Double your rig to catch more flounder

Catch more flounder with a tandem rig

Everybody likes a two-for-the-price-of-one sale, especially on fishing equipment. Flounder like it too, so increase your chances at hooking up with them by using a double flounder rig. Whether your preferred flatfish lure is a bucktail jig or a Shrimposter, try two at a time this spring.

You can find pre-tied double flounder rigs in most tackle stores, but they are easy to make. Start off with a five-foot long piece of fluorocarbon leader. Tie your first jig on one end of the line just as you would if only using one lure. Now, tie the other jig on the other end of the line.

So far, you have a piece of leader material with a jig on each end, so it might be tough to visualize catching a flounder with it. With it all laid out, pinch the line about 12-inches up from one of the jigs. Tie a loop knot there. The loop is now the end of the leader, and this is where you’ll attach the rig to your main fishing line.

Now, when you have it tied on, one jig dangles down about 12-inches, and the other jig is a couple of feet behind that one. Depending on how fast you work your retrieve, both lures may drag the bottom, the front one may drag while the rear one rises up, or the rear one will drag and the front one will rise up. You can also use a heavier jig for the front one or the rear one to mix things up. You can even try two totally different lures.

You can tie your main line directly to the loop, or you can use a swivel. It’s also possible to add a ball bearing swivel into the rig while tying the loop knot. To do this, thread the line through one end of a swivel before tying on either jig. After tying on both jigs then complete the loop knot with the swivel in the loop. This will leave you with the swivel at one end of the rig and a jig at the other, with another jig in between.