Rock Fishing tips

Hi people,

Just a quick question to ask what rigs (including float rigs)you would use for rock fishing close in(anywhere from 0-maybe 60/70 yards) I hear talk of Pulley Rigs (whish i finally have an understanding of,where the lead is on a swivel, and the line runs through the swivel freely,so allow the weight to slide,and reduce it getting lodged, i think) but I dont care what i catch really. I usually use a real basic single hook rig, I create a snood by tying a loop in the trace line, and snip the loop, to create a snood line as opposed to a loop, and simply tie a hook onto this, and just tie a swivel at one end, and a weight to the other, but only dogfish seem 2 really go for this. I usually fish frozen Sandeels, as their easy to get, etc.

Thanks for youre time.

Hi burgers,

Most of my bottom fishing is over clean ground so I'm not an expert there.

Tying snoods: a simpe traditional way is to use a small swivel, 2 small/micro beads and 2 crimps for each snood:

Code:

mainline
------=o0o=------
        #
        0 swivel
        | snood
        |


Using a float, I keep things as light as possible using a pike float with maybe 1/2 oz weight below it. A stop knot made with PowerGum or a silicone tubing is used to set the depth of the float. The bait will give you more weight. I use a lighter line below the float, maybe 12lb, to avoid loosing the whole lot when the hook snags. I usually set the float to run deep for bass, at maybe 5-6ft, but it depends on the depth of water.

Hi Burgers,

You have described the rig I use for really close in work on a rough bottom without any problems. Ok the knots weaken the line slightly but if you use 60lb line to make your rigs then you shouldn't have any trouble.

What I also do when only lobbing the rig is:

Double over about 18inches of 20lb line and tie it to the bottom of your rig with a uni/grinner type knot. Cut the loop now and it makes 2 weak links to your lead. It's amazing how many fish I can land on 1 rig using this method. You tie you lead to he weak line, it breaks usually about 1/2 way along so you can get approx 4/5 casts before you need to replace the weak link again. To replace the weak link it's just a matter of cutting off the knot and retying it the same way as the first time. :wink:

This setup is definately not for power casting, although you can usually get it to about 50-60yards with not a problem 8)

I use a pulley rig if I'm going for distance with a breakaway clip, basically foolproof. 8)

Steve

Use a basic paternoster with a blood loop 12 inches from the top. Loop at the top and a 'rotter' at the bottom 24 inches below the loop. Use 50 - 60lb line.

Snood is 3 feet with a loop at the end which loop to loop with the blood loop. Snood 40lb at least or as strong as the main body.

Rotten bottom of 20lb tied above the rotter with a grinner and onto the lead which hangs off the rotter.

Top loop off the rig links into a 2/0 oval. Dont use the ones with little tags on as they tend to catch around them at some stage and unclip themselves.

Hope that is clear but will try to put some photos up to help. Only a lobbing rig and not for power casting and rotters don't fail to release. Use very little else in kelpy ground as very little to snag up or weaken the rig and cost next to nowt if you loose a few.

Tried to take some photos of the rig but they didn't come out very well. Have got the rotter part here if that helps.


[img]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/fish4fun/dscn2765.jpg[/img]

The rest is as described just loops.

IMHO that little hooked link doesnt look safe at all, if that came off at the start of the cast the 20lb line would snap easy. There are some much better methods for a rotten bottom rig, like an easy link used with a panel pin with foam...works everytime and has a lot less chance of coming off in mid cast, let alone the start.

No offence to you mate....I know the north east coast well, not many swing the lead there, but even an over-head cast could make that clip unhook....... its a wonder someone doesnt kick up about that rig.....whoever designed it needs to go back to the drawing board.

Tom.

When on the rocks I tend to use a jardine lead /sandeel and a slow retrieve...Lazy

personally i would never use the rotten bottom clips as shown above, to me tyhey just dont look safe.
i always go with the gemini rotter....safe for powercasting and opens on impact 95% of the time, if it gets bent or whatever, just put a new one on!
i do use the rotten bottom clips as shown for bait clips on multi hook clip down rigs tho, seem to work well for that

I have used the above a couple of times but i havent hit any hard casts with it either

IMHO that little hooked link doesnt look safe at all, if that came off at the start of the cast the 20lb line would snap easy. There are some much better methods for a rotten bottom rig, like an easy link used with a panel pin with foam...works everytime and has a lot less chance of coming off in mid cast, let alone the start.

No offence to you mate....I know the north east coast well, not many swing the lead there, but even an over-head cast could make that clip unhook....... its a wonder someone doesnt kick up about that rig.....whoever designed it needs to go back to the drawing board.

Tom.

I appreciate everyone has their own way. In all honesty since I was shown these about 8 or 9 years ago I've never had one fail. My understanding is they work in a similar way to the pin and foam in that the the weight is in tension until it hits the water.

Other methods that people use regularly are an upturned Genie clip in the same principle or the lead with the eye opened and linking onto an oval.

I stress that this is a lobbing rig and not used in any sort of power casting.

ive used leads with the eye opened to form a large u shape and then clipped this onto a large oval split ring, again a weak link is tied between the lead and the oval, have never had it come off during the cast although its only suitable for 70yd lobs.began using the gemini rotton bottom clips this time last year and thay definatily bestow more confidence in you, havant had 1 not release yet.

http://www.worldseafishing.com/news/153 ... 12-11.html

Seventh photo down.

doesn't look very safe, but I suppose in practise then centrifugal forces would hold the lead in place during a slow lobbing cast. i haven't used it but i wouldn't have a problem with it once i took time and care when lobbing it.


Patrick

I would either move away or ask the angler to change to something safer if I seen someone near to me with that sinker on.....those things do come off....Ive seen the full loop come out of a sinker that was being cast hard all it take is one laps of memory by whoever was using that rig, he forgets its on, hits it hard and has someone in the hospital of worse! in a grave!!

I seen a guy hit in the thigh once by a well chucked sinker...if it had been any-ones head they would have been dead for sure... is it worth the loss of a sinker to put any-ones well being at risk.

Tom.

FOR SHORT CASTING use a abu 7000 sized reel with 40lb line straight through, upside down gemini lead clip for rotten bottom, 40lb snoods, 70lb rig body for combating sharp rock edges and the piece de resitance any bag you have left over from packets of hooks, beads, swivels etc. fill em up with wet sand and hey presto cheap leads.

thats a good one about the small plastic bags filled with sand for the rotten bottoms :idea:

call me old fashioned but i dont like lobbing plastic bags into the sea. pollution and whatnot,

dave

noone does but i think that a plastic bag is better that 5-6oz of lead. anyway, the plastic bag is less likeley to get snagged so u might not loose it.

call me old fashioned but i dont like lobbing plastic bags into the sea. pollution and whatnot,

dave

dont get me wrong - but i would think the lead would be worse in the long run - and it would be an option - after you giving a few leads to the snag gods and have none left :D

wouldn't the bags burst at the seams from the impact even with a moderate lob?!

might be an idea for free lining baits at distance through?! leather the sandeel/whatever bait out, bag bursts, leaving your bait to be carried in the tide. i dunno just entered my head there.....



Patrick

apologies all round, seems i spoke a bit too soon. i've gotten so used to lead i dont even realise what it is im lobbng out there, and i've lost plenty of it too
dave