D vice info

[pingu]

thinking of trying the d vice bait system( mostly to get a sandeel ray bait out further)
anyone used for sandeel on a shallow beach ?
are they really worth the money?

cheers
dave

[scottish_and_mental]

About as streamlined as a cow mate !
They won't get your bait any further but might help to protect larger fish or worm baits from the fatigues of casting .. not sure a sandeel clipped down to an impact shield will go any less distance than a lead with a loo roll tube on the end

borrow a bait boat

[geejayy]

they're more about getting delecate bait out at distance intact, hermit tails, blow lug baits & and im sure dave will appreciate sandeels without the need for laccy.

an added bonus is they tend to come to the surface like a lead lift on the retrieve,
im not wholley sold on them but they have their uses.
as to more distance i'm not to sure on that point , i dunno why but often theyd wobble in flight , possibly due to unbalenced weight or just my plain poor casting , i had a job getting the baits to stay in the tube while airbourne some times but i think thats down to rig design.
sometimes i'd hit a cast rightfor some reason and they would fly unexpectedly well without grips- better that youd expect from a plain lead & impact sheild, but i dunno why
theyd be expensive things to loose on rocky ground , the plastic tubes get fragile with age or mistreatment but i think russ @blackdog sells replacements.

mine are the original length 4 oz jobs

[MRG2000]

Originally Posted by pingu

thinking of trying the d vice bait system( mostly to get a sandeel ray bait out further)
anyone used for sandeel on a shallow beach ?
are they really worth the money?

cheers
dave

Odd looking things ...i`ve seen Mr Spahill using them , so i`m sure he can fill you in on the pro`s and cons ,personaly i`d use gemini splashdowns ,they lock the bait tight in behind the lead for a long cast and release everytime ....

[Andy-Bailey]

Tried them when they first came out , didnt rate them personally but thats just my opinion , As above gemini splashdowns work well ,

Andy

[Spahill]

I've been using them for a couple of years & have not decided if they are any better or not. That I am still using them makes me think that they may give an edge, certainly they fly further for me than a clipped up bait.
They will certainly get a LIVE sandeel further than a lead & clip, but I wouldn't comment on it's sanity when if finishes its flight.
I always put a little sand on top of the worm in the tube to prevent premature ejaculation.

[pingu]

thanks everyone, seems jury is still out

i may add one to te tackle box for live eel when i start useing them soon
and let you know how i get on


dave

[vicfisher]

I've used them for quite a while and rate them as a good bit of kit. Obviously it won't suit every type of fishing but for me, on mostly clean beaches, they work well. Ideal for sending out live baits like prawn or delicate stuff like sandeel and peeler.

To work well and ensure the bait is ejected, the hook length needs to be long enough or set so that the bait hangs below the dvice by about 6-8" before it's popped in the tube. If your hook length is tight with no slack, it won't work properly. It also needs a decent 'splash down' to work correctly, short lobs won't always work, therefore not ideal for close range fishing.

As said, one advantage is it 'planes' on the retrieve, so is ideal when reeling in over rough stuff.

[bassmanrob]

I've got a couple of Dvices and can cast a clipped down sandeel bait with a normal lead further.

I usually use them in daylight sessions as you can head hook ragworm then blast them as hard as you like and they stay on the hook wriggling away. I believe they were invented to protect delicate baits during a cast, things like live prawn and live sandeel. they are good for getting whole squid out a bit furter too.