RIG SAFETY - IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ & DIGEST

I've just had a call from Jim this evening, who was pretty angry about something that happened today. Having listened to what he's said, I'm pretty angry, too, as will be John H, Russ, Martin and all the reasonable anglers on Tardebigge.

Please read this, and if this is you, adjust your end tackle pronto, as suggested later in this post. The consequences of not adjusting your terminal tackle may result in a ban.



Jim had a strange "take" this morning, which resulted in him landing one of the stunning fully scaled mirrors. The fish was trailing about 30 yards of line, and was hooked by a death rig, which has been RECENTLY used, as the Cell hookbait was still "fresh". The fish hadn't been hooked by Jim, as it had a rig in it's mouth, with a 3oz lead still attached. The fish had got caught up in Jim's line, due to it trailing 30 yards of line.

I will describe the set up, as it's quite "unique":

* 3 - 4 feet of heavy leadcore leader (brown) with a strange whipping-style knot to connect to mainline (please use palomar)
* ESP leadclip set up, with the tail rubber JAMMED on (the lead was never going to come off due to the tailrubber - Jim said it may as well have been superglued on)
* A (minimum) 3oz Korda style distance lead (the stub nosed ones)
* A mono/flurocarbon hooklink joined by a large quick-change link
* Size 4 or 6 long shank/straight hook
* Cell bottom bait (fairly fresh) - with an ORANGE AVID SIGHTSTOP

It is EXTREMELY LUCKY that Jim picked up the line which was trailing from this fish, and managed to get it in, and remove the set up it had been towing around the lake. EXTREMELY LUCKY. With the potbeds and weed starting to come up, it could have been an awful end to one of the best looking fish in the lake, as it would have got tethered and died.

Can I PLEASE re-iterate that rig safety is absolutely of paramount importance. The lead needs to be able to come off:

* If you are using a clip set up - DO NOT jam the tailrubber on. Use some PVA string to secure the clip for the cast and put the tailrubber on lightly, so that it can come off easily - and therefore - the lead can come off easily

* If you are fishing standard inlines the lead needs to be able to pass over your leader/leadcore onto the mainline so that it can come off, in the event of a snap off. NO BACKSTOPS/BEADS.

* If you are fishing inline drop offs or running leads, then these are generally pretty safe due to their nature (i.e. the lead will drop off naturally)


Having seen this today, we will be conducting rig checks over the forthcoming weeks. PLEASE - do not object - we know it's a pain in the arse - BUT - the fish are FAR more important. If you've got any questions around rigs, please ask one of the bailiffs and we'll do our best to answer your questions. There will be NO EXCUSE for unsafe rigs. If you're in doubt - ASK ! It's stupidity like this which could result in rule changes, which affects all the other anglers - so it's in everyone's interests to sort this out.

If anyone is caught with a rig like the one Jim found today (i.e. COMPLETELY UNSAFE) you will be told to leave the water immediately, will be banned for a month, subject to a bailiff's meeting to decide whether your membership will be continued. THAT's how seriously this is being taken.

I can't believe that we are STILL finding death rigs at the Res, given the amount of good information on the internet, television and DVDs.

Sorry to rant - but this fish could have easily died.

Keith - on behalf of the bailiff team.

Missed out choddies/helicopter set ups..........

At a minimum, please ensure that the bead on the leadcore/leader above your hooklink can come off easily. Best practice would be to PVA tape above your hooklink, and below your bead. This way, you don't have to worry about the hooklink flying up the leader and onto your mainline.

Even better practice would be to tie your lead onto the connecting device with lower breaking strain line than your mainline (i.e. rotten bottom) so that your safe both ends of the setup.

If you're bothered about losing leads, then I suggest you speak to Dean at Coventry Carp Leads, who no doubt, would be happy to sell you some for a reasonable price.

Keith

Thats bad news Keith, there no excuse for death rigs like that. In my experiance, the good bunch of lads Tardy has would gladly put anyone right if unsure what constitutes a safe rig.

longs lenghts of leadcore with leadclips (especially with the tail rubber rammed on) and big leads are a recipie for disaster anyway IMO. In the event of a cut off like this one the fish ends up towing the lot.

Thats one lucky fish to get reeled in by Jim otherwise it may well have been on the missing list, permanantly. There so many snags and weedbeds over the back that this could have easily ended up very badly.

It would be a shame if the rules changed because of one dick head because IMO Tardegigge only has common sense rules anyway with gives people more freedom in their own fishing.

You're spot on, Ryan. I was cheesed off on Sunday night, as you can probably tell. When the water was down last year, we found 5+ rigs that would make your eyes water (e.g. leadcore figure of eight looped at the top where it should be spliced, plus a rig that attached the leadcore to the mainline with a swivel !). These rigs had been dumped by the fish (hopefully) but that isn't the point. They should never have been cast out in the first place.

There's no excuse for it. There's plenty of information on the web/telly. And as you say - if a member is unsure, it's best to ask. A member would get props for asking before doing anything they make be unsure of. On my other water, I actually showed the bailiff my set up and asked if it was acceptable. Any changes I make, I ask, including bait presentation. It gives me peace of mind that I'm adhering to the rules.

ive had the same problem lads,i had a funny take and ended up reeling in a 3oz fixed lead on some brown lead core and a fair bit of line,who ever is fishing unsafe like that must stop,its unfair for the other lads and very bad for the stuning fish.cheers

Here's a guide to "fixed" swivel lead clip fishing (i.e. the swivel is either secured or molded into the clip).

Here's a video of how to fish safely with a fixed swivel lead clip. Whilst not wishing to patronise anyone, it's 5 minutes of your time. The way we would suggest is to tie PVA string between the tailrubber and the clip arm to secure on the cast. I can get PVA string for £8 per 100 metres, so cost is not an issue.

Anyway..........here's the video..........

Keith

The whipping knot mentioned to attach the mainline to the leadcore is how ESP advise you to tie it on on the inlay card that comes inside the packet so anglers may be forgiven for using that knot. I admit I use it myself and have never had a problem with it. The top bead on a choddie passes over it too - IF you use the correct type of bead. I always thought it was safer than splicing a loop into the leadcore then tying your mono to the loop as I believe that the relatively thin mono can act like cheesewire and wear at the leadcore and eventually slice through it. (This is only my opinion though). As for the palomar knot well, I'd never advise anyone to use that as I had a lot of break offs right at the knot when using it, that was back in the 90's when it was so raved about, load of bollocks IMO. I WAS tying it correctly aswell!

Anyway just thought I'd stick my oar in!

Hope everyone is well.

Mike

Hi Mike

Thanks for this.

Didn't know this whipping knot was recommended by ESP. Jim said it looked a bit of a dog's breakfast. I didn't see it.

Take your point about cheesewire. See that on my fluro leaders, and change them regularly.

Suprised at your comments ref palomar. I've used it for past 10 years, and never had it go. Weird ! 8-)

Keith

Couple of things chaps, all knots be it palomar, grinner etc all need to be tested after bedding down, they can break surprisingly easy if a twist or crossover of the line occurs.( lubricate knot of course). Personally had no probs with palomar, as long as you don't cross the loop over when you form it. As for whipping/leader knots, they tend to be a tad harder to tie so not for beginners, better off using tubing or ready tied/fused jobbies. If in doubt ask!!! Ultimately that lead needs to come off safely with minimal force. On a lead clip set up hold yer hook length with lead on clip, tail rubber on and snatch the lead upwards(watch out for hook) the lead should fall off every time. Secure leadclip arm with PVA for a longer cast or when using a PVA bag.