In 1999 StriperSurf.com was proud to be the first to bring the Red Gill® back to America, re-introduce the original Charlie Graves© Tins, as well as launch the Lion Head Hooligan®. In 2003 we launched the unique, extreme quality, SS High Low & Tournament Trophy® Bait Rig and proudly ship them around the world. In 2008 we're equally proud to establish another first, the introduction of TANK'S TEASERS. StriperSurf.com is the exclusive online source for Tank's Teasers.

Tank's Teasers are a whole new teaser specifically designed and tied for fishing in saltwater for BIG fish. These teasers have been field tested in New York and New Jersey waters with excellent, no amazing, results. Field test reports confirm that these are "tough" teasers, made for repeated use, even with toothy "Gorilla" Bluefish. Each teaser is hand tied right here in Pennsylvania, USA by Hank "Fish Tank" Hewitt.

Tank's Teasers are made with 4/0 Stainless Steel, Long Shank, Forged Ringed, O'Shaughnessy hooks which Hank customizes making it similar to a Matzuo® "Sickle" hook. The eye has a slight offset from the shank to the hook point. Each teaser is tied with tough synthetic, reflective "hair" with multiple applications of extra hard epoxies on the head and eyes. Overall length of the teaser measures 4-½ to 5 inches [±12.5 cm].

More from Hank, in his own words:

First and foremost, I designed these to behave akin to a Finnesse, Red Gill, Sluggo, Power Bait, etc. that one would use as a teaser. How many soft plastic teasers or traditional flies, get chewed up by 2 pound bluefish while targeting bass, weakfish or fluke? That is frustrating for every angler. My teasers were created to last far longer per fish, shed grass and debris, to be foul resistant, and be productive in other adverse circumstances that the angler is forced to endure. I wanted to get the most bang for my buck! Jim Donnelly told me he got 25 bluefish on one of my teasers and Capt Steve Byrne reported he caught and released so many stripers on the same teaser no one would believe him! Bottom line, "Tank's Teasers" are designed and tied to make every cast count!

Hank has developed six different patterns, each of which includes synthetic flash to reflect light similar to the reflection from a baitfish's scales. Rootbeer Rainfish is shown above and the other five; Black Angel, Herring, Sand Eel, Scarlet Knight and School Bus are displayed below.

Directions on the methods to rig up teasers are detailed below. You may also order teasers, pre-rigged with drop leaders terminating in a Perfection Loop or a SS/Trophy© solid welded ring Ball Bearing Swivel. All pre-rigged teasers include a +8 foot long Momoi Hi-Catch Leader for attachment of the teaser's drop line and your lure. You cut it to your preferred final length.

Black Angel: Black with Flash

Herring: "1958 Chevy Powder Blue" with Flash over White

Rootbeer Rainfish: Golden Brown with Flash over White

Sand Eel: Olive Green with Flash over White

Scarlet Knight: Red with Flash over White

School Bus: Brown/Black with Flash over Peacock Yellow

Rigging Tank's Teasers
There are two basic methods to attach teasers to your line, both are straightforward and easy. Both require you to be able to tie decent knots. Neither method is perfect, you will occasionally have to untangle your teaser. In my instructions below you may think the recommended lengths of monofilament line are too long but I'm calculating extra line for gripping with your whole hand when pulling the knots together. I tie thousands of knots each year, that extra length makes the job a whole lot easier and faster. Afterall you will cut off any extra line when the knots are tied.

Method One: Perfection Loop and Dropper Loop
The advantage of this method is it allows you to change teasers quickly. It is not as strong as the Ball Bearing Swivel method below.

1: Tie a high quality barrel swivel onto the end of your main line. Use a Palomar or Improved Clinch knot.
2: Cut a piece of mono approximately 7 to 8 feet long for your leader. Yes I know that's too long but trust me!
3: On one end of your leader, approximately 18" in from the end, tie a short Dropper Loop, no more than 2 inches long.
4: Tie this leader (using the end closest to the Dropper Loop) on to the barrel swivel on your main line. You will lose several of those 18" leaving perhaps 12" between the barrel swivel and Dropper Loop. An Improved Clinch Knot is ideal for this connection.
5: You now decide how long you want the total leader to be, three to five feet long depending on your rod length and personal preference but anything less than three feet is dead wrong. You can leave the tag end free to tie a lure directly to the leader or attach a snap. Here again a Palomar knot is the best choice for attaching the snap.

Now for the Teaser:
1: Tie a 24" piece of clear monofilament (60 pound test is ideal) to the Teaser hook's eye using an Improved Clinch knot.
2: Now decide how much of a drop you want between the leader and teaser. More is better however you will also have more tangles. Short, say 4" to 6" is 'okay' but you will get less hook ups simply because the fish will make contact with the leader and shy away. From my experience 12" is ideal.
3: Measure the final length you want and tie a small Perfection Loop. A one half inch to one inch long Perfection Loop is what you want.

You can view an excellent short video on tying the Perfection Loop Here »» VIDEO. The video will open in a seperate PopUp window.

Putting it together:
Simple, just be sure the two opposing loops are joined correctly, the image above shows the only correct way to join the loops. You want both loops to cushion themselves together, not cut into eachother!

Method Two: Barrel Swivel (Ball Bearing Barrel Swivels)
This method is superior to the Perfection Loop because it's the simpler and stronger but you may have more tangles with the main leader. One way around that is to use welded ring Ball Bearing Barrel Swivels because they do not "lock up," they always swivel - that reduces "teaser tangles."
100 pound test Ball Bearing Barrel Swivels are the best choice.

1: Drop Line: Tie a 18" to 24" piece of monofilament (60 pound test) to a Ball Bearing Barrel Swivel. Use a Palomar (best) or Improved Clinch knot. Leave the tag end free for now.
2: Leader: Cut a piece of mono and tie it to the same ring that holds the knot of the Drop Line to the teaser. You can use a Palomar knot for this as well since you can pass the (free) tag end of the Drop Line through the Palomar. If that's too difficult to manipulate tie a proper (5 turn) Improved Clich Knot.
3: Teaser Attachment: Decide on the final length of the Drop Line. Measure and tie the tag (free) end of the Drop Line to the Teaser hook's eye using an Improved Clinch knot. You can use a Palomar knot here as well but it's a bit tricky to completely pass the teaser and it's hair cleanly through the Palomar's loop.
4: Tie the free ring of the Barrel Swivel (Teaser/Leader combo) directly to the end of your main fishing line with a proper (5 turn) Improved Clich Knot.
5: You now decide how long you want the total leader to be, three to five feet long depending on your rod length and personal preference. You can leave the tag end free to tie a lure directly to the leader or attach a snap. Here again a Palomar knot is the best choice for attaching a snap.