Fishing Secret - Rigging Range Cubes as Bait

[@robertanderson2938]

Thank you brother, you helped me with a lifelong issue.... the wife hates touching bait, so this works great... now time to stack the freezer with buffalo.

[@osbornfishing4132]

Buffalo really like the cubes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iobVeoGhn91lgc0si=w83NIi0s5R997qM3

[@KG-jp6rx]

I cut my range cubes in half before drilling. This setup works well.

[@osbornfishing4132]

Thanks for the comment. Cutting or breaking the cubes is a great way to adjust to the size of fish and fishing conditions. You can also cull through a bag of cubes and usually find a size cube you like.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Let’s say you reel in and your cube is too small or gone Are you able to use the same line again to put another cube on?

[@osbornfishing4132]

You have to cut everything off and start over with a new cube.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Osborn fishing Have you tried 7/8 width range cubes? Not sure if those are too wide for carp? I got in contact with a grain company: he’s sending me a ziplock bag full of 7/8in and 1/4in size range cubes. 1/4 in may be to small? 28 % protein

[@osbornfishing4132]

The cubes I normally use are 3/4 inch. I have used 7/8 inch in the past and they will work. The cubes dissolve in the water, so they reduce in size over time. I have not used 1/4 inch cubes but they might work great. They may not last very long in the water before they dissolve.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

I’ll give 7/8 in diameter a try Once I receive I’ll use the 1/4 in ones for chum Producers pride & nutrena niter beef range cubes are the only two I can find my area. Both 20% protein and both about half inch in diameter

[@osbornfishing4132]

Those should work.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

How far you putting bite on weight away from your hook on line? I may use a leader and let the weight hit a head which bead would hit swivel

[@osbornfishing4132]

12 to 18 inches.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Thanks

[@robertanderson2938]

What brand range cubes do you use? While drilling, my range cubes kept splitting, so I drilled in the side of the rangecube...

[@osbornfishing4132]

I have used several brands, but I currently use a brand called big V out of Oklahoma (bigvfeeds.com). Unfortunately, every bag is different depending on the age and moisture content. Some bags drill out really well while others are terrible. If I get a really good bag I don’t chum with it and save it for bait. If I get a bad bag then I use it for chum. Drilling slower or using a little shorter cube will help and if the split is minor they will still work. Drilling the cubes in the side will work, but I found it lowers the hook up rate. If you find a good brand in your area, let us know.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Hey bud Do the Carp usually set hook their self with this rig? Or do you need to set hook? Pack bait rig carp usually hooks itself

[@osbornfishing4132]

Carp usually hook themselves, but you can set it if you want. Buffalo often hold the cube and setting the hook works well.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Tanks for the info on both post and for quick reply

[@mikesomewhere7214]

Just drill it wide ways NOT length wise. (Hair Rig) Then a small rubber band for a stop and wrap the rubber bands around each end...way simpler than this way.

[@mustafanajm965]

Thank u bro i will check this new bait for carp next week im always used boils pup up like

[@osbornfishing4132]

Good luck and let us know how you do.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

I’m having issues with loop you make after going through straw twice If I pull to tight? It cuts through straw Am I using wrong type of straw?

[@osbornfishing4132]

You don’t need to pull very hard on the straw. You can also make the piece of straw a little bigger.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Osborn fishing Which technique doe you use to get the range cubes out into to water for chum? I’ve read some guys just toss it out by hand Some use like a baiting spoon or slingshot

[@osbornfishing4132]

I just take 4 double handfuls and put it in a bucket, then broadcast it by hand when I finish fishing for the day. If you chum 3 days in a row you should catch fish if they are around. If you find a place with deep water next to shallow water you don’t need to throw it far. In some of the areas that I fish I put a couple of handfuls a few feet from the shore and watch the fish come up and feed on it lol.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Good info Thanks

[@jeremydurbin4320]

So it’s best to chum same area for 3-5 days before fishing Do you chum up the area the day fish before actually casting out? I seen that you throw 4 handfuls of ranger cube after you finish fishing

[@marcus6907]

do you rebait often? ive tested range cubes in water they breakdown in 10 or so minutes

[@osbornfishing4132]

The speed the cubes breakdown is based on many factors. Water temperature, brand of cubes, bag variability, species present (small bluegill or cats can just chew them off) will all affect how fast the cubes breakdown. I have bought bags of cubes that broke down the second they hit the water (I ended up chumming the whole bag instead of using it as bait). Usually I rebait between 15 and 45 minutes. The easiest way to determine how long the cubes are lasting is to pull them in and check them. If you get back a line without any cube left on the line then change them more often. I have changed them ever 10 minutes in tournaments to make sure I always have good bait.

[@92greenebeen]

I thought range cubes break down slow?? I dont think it would be a fast catching bait right??

[@osbornfishing4132]

You don’t want them to break down. I am not using it like a pack bait. Big fish can pick it up as soon as it hits the water.

[@92greenebeen]

@@osbornfishing4132 wow i didnt know.. maybe its the molasses smell??

