Dubuque Rigging

I was reading the fishing techniques for the Zone R Nuckle Ball Jigs and it said they are deadly when fishing them the Dubuque Rigging way. I checked the articles section and came up empty. I was wondering what that is. I fish a lot of walleyes a lot of different ways but have never heard of that term. By the way, L&D #7 was a zoo this weekend. Lots of small fish. Too many boats.

Blue Fleck,A Dubuque rig is like a 3-way only you use a jig for the weight.

One thing you should know…… Dubuque rigging might be more popular than you think (I see Guides and tourney anglers using it quite a bit!!)….
3 waying is a very effective technique…..
and dragging heavy jigs over the bottom is also a very effective technique…. perhaps you saw under the “favorite fall techniques” post I wrote about dragging the nuckleball zonar combined with a ring worm ( I was doing it last year when normally I would be using a sonar and I killed em!)…..

the biggest eye I ever caught was caught dragging a dubuque rig near Red Wing… it was 33.5 inches long…. it sucked in the bottom jig as it was dragging along a current break in 12 feet of water….
attached once again is both the nuckleball zonar and the regular nuckleball rigged with ringworms…… I usually tie these on to the dropper of a 3 way….. but somedays if I figure out the are mostly hitting the dragging jig I will just use the dragging jig…

Thanks, I had a feeling that’s what it was.

By the way, I want to send out my sympathies for Chuck Sonnek and his family. They had a house fire over the weekend. His wife has MS and they lost the some pretty expensive belongings. Like her wheelchair. Anyone that knows Chuck knows that he is a fantastic marine mechanic and an all-around nice guy. Thanks again for the info.

Is a Dubuque rig legal in Minnesota? I know it is not on inland waters, but I thought the Miss regs were two lines but still 1 hook per.

The ol’ Miss is boundry water so it is legal on the big river. Inland lakes and rivers? It’s a no go!!

If I am not mistaken, if you chose to fish like that, you can only fish one pole. That style of rig may be considered two lines. If you were to fish two poles w/ that rig you might be violating. It could be considered 4 lines. I am in no way certain of this but seem to recall having this same discussion w/ a local game official. I would highly recommend checking w/ your local warden before trying this method of fishing. I have to concur w/ many other fisherman that this system can be a great way to catch a lot of fish.

You are correct. 2 Dubuque rigs would be considered 4 lines.

J.

Dubuque rigs ROCK!!!!!!!! Definitely glad I was turned on to that technique last year by Turk!!

It’s real nice when all you have been getting are bites on the live bait when all of a sudden, WHAM, something
smashes your plastic!!!!!!!!

Jim W

For everyone saying “What is a 3-way or Dropper…” Here is a Dubuque with a Jig and floater. See Attachment. (Not the greatest shot, but…)

J.

Hi Jon, That photo works for me.Just a quick question though as I haven’t ever tried
fishing with two jigs but when I tie on a three way swivel I usually tie the
sinker to the one with your jig but the one with the floater is usually to my rod and
the one that you show empty is the one with the floater. I’m wondering if it really matters
now ? Steve

The empty spot on the 3-way is where you tie the line that goes back to your rod. When the rig is worked, the lead head jig is on bottom and the floater trails back.

Make scense?

J.

FYI:
Not sure if this was made clear or not, but you DO NOT have to use a floater with a DUbuque rig. In fact
I prefer using just a plain hook. All depends on the bite etc. LAst weekend the plain hook out fished the floater.

Keep the rods bendin’!!!

Jim W

Hey jon,,, just wondering,, what does the fish ussually hit,, the jig or the floater,,, have u ever cought a double while fishing for walleyes,,, we ussually use this method while fishing for whitebass,, works great,,,

Yep I understand your photo, I was just saying that I usually reverse it. The one that you show empty
is the one I usually tie on my floater and the one that you show with the floater is
the one that goes back to my rod. Steve

Steve, since the 3-way actually “swivels”, I don’t believe it matters which one you use to tie the floater or hook to….right? or am I missing something?

And yes, I have doubled up using a dubugue rig many times. Just when you think you have a 6 pounder on, you pull up 2 15 inchers!! lol

Very effective way to fish where legal. There are so many variations of this rig you could experiment for years. One of the better producing dubuque rigs I like to use is a big 3/4 to 1 oz jig, big rubber shad body on the jig. Then use a small crankbait for the trailer. Troll this rig upstrem as slow as possible. It’s deadly and best of all, no bait. No need to get hands wet when it 20 degrees out!

J.

That’s what I was wondering if it mattered which went to the pole or which one went to
the floater? Steve

Thanks for the info jon j,, i will have to try that some time for some eyes… sounds like a fun and effective method