No disrespect intended but disagree with alot of your explanations of the rigs you posted. Everyone has an opinion and different things work for different people, but my experiences contradict alot of what you posted. Sometimes you have to disagree and questions things as that's the way one learns.
The first one with the dropper loop for a teaser over a bucktail has been used from the get-go and thought up of probably before any of us were born. I and many others have slayed fluke with that rig in Raritan Bay from the start of the season(when it actually used to open early) right through the end. Actually that's the way I hang a teaser above a bucktail all the time, in the bay or out in the ocean. I would adjust the dropper loop from bucktail distance so that the teaser when hung on the dropper is 12" above the bucktail. With a 6" long dropper, that teaser will just be 6" above the jig. Sometimes higher is better. No disrespect intended to anyone that thinks it's the wrong rig for the bay, but I have and have seen it outfish many people quite often. Will say that the first few trips of the season I made, the action on a bucktail was slower overall than dragging bait. Using one as a sinker on a bait rig ain't bucktailing, it's still dragging bait IMHO.
Last few seasons I've gone away from using a teaser in the bay and just go with the straight bucktail 99% of the time. I can work that single jig alot more effectively and go lighter as there is less drag without a teaser. Light tackle to me is using 3/4oz - 1.5 oz bucktails and 10# braid. Though my gear for that can also cast ultralight 3/8oz jig heads quite well.
I've triped clips, snaps and other loops to make changing bucktails easier but rather just start off with a longer mono leader attached to my braid and use the no-slip-loop knot on the bucktail as it gives the jig much more action. Clips I've had small blues wreck them way too easily or fluke open them up. Dropper loop is probably one of the easiest knots to tie, really don't understand why many seem to have problems tying it.
Second rig to me seems like a standard 3way fluke rig with just a bucktail used as the sinker. Could also just sub a fluke mine/chrome ball jig as well. The flash of the chrome fluke balls really seem to work when sandeels are around.
The last rig you show, the KISS. Well I think many know Kilsong that fishes far and wide and that's pretty similar to his rig, the Kil-r-rig which I adopted and use quite often. I do tie my rig with much heavier mono, thick stick stuff if I have it or atleast 60# leader material. Seems the action is much better with the heavier leader material for the rig and in Raritan Bay, they ain't all that line shy. Generally a dressed hook/fly goes on the dropper loop tipped with spearing or other bait fish. The snelled hook at the end gets a strip bait or large Gulp product that will flutter. A chrome ball sans hook for the sinker for some added flash helps in my mind atleast.
Last time I was out fluking, another angler that is quite good and been doing this fishing thing for awhile was struggling. Asked me for one of my rigs, tied him up one from scratch in 2 minutes. Take leader, 24-36" tie clinch knot to swivel, quick snell at other end to hook, dropper in the middle, add fish-finder sinker sleeve to main line and the attach to other free end of swivel. Slide on second hook or fly or whatever to dropper, bait up and done. Guy drops down and starts bailing fish and finally puts 3 keepers over the rail. Was it the rig? who knows but gave him some confidence and he started catching. Me? I continued to work a solo bucktail and just catch my one keeper. LMAO. Probably was a much better time to drag bait but I rather fish the way I like to, even if it isn't the most productive due to conditions.
You have lots of good points and tips, just saying some things might not be so cut and dry. Maybe one day we'll be out and we can work on your dropper loop problem.
