Bait presentation.

[aaronjunited]

While i was out for a session yesterday just infront of the power station in carrickfergus yesterday i had some problems with the rag i was using.

Now i'm not too keen on touching the wriggly buggers, but i let go of my fear and handled them, my problem was, they wer breaking easily.
I pushed the hook point into the mouth and through but cudnt thread the hook all the way through the worm, had to bring the hook point out below its head and then keep inserting ints body onto the hook point, this is were they were breaking. I did wrap them up with a bit of bait eslastic, they did stay on mind you, but the presentation wasnt good, and with the wriggling about so much it was taking forever lol.
I also brought sandeel outa the freezer they wer thawed out by the time i reached location and they wernt in good condition either.
Anyone any tips on keeping rag and sandeel in prime condition and how to get them on the hook nicely.


Thanks in advance.
Aaron.

[shamoo0804]

Ragworm presentation here, other handy tips on their website aswell.

http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Sea-Angler/S ... E-RAGWORM/

If using sandeel, take them out of the freezer at the very last minute, and either put them in a wide mouthed thermos type flask, or put them in a bait cooler bag with some freezer blocks (the type you would use in a cool box for a picnic)

Its important to keep your sandeel frozen even while you are fishing, then each time you need a sandeeel, just take out an individual eel a few minutes before you plan to bait up, they should still be a little frozen when you baitup.

[Labyrinthfish]

Use a baiting needle.

[aaronjunited]

Could i take them out of the packet and stick them in the thermos flask they be ok still. maybe put a bit of ice in the thermos flask??

[aaronjunited]

Use a baiting needle.

They easy to use???

[bigsod]

I put the thermos in the freezer with the eels in it and it stays frozen for a long time.As Shampoo says take them out as you need them.

[shamoo0804]

Thats why you need a wide mouthed flask, cos it is just easier to fit a few packets of sandeel in, without taking each eel out individually.

I wouldnt advise taking them out of their vacuum packed wrapping until ready to bait up, as this just means more handling of the eels, which may mean they deteriorate a bit quicker......sandeel are a very delicate bait.

To prime your thermos flask prior to a fishing session follow one of the tips below.

For a fully stainless steel flask, simply put your flask in the freezer for an hour or 2 before you leave the house.

For the traditional flask with the internal part being glass, then simply put half cold water, half ice cubes in the flask a few hours before you leave the house, remembering to close the top tightly, then just empty the flask before you put your bait in.

This is simply priming the flask reducing its internal temperature to hold some coldness longer once you head out fishing.

I also do this with my flask of tea/coffe before I go fishing....only using boiling water instead of cold water/ice.



Sod, you beat me to it !!!!!

[shamoo0804]

They easy to use???

Very simple once you have the hang of it, I dont tend to use one for my beach fishing, but if I'm float fishing bigger rag for wrasse and pollock I find using a baiting needle better.

It just helps to get all the worm up the hook/snood, bearing in mind that wrasse and pollock usually attack the bait from below, I've just found it increases my hook-ups, as the fish dont have a bit of tail dangling down below the hook which they can bite off. Also, the movement of a ragworm fully on a hook float fished isnt compromised, as the float itself provides movement.


I find when beach fishing, its best to leave a little of the tail off the hook, which aids movement of the worm when on the sea bed - this obviously doesnt work if you are casting longer distances, as any loose rag will fly off the hook as you cast.

A few head hooked rag can be deadly for bass

[aaronjunited]

Brilliant advice as always guys. Thanks alot. Appreciate it.

[Conger]

when you buy the sandeel take it out of the pack and wrap in newspaper, stick it back into the freezer until you need, i have found that some of the frozen sandeel on the market is not great and no matter what you do it still makes no difference, if you are using lug, as i asked this question before and ShaneH came to my rescue, dig lug wash off and wrap in newspaper and this will last about 10 days once you check it regular and get rid of the dead ones

Regards

Seamus

[aaronjunited]

Why take them out of pack and wrap in newspaper????
Please?

[Conger]

Have found that if you use the sandeel out of the pack that after a short period it can start to loose quality whereas when wrapped in newpaper it is firmer for far longer

Regards

Seamus

[rustyhookthomas]

dipping yer ragworm in sea water before baiting and,, casting helps keep them together too.
i saw it posted here a while back and found it does make a difference!
wrap some bait elastic around the sandeel before use then hook through the eyes/head, bring the hook all the way through and wrap the hook to the lower end of the sandeel.you may also hook the tail-end of the eel before fixing the hook to keep it in place.