snake-bite

[paulh]

Had a problem with my snake-bite hooklength today, I reeled in to find that for the last 4 hours my hair had wrapped itself around the tubing.
The hair and the last inch of snake-bite had been stripped back, and I was using a snowman set-up.
Does this happen often [only just started using snake]
or was I just unlucky?
<font color=red>keep <font color=white>it <font color=blue>real
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paulh
ps white text doesnt show up very well

[Rivercarper]

It may have happended when you reeled in or you could have been unlucky.

[paulh]

I dont think it happened whilst reeling in,the snowman was critically balanced and should've kept clear of the tubing.
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<font color=green>paulh

[CarponlineEditor]

If you watch your rig when you cast out carefully, you will notice that it hardly ever tangles before it hits the water. From tests done casting along a bank and then going and looking into the water at the rig once it has settled I have found that most supple rigs (that is rigs that incorporate a supple hook link) are not tangled during the cast but when the angler lifts the rod (because the hook bait invariably sits down on top of the lead) it sometimes gets caught round the lead or tubing when it is initially pulled back towards the angler.

That is one reason that you should not pull back once you have cast out unless you are using a stiff hook link such as Amnesia. If you are really worried about it though you can purchase a liquid that will harden the hook link before casting and once it is in the water it will revert to its softer state.

It tangles even more if you have a counter balance weight added under the hook, for example a split shot when using a pop up, because this obviously sends the whole set up out of line when being dragged through the water.

Honestly though hook links hardly ever tangle on the cast, they normally tangle on the retrieve.

Hope this helps a little,

Andy

[paulh]

Thanks Andy
I had heavy metal as a counter weight ,Its put my mind at rest,
that I hadnt been fishing ineffectively.
cheers
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paulh

[Boz]

The best way to stop hair tangles is without doubt - soluble foam folded around the gape to prevent bait movement.

Cheers
Russ
Bourne
Lincs

[bazza]

i have noticed in the past that snake bite is quite a buoyant hooklink. i wondered whether it had anything to do with the braid holding air inside the outer coating...

i stick to stiff bristle - if i want a flexible hooklink i tie on a hinge rig. a bit of putty on the hinge - sinks perfectly, no tangles!