Post by Alan Ziobry on Apr 1, 2005 16:52:50 GMT
Too many anglers spend a good part of their day afloat untangling tackle instead of fishing. when you weigh up the cost of the trip and the time actually spent fishing with baits properly presented . Those of you who fall into this category should think about using a boom.
The smaller single finger booms aren't usually seen on boats, but they are brilliant for fishing two or three hooks mounted with droppers off a single length of mono. This can be up to 6ft long for whiting fishing in the winter, or down to only 18ins for dabs, or, dogs etc. in the summer.
Single finger booms are also useful for keeping single hook baits above a rocky bottom, or over the top of weed or when fishing for black bream over shallow reefs. They are good for fishing for wrasse on the drift too.
Several types aimed mainly at shore anglers suit the purpose.
Avis booms are 3ins long and immensely strong. These are good for bream and for whiting fishing when something a little bigger taking the bait is possible. The same applies to the Drennan booms. these are a little more versatile coming in 3inch and 5inch versions.
The twisted wire booms are seen less and less now, but are still a good choice. However, with frequent use they do tend to bend out of shape a bit.
Another popular pattern is the blade type. These are a strip of plastic which is .5ins wide and 3ins long. And very useful if you want to make the most of a light tidal run and worth having a few in your box for that reason alone.
All these above patterns have a hollow body which the line is passed through. The boom is then held in place by crimps and beads , or some Anglers use telephone wire. The telephone wire can be moved, , up and down the trace giving a versatility that increases catches.
Aglers never feel safe unless they're fishing a sliding rig and this is when problems may occur. When using a long hook length and a free sliding link swivel for a weight attachment stopped by a swivel and bead are a recipe for disaster in anything other than a rapid tide run.
There are several patterns of short boom which allows the line to freely pass through the top of the booms body. These have a link swivel to take the lead at their base, but this can be removed and replaced with weaker line when fishing rough ground.
Best of the modern plastic solid body types are the Delta booms.These booms are Constructed from space age material, they are light and very strong. They give an almost guaranteed tangle free descent of the bait, and good presentation when the rig gets to the seabed..
Then there is the Sea Boom, another plastic pattern similar to the Delta. But they can break, especially at the point where the lead link is attached should the weight ever become snagged.
These would be the right choice when fishing large fish baits hard on the seabed for rays and huss, maybe tope when downtide fishing.Though some anglers treat them as indispensable when wreck fishing for conger using whole mackerel baits on short 18in to 2ft hooklengths which works very well.
The tube sliders are much simpler, These are just a plastic tube that the line travels through with an eye moulded to this for the weight to attach to.The small l 1in versions are not very good, but the bigger 3in versions are very good for all types of bottom fishing. Knotless Fishing tackle do a smaller version that is good for casting when required.
The actual the sliding option is a doubtful one when fishing baits directly below you. Unless the reel is in free spool mode, it's not logical for the line to travel through the tube when a fish pulls away with the bait in it's mouth. Because of the acute angle the line must move in agreement with the fish. Only when the bait is trotted well away from the boat will the sliding action work correctly..
Knotless Fishing tackle do a mini boom and bigger version that needs no tackle breakdown to add or replace. The line is fed under plastic lugs to be trapped inside the booms body it'self. .
French booms are made from stainless steel and are a popular choice when fishing withvery long traces, , for wreck pollack. These are a single wire finger pattern with a triangular base which you can twist the main line round without breaking down tackle. They are better used by attaching the main line to the top of the triangle, and a weaker short length of line to take the weight. if the lead gets snagged you only lose the weight.
Then there is the L shaped boom. It is, a simple long finger of wire ending in an eye for hooklength to be tied to, and a short stem at 90 degrees which the line goes to. At the junction between the long and short stem there is a circular twist in the metal which has a split ring for adding the lead.
Both these patterns come in short 8in, 10in, and 14in versions. The maxim for the most part is the bigger the better. They are also used for uptiding big cod baits in fast tides.
Knotless Fishing Tackle produce their Tubi Booms. A length of black plastic tube either 200 or 300mm long. These again are most suited to fishing in deep water for pollack with artificial eels. The main line goes through the tube and then is tied to a swivel. The trace is then added to this.
The Super Spreaders are made from tensiled wire and don't bend out of shape with big fish. They have a small triangular body with a small eye top and bottom to take the main line and the weight. There is a push over protective tube to keep the trace knot safe from abrasion.
They also do a large T shaped boom with the weight mounted central. You have the option of fishing two hooklengths from the ends of the boom. This spread pattern appeals particularly to flatfish of all species.
