A different approach to 'Balloon' fishing.
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:04 pm
I don't mind a bit of balloon fishing, as it works well getting the bait out further into deeper waters. The thing that did bother me was getting the balloon to release sometimes, and actually loosing a balloon for every fish.
In the end I came up with the following method, no more loss of balloons (if you wish to use them combined with this method) and a 100% breakoff allowing the bait to sink.
The following uses a 'Large' running float, you don't loose anything and everything is reusable fish after fish.
I've included some pictures below to help explain the loops required to make this rig work.
This rig locks the large float with your sinker and hooks just below it. Cotton is used to loop through the 2 loops and the top eye/hole of the swivel, and tie it off. Just like with balloon fishing , a decent yank back on the rod breaks the cotton and releases all the loops. This allows the float to run free again, allowing the bait to sink and the float to surface running free on your main line. The cotton loop can hold a lot of weight !.
The pictures should help explain it a bit more. Sometimes if there is not much current/but a bit of wind, or if it is a bit foggy or dark, I will tie a bit of mono line tight around the foam of the float, and tie a yellow balloon to the mono line , also with a small glowstick inside the balloon to help light it up a bit.
So, You get your Balloon back too if you use one also. The balloon can come in handy just to make it easier to see at a distance , and it also catches a bit of wind to help take it out further faster.
Hope you guys/gals find this handy, yell out if your not to sure about something to do with this rig.
Cheers, Rick
In the end I came up with the following method, no more loss of balloons (if you wish to use them combined with this method) and a 100% breakoff allowing the bait to sink.
The following uses a 'Large' running float, you don't loose anything and everything is reusable fish after fish.
I've included some pictures below to help explain the loops required to make this rig work.
This rig locks the large float with your sinker and hooks just below it. Cotton is used to loop through the 2 loops and the top eye/hole of the swivel, and tie it off. Just like with balloon fishing , a decent yank back on the rod breaks the cotton and releases all the loops. This allows the float to run free again, allowing the bait to sink and the float to surface running free on your main line. The cotton loop can hold a lot of weight !.
The pictures should help explain it a bit more. Sometimes if there is not much current/but a bit of wind, or if it is a bit foggy or dark, I will tie a bit of mono line tight around the foam of the float, and tie a yellow balloon to the mono line , also with a small glowstick inside the balloon to help light it up a bit.
So, You get your Balloon back too if you use one also. The balloon can come in handy just to make it easier to see at a distance , and it also catches a bit of wind to help take it out further faster.
Hope you guys/gals find this handy, yell out if your not to sure about something to do with this rig.
Cheers, Rick