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
We typically recommned using Moldcraft squids. These are tough, durable, easy to rig, and come in a wide variety of colors. We usually 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 300 or 400lb
- 4 – 1.9mm or 2.2mm single sleeves (used for stops)
- 4 – 1.9mm or 2.2mm double sleeves (used for the front swivel and rear snap swivels)
- 5 – Plastic beads
- 1 – 300 or 400lb Mustad ball bearing swivel (front)
- 1 – 300 or 400lb Mustad ball bearing swivel with snap (rear)
6″ Squid Teaser Materials
- 7 – 6″ Moldcraft squids
- Spool of 130 or 200lb monofilament leader
- 6 – 1.6 or 1.9mm single sleeves (used for stops)
- 6 – 1.6 or 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)
Captain Andy LoCascio explains how to assemble the teaser
How-to Build Daisy Chain Teaser (step-by-step)
Time requred: About 30 Minutes
Supplies needed:
- monofilament leader
- single crimping sleeves
- double crimping sleeves
- plastic beads
- ball bearing snap swivel
- ball bearing swivel
- rubber/plastic squids
Tools required:
- crimping tool
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. Slide on the last squid (head first), a bead and two double sleeves
4. Pass the leader through the snap swivel twice while making a knot (see video)
5. Pass the leader back through both double sleeves
6. Push the double sleeve closest to the snap swivel as tight as possible against the loop and crimp it
7. 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
8. 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
9. Repeat the prior step for all remaining squids
10. Slide on the remaining two double sleeves
11. Pass the leader through the swivel twice while making a knot (see video)
12. Pass the leader back through both double sleeves
13. Push the double sleeve closest to the swivel as tight as possible against the loop and crimp it
14. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Daisy chain squid teasers are assemblies of multiple plastic squid lures rigged together to enhance your trolling lure spread. They are primarily used to target offshore big game species such as marlin, tuna, and wahoo. Their movement and appearance attract these predatory fish during trolling.
The recommended plastic squids for making daisy chain teasers are Moldcraft squids due to their toughness, durability, and variety of colors. Typically, either five 9-inch squids or seven 6-inch squids are used to build the daisy chain teaser, depending on your preference and target species.
Pink and natural colors are suggested as the best choices for Moldcraft squids when making daisy chain teasers. The Moldcraft pink contains metal flecks that create a beautiful, attractive appearance. However, using a variety of colors can also be beneficial depending on fishing conditions and personal preference.
To assemble a 9-inch squid daisy chain teaser you need five 9-inch Moldcraft squids, a spool of 300 or 400lb monofilament leader, four 1.9mm or 2.2mm single sleeves for stops, four double sleeves for the swivels, five plastic beads, one 300 or 400lb Mustad ball bearing swivel for the front, and one 300 or 400lb Mustad ball bearing swivel with snap for the rear.
The leader is spooled out several feet, and the squids, beads, and sleeves are slid on before any crimping. At the rear, the leader passes twice through the eye of a ball bearing snap swivel, making a knot or loop/crimp protector for reinforcement. After crimping double sleeves around the loop, the swivel protrudes just beyond the last squid. The front is rigged similarly with a ball bearing swivel and double sleeves, ensuring all components are securely crimped and positioned with some leader left for rerigging.
The recommended spacing between the squids in a daisy chain teaser is approximately one and a half squids length. This spacing balances creating an appealing spread in the water while maintaining durability and action. Some anglers may prefer longer or more compact spacing based on personal preference or target species behavior.
You need monofilament leader, single and double crimping sleeves, plastic beads, ball bearing swivels (front and rear), crimping tool, and plastic squids. The basic steps involve spooling leader, sliding on squids, beads, and sleeves without crimping, rigging swivels with loops and crimps at each end, spacing squids properly with beads and sleeves, then finally crimping all sleeves securely and testing the final teaser for strength.