This covers the more popular choices and types available, .
The investment you make in booms,, is a very wise one. You'll increase the amount of time spent fishing and vastly improve the presentation of your bait.
The smaller single finger booms aren't usually seen on boats, but they are brilliant for fishing two or three hooks mounted with droppers off a single length of mono. This can be up to 6ft long for whiting fishing in the winter, or down to only 18ins for dabs, or, dogs etc. in the summer.
Single finger booms are also useful for keeping single hook baits above a rocky bottom, or over the top of weed or when fishing for black bream over shallow reefs. They are good for fishing for wrasse on the drift too.
Several types aimed mainly at shore anglers suit the purpose.
Avis booms are 3ins long and immensely strong. These are good for bream and for whiting fishing when something a little bigger taking the bait is possible. The same applies to the Drennan booms. these are a little more versatile coming in 3inch and 5inch versions.
The twisted wire booms are seen less and less now, but are still a good choice. However, with frequent use they do tend to bend out of shape a bit.
Another popular pattern is the blade type. These are a strip of plastic which is .5ins wide and 3ins long. And very useful if you want to make the most of a light tidal run and worth having a few in your box for that reason alone.
All these above patterns have a hollow body which the line is passed through. The boom is then held in place by crimps and beads , or some Anglers use telephone wire. The telephone wire can be moved, , up and down the trace giving a versatility that increases catches.
Aglers never feel safe unless they're fishing a sliding rig and this is when problems may occur. When using a long hook length and a free sliding link swivel for a weight attachment stopped by a swivel and bead are a recipe for disaster in anything other than a rapid tide run.
There are several patterns of short boom which allows the line to freely pass through the top of the booms body. These have a link swivel to take the lead at their base, but this can be removed and replaced with weaker line when fishing rough ground.
Best of the modern plastic solid body types are the Delta booms.These booms are Constructed from space age material, they are light and very strong. They give an almost guaranteed tangle free descent of the bait, and good presentation when the rig gets to the seabed..
Then there is the Sea Boom, another plastic pattern similar to the Delta. But they can break, especially at the point where the lead link is attached should the weight ever become snagged.
These would be the right choice when fishing large fish baits hard on the seabed for rays and huss, maybe tope when downtide fishing.Though some anglers treat them as indispensable when wreck fishing for conger using whole mackerel baits on short 18in to 2ft hooklengths which works very well.
The tube sliders are much simpler, These are just a plastic tube that the line travels through with an eye moulded to this for the weight to attach to.The small l 1in versions are not very good, but the bigger 3in versions are very good for all types of bottom fishing. Knotless Fishing tackle do a smaller version that is good for casting when required.
The actual the sliding option is a doubtful one when fishing baits directly below you. Unless the reel is in free spool mode, it's not logical for the line to travel through the tube when a fish pulls away with the bait in it's mouth. Because of the acute angle the line must move in agreement with the fish. Only when the bait is trotted well away from the boat will the sliding action work correctly..
Knotless Fishing tackle do a mini boom and bigger version that needs no tackle breakdown to add or replace. The line is fed under plastic lugs to be trapped inside the booms body it'self. .
French booms are made from stainless steel and are a popular choice when fishing withvery long traces, , for wreck pollack. These are a single wire finger pattern with a triangular base which you can twist the main line round without breaking down tackle. They are better used by attaching the main line to the top of the triangle, and a weaker short length of line to take the weight. if the lead gets snagged you only lose the weight.
Then there is the L shaped boom. It is, a simple long finger of wire ending in an eye for hooklength to be tied to, and a short stem at 90 degrees which the line goes to. At the junction between the long and short stem there is a circular twist in the metal which has a split ring for adding the lead.
Both these patterns come in short 8in, 10in, and 14in versions. The maxim for the most part is the bigger the better. They are also used for uptiding big cod baits in fast tides.
Knotless Fishing Tackle produce their Tubi Booms. A length of black plastic tube either 200 or 300mm long. These again are most suited to fishing in deep water for pollack with artificial eels. The main line goes through the tube and then is tied to a swivel. The trace is then added to this.
The Super Spreaders are made from tensiled wire and don't bend out of shape with big fish. They have a small triangular body with a small eye top and bottom to take the main line and the weight. There is a push over protective tube to keep the trace knot safe from abrasion.
They also do a large T shaped boom with the weight mounted central. You have the option of fishing two hooklengths from the ends of the boom. This spread pattern appeals particularly to flatfish of all species.
This covers the more popular choices and types available, .
The investment you make in booms,, is a very wise one. You'll increase the amount of time spent fishing and vastly improve the presentation of your bait.