Snell or Whipping Knot

Image Above: A mackerel shelters from the rain
Location: Isle of Erraid, Mull, Scotland

I should have gathered by now that when the weather isn`t suitable for boat fishing it doesn’t mean it will be any better if I choose to fish off the rocks. This afternoon it wasn’t, it rained hard enough for a small river to develop inside my waterproofs and I had the sensation of wetting myself without the pleasure of the accompanying warmth. I stuck it out for an hour with a float rig and landed a larger than average mackerel. Having had to wait on previous trips for the mackerel to hook themselves after they had pulled at the bait strips for ten or even twenty minutes I decided against using a single hook opting for a new three hook set-up instead (see below). The mackerel took the bait on the first pull and the float disappeared. I waited before retrieving just to make sure it was hooked but half expecting my float to re-surface signalling the fish was still free as had happened too many times in the past. After a minute the line tightened, I lifted the rod and the fish turned and shot towards me. It wasn’t really a fight, too much like being at the fishmonger’s with an open bag.

The fun element left me finally when I bent down and the puddle that had developed in my hood ran down my back. Living on a small island at least ensures that the walk home is never longer than half an hour and in this case five minutes.

Image below: Alternative Pennel Rig and snell or whipping knot

Epoxy Putty Lure

Image Above: Solid Epoxy Spoon Lure

So I hand carved the 99e wobbler shown in my last post, through wired it, lead weighted and balanced it, covered its gills with foil, sprayed it with an airbrush, coated it with epoxy, added the bib and hooks. I thought I had the best lure in the world so I bought a new Abu pro-max bait caster reel, thinking I have the best lure I must have the best reel.
I have never used a bait caster so on my first cast I mess up, but I mess up using such force that my lure casts an amazing distance. I was proud until I realise the line has not gone with it and my lure was

out in the north Atlantic free and unattached. Farewell lure, you wobbled beautifully, you dived to just the right depth and surfaced so I could pull you over the weeds and tonight and for ever you will swim with the fishes.

Needless to say I have had to re-arm. This time I have made a spoon style bait using epoxy putty, lead and wire. It is flat backed and rolls from side to side on the retrieve even fluttering to the bottom when the line is let out. It can be used like a jerk bait and rises to the surface quiet easily making splashes a bit like a popper, it is really a good all-rounder.

The idea was to make a lure that had the look of a sand eel and weighed 20grams, perfect for my rod. So I weighed all the materials beforehand and adjusted them as needed. Now I have got used to my pro-max reel the lure casts like a dream and I am not sure if I will ever go back to a fixed spool reel. As for testing the lure, well I need some deeper water as we have had our first snow on the local mountain and the fish have headed out of the shallows. I may have to wait for the boat to go back in the water or make the long walk southwest corner of the island.

Home made wobbler lure

I suppose I learn a little bit every time I make a fishing lure and this one is no different. I carved this lure using a Stanley knife which was the easy part the finish isn’t great but it works in that I wanted a wobbler that would dive a couple feet on retrieve. I rushed it and that was the mistake, there are so many stages in making one of these lures and messing up one always shows through in the finished lure. So I live and learn and on to the next lure.