Long range live bait

[Greenheart]

Found an interesting trick in this months Sea Angler mag. How to live bait for Cod & Bass at long range without killing the livebait during the cast. When there's loads of small Pout & Whiting about Just attach a small baited hook below a large bare one. When the pesky pout hooks it's self, just leave it out there. One instant hair rigged livebait. Just hope the Doggies don't pick up your bait first though...

[fishypaul]

good method mate, used it with varying success at dungeness a few years ago.
my diaries tell me i had a 12lb cod on it,
use a conventional pennel rig,a 4/0 hook on the top unbaited and a size 1 or 2 hook baited with a small pout bait,
very good method when the bigger cod are about,
the only drawback is that you don't really know what has hooked itself on the little hook.
i remember sitting on the beach using this method with the rod nodding off and on,i was happy that i had a livebait on the end until i reelied in and found a 1lb+ flounder on the end,
so with that in mind it can be a bit hit and miss but certainly worth a go on a sleeper rod

[pingu]

nice one ian
bet baggies making those rigs up as i speak

dave

[sharpy]

Hi Guys, my best method for fishing a live bait at long range would be the clip-on rig. Simply tie on a 5/6 oz gripper with a crimp and a bead above and cast out. Set your grip then use another rod to catch a live bait. Tie another trace about 4/5 long with a 4/0 hook one end and a weight clip on the other end. Simply clip the trace onto your main line and let the livebait slide into the water. The livebait will swim around and eventually settle at the bead tied above the grip lead. No damage caused to the livebait, so it swims around naturally. You can add a few big spilt shot to the top end of the trace to encourage the livebait down quicker.

This method has accounted for many a good cod and a few good bass.

[dogmax]

Anyone tried the new Dvice? I got a couple, they seemed to work with Squid quite well, did also bang out prawn a fair way with no damage, although i did have one bait eject mid-flight, they would'nt be too bad for small lives i would have thought, although only over clean ground at 3.50 a pop! Good bit of kit though, I'll definitely be using them again, i think the ejected bait was down to me, and not the Dvice, i feel a bit of rig tinkering coming on!! One other thing they did was supply me with little samples of the sea bed. Which was nice!

[maghouse]

I have been trying the Dvice to see how effective it is.

I have caught fish with it, but I have also caught fish without !

I found it excellent for a big lug/peeler bait and also a big rag bait with a few headhooked and caught ....

I plan to try it out in earnest this weekend with bigbaits and compare ...

I have found that it does lift off the bottom quite well (like a lead lift) so does not drag on the bottom too much but as it gets close in and you drag it through the surf it does fill up with sand/shingle so is a lot heavier to drag in - makes you all excited cos it feels like a fish on !!!

[DUNWORKING]

thanks for the warning maghouse, bought some myself so now what to expect now

[Gremlin]

Here's a livebait rig I've used for years .... haven't seen Sea Angler, but I expect it's similar. Nothing new .... just for sharing with those of you who want to make up some. More for when 'anchoring' is necessary; but does enable you to fish at distance .... effective when there are pin whiting or small pout about!
Rogue codling should be reeled in before a tope gets them!!!!!!!!!

[DUNWORKING]

nice sketch mate, i wus wundering how to add that small hook,again nice one

[Gremlin]

The small hook doesn't need to take a lot of strain ... how hard can a 6oz pout pull!

To be fair, a size 2 Kamazan is quite capable of hauling a 12 lbs cod, so play safe and attach the size 2 with 40lb braid and superglue the Grinners or 6 turn tucked half blood knots.