Bait cotton tangling with sinker line/knot

[KillerWhale]

Hi All!

Every cast or so, I have noticed that my bait cotton tangles itself around my sinker snood or knot, basically tying my bait/hook to my sinker. This obviously inhibits my bait from presenting itself freely and natually in the water column and also decreases hookups when fish actually bite and take the bait. I always thought that it happens due to rough water with my bait/hook gettingthrown around but it happens in calm conditions too. I have also just snapped my bait cotton off directly or tying a little overhand knot in the cotton before snapping it off to stop the cotton unwinding.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have had this problem for some time now and need advice.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!
KillerWhale

 

[Pieterv]

Hi All!

Every cast or so, I have noticed that my bait cotton tangles itself around my sinker snood or knot, basically tying my bait/hook to my sinker. This obviously inhibits my bait from presenting itself freely and natually in the water column and also decreases hookups when fish actually bite and take the bait. I always thought that it happens due to rough water with my bait/hook gettingthrown around but it happens in calm conditions too. I have also just snapped my bait cotton off directly or tying a little overhand knot in the cotton before snapping it off to stop the cotton unwinding.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have had this problem for some time now and need advice.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!
KillerWhale

Yes, if only a person can see what is going there where your bait is lying, sometimes a person is lucky and the fish takes it before it hits the bottom. I normally try to end with the bait tieing at the hook and tie it there with a overhand knot on the hook, sometimes two. I feel that it has a better chance not to get loos doing so.

 

[DJP]

With what baits do you typically have this issue?

Each bait has it's own tricks when fixing it to the hook. For smaller edibles I use thin latex and do most of the securing above the hook shank on the line. For soft baits it's often a good idea to tie a little bit of foam on and just above the hook shank then fix the rest of the bait to the hook. If I build bigger baits like red bait for cracker I will use medium latex. For elf or fish bait when there is elf or other sharp tooth peckers around I use medium cotton, not latex. Thick latex I use for big fish baits or if I only want to secure a loop around e.g. an octopus toe. I normally finish the cotton/latex off with a few turn around my finger and then slip the tag end in under the loops. Bait cotton is much stronger than latex and is thus more prone to create a mess. Use the cotton sparingly, people often wrap to much cotton on the bait.

Things that make traces tangle. Using too thin or supple hook line, I prefer Maxima ultra green of Flouro both are quite rigged and keep the hook link away from the sinker. Too long hook and sinker traces in rough water. I would rather fish a very short sinker line with longer hook link, this keeps the hook from tangling with the rest of the traces. If you want to fish a longer trace in the surf use a three way swivel instead of long legged sliding trace.

 

[KillerWhale]

With what baits do you typically have this issue?

Each bait has it's own tricks when fixing it to the hook. For smaller edibles I use thin latex and do most of the securing above the hook shank on the line. For soft baits it's often a good idea to tie a little bit of foam on and just above the hook shank then fix the rest of the bait to the hook. If I build bigger baits like red bait for cracker I will use medium latex. For elf or fish bait when there is elf or other sharp tooth peckers around I use medium cotton, not latex. Thick latex I use for big fish baits or if I only want to secure a loop around e.g. an octopus toe. I normally finish the cotton/latex off with a few turn around my finger and then slip the tag end in under the loops. Bait cotton is much stronger than latex and is thus more prone to create a mess. Use the cotton sparingly, people often wrap to much cotton on the bait.

Things that make traces tangle. Using too thin or supple hook line, I prefer Maxima ultra green of Flouro both are quite rigged and keep the hook link away from the sinker. Too long hook and sinker traces in rough water. I would rather fish a very short sinker line with longer hook link, this keeps the hook from tangling with the rest of the traces. If you want to fish a longer trace in the surf use a three way swivel instead of long legged sliding trace.

Thanks for the advice. I have experienced with a variety of baits. I havent tried making my hook line a bit longer to keep it away from the sinker line. I will try it and see what happens.

Thanks

 

[dewalds]

Do you tie off your bait cotton on the bait when you finish off, or do you simply brake it off at the end?

I have experienced similar wraps when I fail to tie off my bait cotton.