Was curious what everyone thinks of this. My mate uses small mesh bags threaded through the boom with his spinner rigs on a heli safe leader. He swears by them. Although I see the appeal my concern is the weight stops the boom kicking away from the leader & lead.
Does anyone use this method?
Does anyone use this method?
In reply to Post #1
Seeing as nobody else has replied…..
I use spinner rigs for crafty chub on the river. If I get a chubby pull on a barbel rig, I wind in, switch to a spinner rig with a small fishy wafter on the screw, Chuck it out and I usually catch the chub in a couple of minutes.
If I'm using the spinner set up specifically for (searching for) chub then I add a small bag of tiny pellets as I get quicker bites that way. Maybe the current helps push out the rig - but the bag doesn't seem to cause problems.
Seeing as nobody else has replied…..
I use spinner rigs for crafty chub on the river. If I get a chubby pull on a barbel rig, I wind in, switch to a spinner rig with a small fishy wafter on the screw, Chuck it out and I usually catch the chub in a couple of minutes.
If I'm using the spinner set up specifically for (searching for) chub then I add a small bag of tiny pellets as I get quicker bites that way. Maybe the current helps push out the rig - but the bag doesn't seem to cause problems.
In reply to Post #1
I have tested a spinner rig with a small mesh bag in clear margins, dropped right in the edge.
The mesh bag does prevent the rig extending as intended. I had 30lb amnesia as the link.
A potential fix might be a couple of pva nuggets to semi float the mesh bag and slow the decent. You'd won't want the bag to float above the lead as the mesh may start dissolving before the bag has dropped in a nice arc.
You'd have to test how much nugget for the size of bag to get the right drop.
Too much nugget and and pva mesh might start to melt and the pellet will be dropped everywhere and the hooklength will be coiled.
I have tested a spinner rig with a small mesh bag in clear margins, dropped right in the edge.
The mesh bag does prevent the rig extending as intended. I had 30lb amnesia as the link.
A potential fix might be a couple of pva nuggets to semi float the mesh bag and slow the decent. You'd won't want the bag to float above the lead as the mesh may start dissolving before the bag has dropped in a nice arc.
You'd have to test how much nugget for the size of bag to get the right drop.
Too much nugget and and pva mesh might start to melt and the pellet will be dropped everywhere and the hooklength will be coiled.
If I was confident the rig was landing on a fairly clean bottom and not fishing overly deep, bag threaded down with the hook point protected by either pulling into or nicked into the mesh or even with a nugget then tighten down quickly and draw the lead back an inch or 2 to straighten things out
In reply to Post #3
The PVA nugget is not a bad idea. Suppose if you oil the bag it won't dissolve as quick also. Was debating using the method at my syndicate where fish are shy just didn't want to cast a rig that I don't have confidence in. I did try It in a margin and it does bend the boom due to the weight. Suppose as others have mentioned in a clear spot slight tug on the lead will fix any issues. Not so good for weeded areas though
The PVA nugget is not a bad idea. Suppose if you oil the bag it won't dissolve as quick also. Was debating using the method at my syndicate where fish are shy just didn't want to cast a rig that I don't have confidence in. I did try It in a margin and it does bend the boom due to the weight. Suppose as others have mentioned in a clear spot slight tug on the lead will fix any issues. Not so good for weeded areas though
In reply to Post #1
I use pva bags and dissolvable foam most of the time.
I wouldn't be concerned by using a bag with a spinner rig but there is a knack to getting the boom kicking away. Just before the lead hits the water slow the lead down and the bag will spring forward and extend the boom. Keep the line taught so the lead swings back toward you as it descends through the water and the boom should stay fully extended.
Also nick the hook through the mesh and then put foam on the hook. The bag should then sink with the hook on top.
If you want a real eye opener, buy a small plastic fish tank and test your rigs in it.
I use pva bags and dissolvable foam most of the time.
I wouldn't be concerned by using a bag with a spinner rig but there is a knack to getting the boom kicking away. Just before the lead hits the water slow the lead down and the bag will spring forward and extend the boom. Keep the line taught so the lead swings back toward you as it descends through the water and the boom should stay fully extended.
Also nick the hook through the mesh and then put foam on the hook. The bag should then sink with the hook on top.
If you want a real eye opener, buy a small plastic fish tank and test your rigs in it.
This is something I do regularly and has caught me well to date. I don't actually thread the stick down the hook link though. I literally nick the hook on through two bits of mesh, twist it and go back through two more. Obviously, I have never seen it underwater and could never be 100% sure the hooklink isn't kicked out but it hasn't stopped me catching fish. I will also add I always use a lead clip setup. I have little confidence in the heli setup, albeit from limited experience. I just feel the lead clip is a more efficient hooker with less travel for the lead to set the hook.
