cut Plug and Skinny Mini follow the same rule. Set the hook back with beads or a tube so the gap clears the tail. One bead ahead of the hook keeps it out of the garage. Use sharp octopus or wide gap hooks for a clean spin.
How does the Brad's 360 Evolution Flasher fish?
Run cut plugs and Super Baits behind the Brad's 360 Evolution Flasher on a slow troll. Three release holes let you drop as slow as 0.8 mph and still get the thump over a school. The bungee release keeps constant tension so fewer fish shake off in the surface foam.
Watch the technique
Rigging Brad's Super Bait and cut plugs FAQ
Scott Kaul rigged chartreuse while fishing spring salmon on camera, calling it a good color for that fishery. Color choice depends on your water, but chartreuse is a proven salmon starting point.
Yes. Larger hooks slow a cut plug down and smaller hooks speed it up. Scott Kaul uses a 6/0 in the standard cut plug when a big tide calls for a slower presentation.
Captain Jeff Goodwin uses a 1/0 or size 1 VMC open eye Siwash hook on the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug, pinched onto a six bead chain swivel with a 5mm bead behind it.
Removing the line from the front hole lets the Kokanee Cut Plug move erratically at the same troll speed. Jeff Goodwin runs it wacky almost all the time on Shasta Lake because it draws more bites.
Add a bead in front of the hook garage so the treble cannot slide inside. That exposes all three hook points. Check your regulations and pinch barbs or switch to single hooks where required.
Scott Kaul advises against the exposed treble setup in a catch and release fishery with a lot of wild fish, since all three points can end up in a fish you plan to release. Use single hooks in that situation.
The lowest of the three release holes lets you troll down to about 0.8 mph and still get the flasher's thump. Slower speed keeps you on a school longer, which increases strikes.
The bungee release takes the 360 Evolution Flasher out of the fight and keeps constant tension on the fish. That helps pin fish near the surface, where a rigid flasher's drag often loses them.
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