Reaper Rig (Medium) – Bare | Customisable Dead Bait Trolling Rig

The Reaper Rig – Designed to Swim Like the Real Thing

The Reaper Rig (Medium) – Bare is a precision-engineered dead bait trolling head designed to replicate the natural swimming motion of a baitfish.

Developed by Alan Agic from Lure Us In, the Reaper Rig was born from a simple problem: most trolling rigs pull a bait straight without lifelike action. This aluminium head was designed to create consistent, natural swimming motion — without fiddly setup.

If you're targeting:

Mackerel
Tuna
Wahoo
Spanish mackerel
Other pelagics

This rig is built for it.

What “Bare” Means

The Bare version comes without hooks or terminal tackle.

This gives you full control over:

Hook style (ganged singles, trebles, stingers)
Wire gauge
Hook positioning
Personal rigging preference

Perfect for anglers who already know exactly how they like to rig their baits.

The Reaper Rig – Designed to Swim Like the Real Thing

The Reaper Rig (Medium) – Bare is a precision-engineered dead bait trolling head designed to replicate the natural swimming motion of a baitfish.

If you're targeting:

Mackerel
Tuna
Wahoo
Spanish mackerel
Other pelagics

This rig is built for it.

Medium Size Specs

Designed for baits: 15–25cm (6–8 inches)
Weight (bare): 34g (1.1 oz)
Material: Durable marine-grade aluminium
Reusable body design

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Gear Tip: For high-speed pelagics like wahoo, use heavier gauge single hooks and reinforced wire. For slower trolling on mackerel, lighter wire improves swimming action.

Why the Reaper Rig Works

The design started with a silicone mould of a pilchard head — one of the most commonly used trolling baits.

From there, resin prototypes evolved into a durable aluminium cone body that:

Locks bait securely
Creates natural tail kick
Maintains consistent tracking
Eliminates spin
Reduces re-rigging time

Unlike many trolling rigs that require 5–10 minutes of adjustment to swim correctly, the Reaper Rig is designed to work almost immediately.

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Built to Be Reusable

Unlike disposable rigs, the Reaper Rig body is engineered for repeated use. The core head stays intact even when you replace wear items like wire or hooks—so you get long-term value, not a one-session rig.

CNC aluminium body for strength and durability
Corrosion resistant to handle harsh saltwater conditions
Designed for repeated use across multiple bait sessions
Easy to re-rig with your preferred wire gauge and hook style

Pro Tip: Keep a small tackle pouch with spare wire, crimps and trebles. When a hook set gets worn or bitten off, you can re-rig quickly and keep fishing.

What You Need to Build a Simple Reaper Rig Setup

The Reaper Rig (Medium) – Bare includes the aluminium rig head only.
To create a simple, ready-to-troll setup, you’ll need:

✔ Bite-resistant wire trace (matched to your target species)
✔ Treble hooks (single stinger or double stinger setup)
✔ Swivel for mainline connection
✔ Crimps or split rings (depending on your rigging style)
✔ Your preferred dead bait (15–25cm pilchard, gar, slimy mackerel, etc.)

Many anglers also add a short assist wire or teaser skirt in front of the bait for extra flash and attraction.

For toothy pelagics like mackerel, a stronger wire trace is recommended to reduce bite-offs.

Once rigged, simply insert the bait nose-first, align the Reaper scythe with the top of the head, lock it in, position your trebles — and you're ready to troll.

Simple Setup – Under 15 Seconds

Insert bait (pilchard, slimy mackerel, etc.)
Lock the head using the scythe-style locking mechanism
Rig your hooks
Deploy

Fast. Secure. Effective.

❓FAQs

What is the Reaper Rig (Medium) – Bare version?

The Reaper Rig (Medium) – Bare is a dead-bait trolling rig head (no hooks or wire included) that lets you build your own terminal tackle. It’s designed for 15–25cm (6–8in) baits and is made to deliver a lifelike swimming action with minimal fuss.

Does the Bare version include hooks, wire, or hardware?

