My limited experience with stinger rigs

Ever since using Gulp grubs, I have had problems with the tails getting bitten off without a hookup. Lings especially just shred through gulp tails. Thats where the stinger rigs come in handy. I like the Owner pre-tied rigs because it includes a protective sheath around the braid too protect it from both the main hook and ling teeth.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Stinger_Harness_Rig/descpage-OSHR.html

The stock hooks are pretty flimsy for big lings, last week at Hobuck a ling bent out the treble hook at the surface. Had to move up to #5 Treble. In the rough conditions where it was difficult to jig, every fish I caught was hooked with the stinger.

The downside of stinger rigs is that they are harder on the fish and its more hooks to snag. Also if the fish is fighting hard on the stinger, it can jab itself with the main hook on its side. But in my limited experience they seem to make a big difference in the hook up ratio using the larger gulp grubs.

They are nice to have for the short biters.   WOW 4.50 a pop!  Get yourself some 80-120lb tuffline (what I use) or equivalent, some heat shrink tube and hooks of your choosing (I like straight shank live bait style hooks) and bang out a bunch for a fraction of what your paying now ..  Great winter fishing project in front of the TV.

To be fair it is for a pack of three, not per rig. But duly noted, I have some spectra and trebles laying around.

When I lived in PA I used to river fish for walleye. In the winter I always used a stinger. I usually just used an appropriate sized bait hook (small side). Now I am sure that for Ling you need something somewhat beefy, but I would guess (no experience, just guessing) that a short shank stout single hook would give you all the stinger you need with less snagitude.

I usually tied my stingers with slight lighter line  than my main line (4 vs 6 or 8 vs 10) so snagging my stinger would not make me lose everything. I am not sure what the best approach would be for bigger saltwater fish.

My question about using single hooks is how do you stick in the tail? (ie, piece through, embed the hook)

I've used stingers a lot for rockfish that like to tailbite the 6" gulp grubs.  typically I just tie an egg loop to a #1 or 2 hook and stick it right through the curly tail once.  Leave some slack in the stinger line so it doesn't interfere with the gulp tail moving. 

REALLY wish I was at Hobuck right now, conditions are looking nice.

Think bass fishing w/ plastics. Hook it through w/ the hook upside down and feed it all the way through until it's right side up.

I agree w/ PDX, trebles can get nasty.

Stingers are super for coho on the troll, years ago we bought polar bear bucktail streamers up in Vancouver BC, they had a 1/0 treble with a size 1 stinger, most of our silvers were hooked on the stinger, it trailed the tail of the bucktail by about an inch.  Deadly!  Too bad you can't get polar bear anymore, it really was the best.