Has anybody tried the Recoil Rig from Secret Weapon? I just saw this and it looks interesting but it has a lot of parts.
I was wondering how effective it is.
http://www.secretweaponlures.com/products/cat_recoil.htm

It really looks like you can fashion your own with some elastic string. Looks the like the same thing my daughter uses for beeding.
The only thing I don't have here at the house is the that particular swivel that is used.

Go to Walmart or a fabric store and get some of the elastic cord like in the picture. I have tried it and dont know that it works any better than a drop shot. Only thing I dont like is how your weight flies around when fighting a fish or casting.

Its actually elastic wrapped in spectre braid. It prevents you from losing your weight everytime you catch a fish.

The recoil rig works great. It really is pretty amazing to see it in the water. If you fish a drop shot with any frequency, you gotta try it.

rubber band

That's what I thought. Be my luck the fish would jump and that weight would fly off like out of a Slingshot and hit me between the eyes!

I first saw this done by a club member in San Diego in 2004, or maybe 2005.
He was really hot on it for awhile, but since he was not killing us with it he eventually cooled to the idea. And since he did not kill us with it the rest of us kinda considered it a lot of hassle for the results.
I can see where in some cases if you can get the weight hung you could keep it in a fishes face as long as the fish would stay in the area.

Bill Dance had something similar to that a few years ago.

It was the Bungie something.

With the spawn approaching, let me dust off this discussion, offer a tip or two, and answer a couple of questions. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll say right up front that my company makes the Recoil Rig. I won't blow smoke, but you should my connection know so you can take that into account.

The 14-pound test Spectra wrap on the Recoil Rig holds up under several hours of use and prevents anglers from slinging off the sinker. I usually clip on a 1/2-ounce dropshot weight, but I'll upsize or downsize depending on current and water clarity. For heavier weights (3/4-oz up to 3 ounces), I use more of a lob or flip than a regular overhand or sidearm cast.

The core is an extremely thin, pliable latex strand (yes... a rubber band) that stretches about 5x its length. This allows anglers to give soft plastic baits lifelike action without moving them out of an ambush point or strike zone. Without the Spectra wrap, you'd have to use a heavy rubber band to keep it from snapping on each cast, but it would not have enough stretch to keep the weight anchored as you work the bait.

For bed fishing, couple it with the right plastic bait and it will usually out-produce any other presentation. Try a lizard, small fluke-style bait or a minnow imitator like a Yamamoto Shad-shape Worm or Berkley Gulp 2-1/2-inch minnow. Cast past the bed and then drag it back until the lure is right above the clearing. Twitch and vibrate it a little, and then ease up tension on the line and let the bait dive down into the bed. Pop it a little, and then lift your rod tip until it starts bending a little and jiggle and twitch it a little more. (Important: don't give it too much action -- the most common mistake of new users.) Repeat this over and over for several minutes if necessary. If the bed is active, the breeding bass will be nearby or at least within eyeshot of the lure. Eventually it will move in to blow the lure off the bed. Because it's anchored by the flexible tether, that won't work, so eventually it will mouth the bait to carry it off. Or it will swim by and grab the bait as it passes. Either way, a quick snap of your rod tip will set the hook -- the elastic band is below the hook, so there's nothing between your rod tip and the hook but fishing line. One angler fishing from the bank caught 24 bass in 24 casts off beds using this technique while bass anglers in four boats just off-shore laid down their rods and watched, trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

Yes, Bill Dance was involved with the launch of an earlier version of this product several years back. We've improved the design and value of the products considerably since then.

Yes, sometimes people use it for a while, don't experience success, and drop it. That's true for all lures and presentations. Success with this or any other rig depends as much on "how" and "where" as "what." Throw it where there's no fish, and it won't catch them. Give your lure unnatural, insane action, and its effectiveness drops way off.

On the other hand, anglers from first-time toddlers to top-ranked pros use this with great success. I was at Bass University yesterday where SWL Pro Randy Howell taught some "advanced Senko techniques." One tip he gave was wacky-rigging a 4-inch Senko on the Recoil Rig for spawning bass. He told how David Dudley turned him onto this rig three years ago. Standing side by side, Dudley's Recoil Rig out-fished Howell's dropshot rig with identical baits 4:1. They use it in place of Carolina rigs, too, because they can pause their retrieve and work the bait in place beside a stump, post, or laydown where bass may be lurking.

Of course, I use them and have learned a lot of tactics that gets the most out of this tool. If you have questions about Recoil Rigs, I'll be glad to answer them.

Joe Haubenreich
President, SWL

I saw this demo'ed in the fish tank at the Raleigh Fish & Boat Expo recently. Looked real interesting in the tank where you could see the action it put on the bait. My problem is I didn't pick any up at the show and now no one local carries them. With shipping they get a little pricey for an old retired fxxt like me. Especially when the wife keeps eyeing all my baits on pegs and stuffed in tackle bags.

The Recoil Rig is worth trying. One of my staffers in MS has done very well using large plastics on the rig. I have been wondering about using it as a C-rig and will give it a shot now since you recommend it Joe.

Thanks for the post Joe.