[@jeremydurbin4320]

What size drill bit are you using to drill the range cubes?

[@osbornfishing4132]

The idea is to get the line through the cube, so any bit around 1/8” will do. You want the hole big enough to easily get the line through the cube, but small enough so that it does not allow the line to pull out of the cube when the cube starts to break down.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Do you chum some day you fish before you cast in?

[@osbornfishing4132]

I usually start fishing without chumming. If I don’t get any bites in an hour or 2, then I may throw out a handful of cubes.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Thanks for info

[@richardcollins4977]

What pound test line you using

[@osbornfishing4132]

I normally use 20 lb line, but if I am fishing for records I can use from 2 lb to 80 lb line.

[@H3ADBANG4LIF3]

I wonder if you were to tie it so that the line exits the eye of the hook facing the hookpoint (just insert the line at the beginning away from the hookpoint) if you would get a better hook-up ratio. It would be similar to the European hair rig.

[@osbornfishing4132]

Thanks for the comment. I have tried several different variations over the years and lots of them work. Typically I am after record fish and I achieve a good hookup rate with this setup on fish over 20 pounds. I would be interested to hear if a different setup works better for you.

Thank you for your sharing!

[@jackcupit1447]

I'm 76 when I was young we bought cotton seed that was pressed into a sheet about an inch thick we cut it up and fished it for catfish same technique thanks for the memories

[@trudytwilite]

What hook are you using?

[@osbornfishing4132]

I use a Mustad 94140 size #2, size #1 or #1/0 depending on the size carp I am catching.

[@malonphillips4447]

Thanks for the information I will try this

[@osbornfishing4132]

Good luck with the range cubes. Let us know how you do.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Just picked up two diff brands of range cubes One is producers pride 20% protein range cubes and the other is nutra beef 20% protein range cubes

[@osbornfishing4132]

Great. Let us know how you do.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Will do

[@jeremydurbin4320]

I just tested the producers pride range cube break down time. It took about pint hour to fully break down totally I wonder if you could cut a range cube in half long ways. To make it smaller?

[@osbornfishing4132]

If I want to target smaller fish, I just use a shorter cube from the bag. I usually use a cube about 2 inches long. The cube breaks down on the hook, so it gets smaller over time.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Thanks for info

[@jeremydurbin4320]

What is smallest hook you would use with this rig?

[@osbornfishing4132]

I usually use 1 or 1/0. But I have used 2/0 for big fish and 2 or 4 for smaller fish.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

What’s the exact mustad hook are you using? I can see mustad on package but can’t see it clear enough to read

[@osbornfishing4132]

@@jeremydurbin4320 My favorite is the Mustad live bait J-hook 94140, but I have used other models and brands with success.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

@@osbornfishing4132 thank you for the info in both of your replies

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Osborn fishing Which protein % range cubes are you using?

[@osbornfishing4132]

I use at least 20% protein cubes. I have used several brands that have worked. I really like Big V Feeds out of Oklahoma. You will have to experiment with different brands available in your area to find a diameter and ingredients that work best. Unfortunately, every bag is different. Some hold together really well and may stay on for 45 minutes or so, while others break down quickly.

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Thank you responding so quickly 20% is all have been able to find in my area. I fish a lake that has carp ranging from 5-15 lbs roughly I’ll give it a try

[@jeremydurbin4320]

Will it still work If the cubes break down a little quicker?

[@osbornfishing4132]

@@jeremydurbin4320 Five to 15 pounds is a great size for cube fishing.

[@osbornfishing4132]

Since each bag of cubes breaks down at a different rate, I check my cubes every 15 minutes. If all of the cube is gone when I check the bait then I check them more often. If some of the cube is left, then I throw it back out for 15 more minutes. That way you can quickly find out how long the cubes will last for a particular bag. Unfortunately, sometimes you get a bag where the cubes devolve within a few minutes. If I get one of those bags, I will use it to chum with and get another bag for bait cubes.

[@chriswalls5831]

Whats your biggest catfish on range cubes?

[@osbornfishing4132]

I have caught blue catfish between 20 and 25 pounds on range cubes. I haven’t fished catfish much in deep water in the winter with range cubes, but I plan to try that this year. If you get a big one please post a comment on your catch.

[@chriswalls5831]

@@osbornfishing4132 nice i would think here in florida they would work for big channel cats

[@osbornfishing4132]

I have caught many channel catfish between 10 and 15 pounds on range cubes.

[@texashombre]

what size drill bit do you use for the drilling part ? would it work drilling sideways instead of longways ? .thanks for the tip !

[@osbornfishing4132]

The idea is to be able to pass the line through the range cube, so I just grab any small bit. A general size would be 1/8”. You want the hole big enough so the line is not hard to get through the cube, but small enough that it doesn’t pull off easily when the cube starts to breakdown. I tried drilling them sideways and the hookup rate goes down.

[@texashombre]

@@osbornfishing4132 thanks Sir , will give it a try

[@bradking2615]

I'll probably ust figure out a easier way don't understand why so many things are needed

[@osbornfishing4132]

Good luck. Let us know what you find out.