Got the gear, now what?

[butcher]

Sorry chaps, found myself up in Scotland, with all my old gear that i havent used since i was a kid with my dad. I can remember some of it but not all. Quite happy with all the rig advice and knot selections but just got a couple of niggling questions:

1) Should the shockleader be connected to the weight? or should the rig be back on the reel line. ie reel line, 25 ft of shock, then reel line for the rig? I basically dont know where the shock should stop along the rig, if at all.

2) not sure whether to use feathers/lures or just fish straight from the beach (bait fishing). Am between Peterhead and Aberdeen on a rockyish coast with a couple of bays, about a mile long. Any suggestions? I have a few lures, imitation baits, and various pearl, torpedo and storm lead weights so have a few options but not sure whether there is an obvious method of fishing for this type of condition.

3) If you made it this far without giving up, thanks, and i have just one last question. I am not out for the big stuff, have an very long beachcaster and a smaller 8 -10 ft rod, bout the size of a boating rod but not. Unfortunately i unpacked the beach caster and one of the eyes had broken of, second one down from the tip. Is it a gonner and i might as well throw it away or as long as i dont go for massive fish will it be ok?

Thanks in advance

[mithrandir]

Hello Butcher and welcome to the forum.

to answer question 1, the rig connects to the shockleader, but the rig line should be made of the same strength line as the shock leader, so the weight has high strength line all the way through, if you have low strength line from the shock leader to the weight you could crack off on the cast.

and question 3 I would suggest finding an eye from a tackle shop and whipping it on to replace the broken one, not worth throwing a rod for that.

mike

[biggun]

Welcome to the forum. You should definitely get the eye replaced. Your local shop should be able to do it for you.

[butcher]

Cheers guys, caught my dinner so all is well, a decent sized mackerel.