I've used IQ2 and Semi Soft coated braids too with the same method. Right now IQ2 is getting my vote
I've used IQ2 and Semi Soft coated braids too with the same method. Right now IQ2 is getting my vote
In reply to Post #6
My fishing mate is a diver and used to make underwater videos for various tackle companies.
We were top rods on a tricky local syndicate one year, using a rig involving an old ESP coated braid (striptease ?) long shank hooks and PVA bags.
We tested it in a lake the next season - me casting, him underwater and it was an absolute abortion ! It looked terrible on the bottom and if we had properly tested it before we had used it, it would have been abandoned immediately…..
The fish didn't care !
My fishing mate is a diver and used to make underwater videos for various tackle companies.
We were top rods on a tricky local syndicate one year, using a rig involving an old ESP coated braid (striptease ?) long shank hooks and PVA bags.
We tested it in a lake the next season - me casting, him underwater and it was an absolute abortion ! It looked terrible on the bottom and if we had properly tested it before we had used it, it would have been abandoned immediately…..
The fish didn't care !
In reply to Post #8
Great information.
I've done lots of tank testing with rigs and it's really eye opening. I started doing it to see what happens with braid hook links. I then tested the rigs using dissolving foam, PVA bags etc.
Did you try rigs with dissolving foam?
Great information.
I've done lots of tank testing with rigs and it's really eye opening. I started doing it to see what happens with braid hook links. I then tested the rigs using dissolving foam, PVA bags etc.
Did you try rigs with dissolving foam?
In reply to Post #1
I wouldn't do this with a stiff boom on a spinner (unless you pull back once its hit the deck which is generally not a great idea). . .saying that nicking on or sliding down mesh bags / sticks with any stiff hooklink on any rig is daft as they must surely not kick out and bend up at some weird angle due to the weight at the hook end? Maybe on melting the hook-link pushes out . . .maybe it doesn't - maybe I'm paranoid!
On this basis always use very soft coated or braided hooklinks with mesh bags and feather them on the cast . . .in my mind, this way the hooklink may be coiled when it hits the deck but it doesn't matter as much once its settled etc . .
The only way I would use a mesh bag with a stiff boom rig on a heli or lead clip set up is a PVA clip attached to the lead swivel itself, leaving the hooklink to settle away from the lead as intended . . .
I wouldn't do this with a stiff boom on a spinner (unless you pull back once its hit the deck which is generally not a great idea). . .saying that nicking on or sliding down mesh bags / sticks with any stiff hooklink on any rig is daft as they must surely not kick out and bend up at some weird angle due to the weight at the hook end? Maybe on melting the hook-link pushes out . . .maybe it doesn't - maybe I'm paranoid!
On this basis always use very soft coated or braided hooklinks with mesh bags and feather them on the cast . . .in my mind, this way the hooklink may be coiled when it hits the deck but it doesn't matter as much once its settled etc . .
The only way I would use a mesh bag with a stiff boom rig on a heli or lead clip set up is a PVA clip attached to the lead swivel itself, leaving the hooklink to settle away from the lead as intended . . .
In reply to Post #10
This makes perfect logical sense...
But I use pva mesh sticks all the time, sometimes threaded on the hook link, sometimes just hooked on. I use stiff combi rigs with amnesia or fluorocarbon to a short length of braid and it doesn't appear to effect catch rates or hooking efficiency at all.
Same with stringers or pva bags of boilies, the added attraction seems to outweigh the untidyness of the rig.
This makes perfect logical sense...
But I use pva mesh sticks all the time, sometimes threaded on the hook link, sometimes just hooked on. I use stiff combi rigs with amnesia or fluorocarbon to a short length of braid and it doesn't appear to effect catch rates or hooking efficiency at all.
Same with stringers or pva bags of boilies, the added attraction seems to outweigh the untidyness of the rig.
I had my best ever session years ago on a pva mesh tube with crumbed boilies in it made tight like a stick mix and threaded onto the hooklength.
Then I finally did away with the pva and used the carp tart bagless wonder instead
Then I finally did away with the pva and used the carp tart bagless wonder instead
In reply to Post #11
This is also true . . .but I think it depends on the trickiness of the lake and its fish (stock levels / lake bed make up / number of investigations per session etc) and how paranoid you are about presentation perfection. . .
I've caught loads on more runs based waters simply nicking on a golf ball sized bag and lobbing it out onto showing fish. . but my OCD prevents me from doing it on my 'proper' water as you've generally only got a single chance to get a bite . . .
This is also true . . .but I think it depends on the trickiness of the lake and its fish (stock levels / lake bed make up / number of investigations per session etc) and how paranoid you are about presentation perfection. . .
I've caught loads on more runs based waters simply nicking on a golf ball sized bag and lobbing it out onto showing fish. . but my OCD prevents me from doing it on my 'proper' water as you've generally only got a single chance to get a bite . . .