yellow door 1

Last few developments on the "Expendables" range.

All with 4lb break away connections

and the way I usually tie them gives a more laid back presentation  - good for long distance casting or shallow presentations

Here they are side by side

Also been mucking round with different snells for drop shotting.

The style in the video gives a good 90 degree angle that seem to hold itself in place better than a palomar - and its reported to be stronger aswell.

Good for close in and vertical work
 

29 minutes ago, Rybak said:

What about drilling a hole through the steel bar & threading through a zip tie. Saves wrapping line around it...Also old spark plugs would also work.

Yeah drilling was my first instinct aswell. 
 

but my cheap drill bits suck. I snapped one, dulled 2 and finally got through with the 4th. 
 

I even cut the steel on an angle so I wouldnt have to drill through the full 6mm of steel. 
 

once you get into a rhythm with tying them up, it’s pretty quick. And I don’t have the bits to make drilling an option. 

p.s. I have ordered some real ones - but the expendables will still have their place

Been mucking around with a few designs to see what works best in the field 

I have my suspicions that the bent melt will be the most snag resistant 

Sacrificial 4lb leaders so I don’t lose the whole rig if they get snagged

Might tie up a few with 6lb mono loops so they break before my 10lb main line does

The “Expendables”. 
 

drop shot sinkers 

6mm steel round bar
30lb mono loop
Wrapped in braid and locked on with a few strategic dabs of super glue. 

Average size around 7gram

Biggest one 10grams

Not the most PC method but Ive heard of guys melting cheese into a chux bench wipe. 

The material with embedded cheese become a super tough bait that tastes like the real thing.

Also seen guys bind cotton wool to the hook and dip it in the brown gunk inside a cray fishes head - Dynamite bait when drifted unweighted down a pylon

Manufacturers set the eye of their hooks at a particular angle to aid with hook penetration when tied with a standard through the eye knot - changing the angle of pull can assist penetration with certain rigs or make it less effective.


If your hook is designed to have best penetration at a certain angle of pull - you need to understand the angles before changing them and have a good reason to do so.

Heres a vid that explains why running the leader back through the hook eye can be advantageous - especially with circle hooks
 

1 hour ago, Softy said:

 Maybe later down the track when i have the tools and maybe even a work bench. Still need to sort that out since moving in.

PS - if you need any tips on how to make your first work bench -  just ask
 

Also looked into reel storage ideas as mine was a bit messy - the fancy photo From the Pen fishing page is taken on an angle to make it look more compact than it is.

Decided to just stick with the mess
 

Theres plenty of stuff lying around the house that can be converted too

36 minutes ago, Softy said:

Bit late to the party... Been down the tip raiding supplies?   

 

I like that 3 peice one you made. Maybe later down the track when i have the tools and maybe even a work bench. Still need to sort that out since moving in.

Out till 3am not catching Jewies

If you are looking for tools and are looking to do more diy -and dont want to spend a million bucks -  just bight the bullet and get a combo kit - much cheaper than buying piece by piece  - Ozito cordless arent up to scratch - they lack power across the range in my experience - but Ryobi one will take care of alot of DIY - and the 6 year guarantee is real - anything breaks - just take it back and get a new one on the spot (At Bunnings - not sure about other shops returns policy but Bunnings is very painless).

Ryobi make 100's of tools that work with the same batteries and the tools are cheap and good. Not trade quality but great for diy home use. I mainly work with pine and Ply and they can chew through that

Unfortunately this kit used to come with a jigsaw but no longer does. Even the tools I didnt think Id get much use out of become favourites after a while.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-4-0ah-8-piece-combo-kit_p0344372

1 hour ago, Rybak said:

I would never do it like that. Always snell both hooks along the shank of the hook both the same way & certainly not through the eye of the hook. Just my preferred method that has never failed me. I even snell Size 12 long shank hooks for Gar the same way (not that you need to for Gar). 

Have you got a photo of the way you do it- sounds interesting

2 hours ago, Rybak said:

 For $30 bucks each you cant go wrong for portable units & a can of spray paint.  

A $4 can of Fiddly bits Matt black from Bunnings can work Miracles

That style you bought is also easy to attach to the side of a storage tower

one of the cheapest ideas Ive seen is a wall mounted $2 pool noodle with slits cut into it.

 Its completely customizable with regard to spacing. Quick to make - And the Verticle slit holds your rod neatly. Also super quick to put your rods away at the end of the day.

Some people also you Computer cable management clips - they have a self adhesive backing. Just stick those to a bit of wood and mount it to the wall or just stick them straight to the wall

But if you dont need it to be compact and get free wood from Kerb side junk piles you ride past - you can stretch things out a little.

Or just grab a little table with wheels off a junk pile and you have a mobile unit with storage capacity