Capt. Anthony Mendillo, who runs Keen M in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, recently started taking on charters from underwater photographers and divers. These folks want to get right up to the sailfish balling up schools of cigar minnows and sardines and jump in the water with them. While looking for balls of bait and birds, Mendillo pulls a few teasers to see what he can raise. I watched his mate, Gallo, rig this quick ballyhoo teaser and thought it would suit anyone fly-fishing for sails or using the bait-and-switch.
 
Start by tying about a four-inch surgeon's loop at the end of your leader. In the middle of the loop, wrap some rigging wire around both strands of the loop, leaving yourself one short strand about two inches long to go through the bait's lip and a four-inch section for securing the gills. 
 
Slip the mono loop over the ballyhoo's head and pull it snugly behind the bait's gills. The wire should end up under the bait's mouth. Push the short piece of wire up through the bait's chin, through the hinge that opens and closes the mouth, and wrap it a couple of times to close it up. Pass the long piece through the eye sockets several times to snug up the rig.
 
Now, using approximately a 12-inch section of rigging floss, stitch up the sides and secure the bait's head to its body. It's a simple teaser that works well for casting or skipping on the surface.

Charlie Levine
Winter Park, Florida