This is a very simple rig which can be adapted as needed for whatever circumstances you might have at any given time. In fact, I might even go as far as saying it is less a rig and more a “style” of fishing as it has so much more variety and versatility than most “rigs”. Enough banter, there are a few key components to the rig. First, we have not one, but TWO different baits or lures. Secondly, we have the terminal tackle which this rig uses, namely snaps or snap swivels and a three-way swivel. Be sure to abide by your local DNR fishing regulations though, here we can fish three hooks per line so I will remove the belly hook of a crankbait if it has three hooks or run single hook spinners. You should also be using good three-way swivels with a true bearing; they are more expensive and a lot harder to find (Google…) but they allow the baits to more freely react to the water and how they are designed too.

The idea of this rig is simple, present two different offerings to the fish and at different depths. This is achieved most notably by using a heavier, sinking or diving bait off the bottom of the three way, while the “t” or middle arm is used to present a weightless, floating or neutrally buoyant lure. The difference in the way these two lure combinations work, in tandem, allows us to present two lures at similar but slightly different depths on one rod. It is very important to always give your bottom line to your diving bait, a bit more line as a rule of thumb until you get used to the rig. I opt a three-foot leader to the diving (bottom) bait and a two foot or two-and-a-half-foot leader to the back bait. I am a huge steelheader, so I strictly use ten to twenty-pound fluorocarbon, even if it’s the middle of summer and we are strung up with braid. Walleye just don’t hit or fight hard enough to warrant the need for shock absorbing mono.

I first introduced this rig to my fishing partner (my pops) a couple years back as it was one of the zillion things, I found in the countless years’ worth of research about fishing I have done.  We used it in possibly its most rudimentary, yet EXTREMELY effective form for walleye out here on Lake Erie. We used a diving crankbait on the bottom and a spoon off the back, paired up with counter reels and “the app” (sorry no free advertising from this guy…) we were able to get our lures to pin-point depth and present two offerings to the schools of walleye giving them the choice of what they wanted. My pops absolutely hated the rig at first, he thought it was too complicated, and then he started doubling up on one pole… You ever catch two ‘eye on one rod, quick math…. It’s 1/3 of your limit, and it regularly happens for us. We, like many folks over the last couple years, have been not just limiting out in a day but limiting out in hours and on good days less than an hour…

To add some variables to this rig you can do a few things, which I have experimented myself. You can run a deep diver and a shallow diver in tandem. You can run any diver and a crawler harness. Spoons and any style diving crank. A diving crank and a soft bait, like a fluke or paddletail, something you might cast for walleye with. The options are endless, there are however a few key things to think about when choosing. The raw ability to double up on your presentation though adds such variety and fish attracting power that this method simply CANNOT be overlooked.

Do you know what bait profile they are keyed in on?

If yes, double up on it! If not fish two poles with four lures and you’ll find out very quickly…

Do you know what color they are keyed in on?

If yes, double up and if not simply fish multiple colors until you figure it out.

Do you know which are the active fish?

You see them deep; you see them high. Fish them both and figure out where the bites are and then adjust accordingly.

What speed are the fish keyed in on?

Ripping 3-3.5, take off the harnesses’ since they won’t spin right. Fishing slow, take off the heavy spoons or get tangled every time you hit a wave and the baits pause long enough to get tangled…

Baits keep tangling up?

Adjust the leader length- Give the diver more leader to offset the “droop” or “sagging” of the back line.