No. This is the BARE rig head only. You choose your preferred hook style (ganged singles, stinger trebles, or a mix) and wire gauge to match your target species and local conditions.

What species is the Reaper Rig designed to target?

It’s built for pelagic predators such as mackerel, tuna, and wahoo. It’s designed to replicate the natural swim of a baitfish when trolled correctly.

What bait size suits the Medium Reaper Rig?

The Medium head is designed around 15–25cm (6–8in) baits. It’s a great all-round size for common trolling baits like pilchards and slimmer profile baitfish.

How fast can I rig a bait with a Reaper Rig?

Very fast. The design is built for quick bait loading and consistent alignment—ideal when you want to get your spread back in the water quickly after a bite or a missed strike.

How do I align the bait inside the rig head?

Slide the bait in nose-first and make sure the Reaper scythe (locking arm) lines up with the top of the bait’s head. Correct alignment helps the bait track naturally and improves the swimming action.

Can I run garfish in the Reaper Rig?

Yes. Gar can work very well, but you’ll typically need to snap the beak off so the head seats properly. A simple prep trick is to pinch along the backbone to loosen the flesh—this can help improve the swimming action.

What hooks can I use with the Bare Reaper Rig?

You can run ganged single J-hooks, multiple treble “stingers”, or a combination depending on bait length and your preferred hookup style. The Bare version is ideal if you already have a favourite hook brand and wire setup.

How far back should I troll the Reaper Rig?

A solid starting point is 30–50 metres behind the boat. Adjust based on conditions and boat traffic—if it’s quiet you can often run them a little further back.

Should I run light drag when trolling?

Yes. Many anglers prefer light drag so a fish can take the bait and run. Too much drag early can increase the chance of pulling hooks on the first run. Once the fish has settled into the run, you can gradually increase drag.

What do I do if my bait gets “pulled” or looks wrong?

A practical trick is to hit neutral, do a sharp turn, let the bait sink for a few seconds, then accelerate. This change can trigger a strike and helps reset bait behaviour in the water.

Can I add flash like holographic tape or decals?

Yes. Many anglers customise their rig head with reflective/holographic lure tape or decals to add extra flash. It’s a simple DIY upgrade that can increase visibility and attraction in clear water or bright conditions.

Will the Reaper Rig rust or corrode?

The rig body is made from aluminium, which is highly resistant to corrosion when looked after properly. Like all saltwater gear, a quick freshwater rinse after use helps extend its lifespan.

Is the Reaper Rig reusable?

Yes. The rig head is designed to be durable and reusable. While hooks and wire may need replacing over time, the aluminium body is built to last with normal care.

What wire strength should I use for toothy fish?

For species like mackerel, many anglers use a stronger bite-resistant wire at the front to reduce bite-offs. Your ideal wire depends on target species, local fish size, and how pressured the fish are, however a good starting point is a 44lg single strenght wire —if you want, tell us your target and we’ll recommend a setup.

Does trolling speed affect the swimming action?

Yes. The bait action is speed dependent. Start at a steady trolling pace that keeps the bait swimming naturally without spinning, then fine-tune based on bait type, sea state, and what the fish are responding to.

Is the Reaper Rig suitable for beginners?

Yes. It was designed to be simple and user-friendly—especially compared with traditional dead-bait rigs that can be fiddly to pin and tune. It helps anglers achieve consistent bait action faster.

Rig faster. Troll smarter. Catch harder. Customise your setup with the Reaper Rig (Medium) – Bare.

Lure Us In is an Australian fishing brand founded by Gold Coast angler Alan Agyik, created to deliver smarter, faster and more effective trolling solutions. After years of real-world testing from kayaks and jet skis, Alan developed the Reaper Rig—a streamlined trolling system designed to be quick to bait, easy to use and incredibly effective in the water. Proven on species like mackerel, tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi, the Reaper Rig features a unique stainless steel scythe locking system that secures bait in seconds—so you spend less time rigging and more time fishing. Built tough with laser-cut stainless steel components, Lure Us In gear is made to perform in demanding conditions and deliver consistent results. Designed by anglers. Tested in the ocean. Built to catch fish.