TIP TO SAVE TACKLE

[Enigma]

A tip passed on by EB of Zululand

With the amount of weights we were loosing at Mazeppa I was making weights to keep up.

This system reduced tackle loss massively. The weight is attached directly to the stopper with a split ring.

When retrieving a bait the resistance of the bait and you pulling, lifts the bait up and away from the bottom with a fish on the line the weight lifts above the fish and is cleared from the rock.

Not suitable from all venues but from deepwater points it worked great and minimized tackle loss and snagging on the retrieve in front of the sloping rocks on the Island.

I was sceptical at first but believe me trial was made and there was no error. No fish were lost as a result of this system and I am sure I cut my tackle loss by 75% using this stopper system.

 

[Enigma]

This exact system (the one photographed) also gave a possible answer to fish making off with the sinker.

I caught a Grey with the sinker (long boom) and bait in it's mouth.

The bait was obviously laying on the sinker or thin it's attempt to pick up the bait it scooped the sinker with the bait.

As there is no nylon here the weight wasn't bitten off but clean cuts were on the weight.

I now believe many times the shark makes off with a sinker is when it accidently gets the weight in it's mouth when trying to pick up the bait off the bottom.

Sharks pick up the bait and bite it and don't suck it in like a Kob would for example and watching them feed off the bottom in a few documentaries they seem rather clumsy.

This could also explain many sharks being hooked in their pec's and chests as in Tuna's recent post from Robberg

 

[Kumz]

Thanks Craig .

Great Idea , must try it !!!

 

[TOE 007]

i was also thinking of someting similar !


great tip anyways

 

[Frikster]

I for one don't use stopper rings.i use 90 lb wire from the sinker and tie it up with two figure 8 nots to my main leader line.When the slide goes down it goes al the way to the sinker and the fish pick the the bait up thus creating a straight line from fish to rod with sinker in between,Basically the same as yours,just more cost effective.The slide also works on the wire,making it very favorable for you not to loose the fish due to a snapped line from friction.


Use the idea or don't....

Frikster

 

[Psy]

Good post Enigma thanks......I have since learnt from our master aka Whaler, using a 10~15cm piece of nylon onto my sinker/stopper ring.

I like those long booms too and will try recommended tip.

Reduces loss as well as easier to cast. (casting with use of clip on sinker) Easier as well of course when said fish picks you up....the sinker is in fact air-borne. Another one: Jerk your Rod about 4/5 times lekker solid, breaking the sinker from the sand and voila ...suck it in!! :fishn

 

[Enigma]

@ psy
This is how I normally fish the rig (break off weight)and would also use that rig over any foul bottom. Problem is we were 4 guys sliding and I supplied all tackle so I couldn't keep replacing leads as there is no shop there. We had to go dive another 15kg of lead to pour new sinkers


@Frikster
I hate the idea of another join in my leader so as far as possible I use an adequate wind-on with no steel. the join just gives 2 more knots that can break

If I need to fish 0.8 or 1mm for distance then I put in a 150lbs steel section but join it with a #1 Japanese power swivel. Slide goes over it no problem.

As for cost efficiency the slide comes with a stop ring so no extra cost. I started using the split ring then simply switched to 1mm binding wire, about 0.05c worth to join the weight

 

[porkhead]

Just a question: With this method what do you do when your sinker gets stuck ? Do you just pull and risk your line breaking and then loosing the whole trace + Line + Sinker

Even worse, you have a fish on -----> and the sinker is stuck; you then loose the fish + Sinker + Line + Trace.

I loose 20 odd grapnels per month and am most definitely going to give this a bash - as your feedback of not loosing any fish or further tackle is INSPIRING to say the least.

 

[Enigma]

porkhead wrote:

Just a question: With this method what do you do when your sinker gets stuck ? Do you just pull and risk your line breaking and then loosing the whole trace + Line + Sinker Unfortunately YES

Even worse, you have a fish on -----> and the sinker is stuck; you then loose the fish + Sinker + Line + Trace. That is the Beauty of the system, snagging like that is minimized - in fact very seldom. The one time I did snag with a fish on the leader was what snagged in the bricks so if the weight was involved the same result would have occurred. I was snagged off Brighton Pier (to the left on a long cast using one of these rigs. I piced up a Raggie pup of about 25kg and was stuck vas, left it for 3-4 min and it popped the weight's wires and unhooked itself.

I loose 20 odd grapnels per month and am most definitely going to give this a bash - as your feedback of not loosing any fish or further tackle is INSPIRING to say the least.

I would as I did in the original post only recommend this for fishing off Brick to sand or sand to sand like from your favourite spot nl Orange Rock this will be just fine.

I wouldn't recommend this on a spot where you know your weight will e buried by current or where you are fishing onto a foul bottom (then a break away sinker will be recommended)

 

[Enigma]

Deon from Raggies Tackle taught me another trick. If you leave your rig in one place for an hour your weight can become buried so deep that retrieving it is well neigh impossible.

The trick is to every say 10min to reel the line tight so that the rod has a strong bend in it and then leave it, the pressure slowly drags the weight through the sand and keeps it from becoming completely buried.

WHEN I remember this it's a complete cinch to retrieve the rig.

 

[porkhead]

Lovely - Thank you kindly dear sir. I am most certainly going to give it a go.

 

[Psy]

Enigma wrote:

Deon from Raggies Tackle taught me another trick. If you leave your rig in one place for an hour your weight can become buried so deep that retrieving it is well neigh impossible.

The trick is to every say 10min to reel the line tight so that the rod has a strong bend in it and then leave it, the pressure slowly drags the weight through the sand and keeps it from becoming completely buried.

WHEN I remember this it's a complete cinch to retrieve the rig.

very good logical tip...

thnks Enigma.