Daisy Chain Squid Teasers

Daisy chain squid teasers are a great way to enhance your trolling lure spread when targeting marlin, tuna, wahoo, and other offshore big game species.  They are not difficult to make, but they are much more durable and effective if built properly.

Buying Plastic Squids

Our custom teasers use only Moldcraft squids.  These are tough, durable, easy to rig, and come in a wide variety of colors.  We typically build daisy chains consisting of either five 9″ squids or seven 6″ squids.

Daisy Chain Colors

If I had to pick only two colors I would pick pink (the Moldcraft pink contains metal fleck and is beautiful) and natural.  However, there is not need to limit yourself to just those two colors.  Click here to find a Moldcraft dealer near you.

Squid Teaser Materials

The list of materials is very simple and you can get them from a variety of sources.  It is critical you use te best possible materials.  These teasers are designed to be used by themselves or with a lure or rigged natural bait behind them.  The front of the chain has a Mustad ball bearing swivel so that any twist is not transmitted to the teaser line.  The rear of the chain has a Mustad ball bearing snap swivel so that lures, other teasers, or rigged natural baits can be attached.

9″ Squid Teaser Materials

• 5 – 9″ Moldcraft squids
• Spool of 400lb Yo-Zuri HD Fluorcarbon leader
• 4 – 2.2mm single sleeves (used for stops)
• 4 – 2.2mm double sleeves (used for the front swivel and rear snap swivels)
• 5 – Plastic beads
• 1 – 300lb Mustad ball bearing swivel (front)
• 1 – 300lb Mustad ball bearing swivel with snap (rear)

6″ Squid Teaser Materials

• 7 - 6″ Moldcraft squids
• Spool of 200lb Yo-Zuri HD Fluorcarbon leader
• 6 - 1.9mm single sleeves (used for stops)
• 6 - 1.9mm double sleeves (used for the front swivel and rear snap swivels)
• 7 – Plastic beads
• 1 – 200lb Mustad ball bearing swivel (front)
• 1 – 200lb Mustad ball bearing swivel with snap (rear)

Squid Teaser Assembly

The following steps are required when assembling the teaser.  It is critical to slide all the components in place before doing any crimping. 

1. Spool out 6-7 feet of leader, but do not cut it at the spool
2. Slide on a squid (head first), a plastic bead, and a single sleeve
3. Repeat step 2 for all the remaining squids EXCEPT for the last one
4. Slide on the last squid (head first) and two double sleeves
5. Pass the leader through the snap swivel twice while making a knot (see video)
6. Pass the leader back through both double sleeves
7. Push the double sleeve closest to the snap swivel as tight as possible against the loop and crimp it
8. Position the second double sleeve so that it acts as a spacer so that only the snap portion of the snap swivel protrudes from the squid
9. Twist the leader material between the two sleeves and crimp it
10. Slide the last squid tight up against the bead and position the next single sleeve to provide the desired spacing (typically one and a half squids) and crimp
11. Repeat step 10 for all remaining squids
12. Cut the leader off the spool leaving 3-4 feet in front of the first squid (this will allow for future re-rigging if needed)
13. Slide on the remaining two double sleeves
14. Pass the leader through the swivel twice while making a knot (see video)
15. Pass the leader back through both double sleeves
16. Push the double sleeve closest to the swivel as tight as possible against the loop and crimp it
17. Position the second double sleeve two inches from the first sleeve, twist the leader material between the two sleeves and crimp it

Squid Teaser Inspection

Because teasers take so much abuse from long hours of being dragged behind the boat it is critical to frequently inspect the connections where the leader passes through the swivels.  This is the single most frequent cause of teaser failure and loss.  The extra leader in front of the teaser is used so that the lead swivel can be cut off and re-rigged.

Captain Andy LoCascio explains how to assemble the teaser