Top Tips No.1 - Mask That Hook!
By Elie Godsi
Whenever I cast out any rig I want to be confident it doesn’t tangle and that when it settles on the bottom the hook isn’t masked by any weed or bottom debris. I almost always mask the hook with either PVA tape or PVA foam or both. Trapping the hair at the same time definitely also prevents tangles. In the photo you can see two set ups that I use for 90% of my fishing.
I use the Extra Wide 20mm PVA tape from Kryston and PVA foam nuggets from Solar Tackle. I would be totally lost without these products, both of which melt completely and never leave any residue at all.
In the first picture the rig on the left is a simple single bottom bait. In this case the hook is masked with a few turns of extra wide PVA tape which has been licked a bit to make it neat and compact - as you can see the hair is trapped at the same time. This is also a good set up for distance fishing.
On the right is a rig I use a lot. In this instance it is a Liver B8 pop up (it could just as easily be a bottom bait to make a snowman) with an Enterprise artificial boilie on top. I have also nicked a small PVA mesh bag of Quest Maximum Action pellets onto the hook for extra attraction around the hookbait relative to all the free offerings. After nicking the mesh bag onto the hook I then bend a foam nugget around the hook, lick it and trap the hair at the same time by sticking the two damp ‘inner’ sides together. Then I wrap PVA tape tightly (or less tightly if I want extra buoyancy) around this - the more wraps you use the longer it will take to melt which can be useful when fishing deeper water or on rivers. Often PVA nuggets on their own come off on impact with the water on the cast so using tape around it ensures it reaches the bottom. When the mesh bag and foam nugget melt the previously suspended hookbait will settle gently on top of any weed or silt giving perfect presentation every time.
Look out for a range of other little tips from me in the next few weeks.
Elie G
![[del.icio.us]](http://www.questbaits.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://www.questbaits.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Google]](http://www.questbaits.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://www.questbaits.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://www.questbaits.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://www.questbaits.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://www.questbaits.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
Related posts
Tags: Enterprise, fishing, hair, left, Liver, photo, PVA, rig, snowman, Solar, water, weed
Excellent tips Elie, there’s nothing worse than thinking everything could be in a mess on the bottom. A little extra effort but well worth it for the peace of mind it gives.
Shaun
Great advice Elie.
One thing that I do slightly different with my foam is to cut about two thirds down it’s length with scissors and the push the cut area across the shank of the hook from point to hair. I then bury the point in the un cut section and simply moisten the back to stick it back together if you like. This cannot then tangle and it is still very aero dynamic for long range casting.
Like you I like the Solar nuggets as you can see them pop up on the surface after a short while and this is a good accurate pointer for baiting up.
Cheers
Jamie