Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Hi everybody,
                     Have you ever tried this device for long distance casting? If so, I'll appreciate your reviews.


http://www.gerrysfishing.com/gemini-alpha-bait-clip.ir?cName=sea-fishing-terminal-tackle

They get a mention on this link.Not good with cold hands!

http://www.sealeopard.co.uk/sea-fishing-tackle-mind-boggling-bait-clips/

Hi Richard,old post here from the UK (2006.) This poster seems quite pleased with the Gemini Alpha Bait Clips as they have less wind resistance than the shielded types.  Will check with my beach fishing friends.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=58132&hl=%2Bgemini+%2Balpha+%2Bbait+%2Bclip

Hi All,

We use a variety of bait clip methods, though the UK variety usually only work with smaller hooks, forthe larger hooks that we use here, we tend to use ones that we make - same principle, just slightly larger, or we fit an extra wire in the sinker, next to the eye, and bend after pouring, so even the sinkers have a bait clip. Generally, you will get between 10-15 metres more in your cast, and because thesinker/bait combination is flying smoother, less over winds in the cast. Pretty much essential for fishing at distance.

Hope that helps.


Jeri

Thanks Jeri,
                 I used the Breakaway Impact Shields and the Gemini Splash Down Solo and they worked very good.The only issue with the Gemini is that you can only use hook sizes up till 4/0,but we fixed it up using a "loop".I tried the Breakaway with 6/0 hooks and no problem.I didn't try the Alpha bait clips yet, but  they seem to work ok with 4/0-6/0 hooks.I've got a doubt about releasing the hook in midflight because the plastic tube seems to be very easy to slide.About the sinker with the bent wire you say, sometimes fails, and the hook remains clipped,so you really can't be sure if the hook with the bait is waving free on the seabed.I think that the bait clip devices that "ejects" the hook are so much better than the ones that only loosen the hook.

Regards,

Richard

PS:What's the common hook size you use for surfcasting?

Hi Richard,

As said, we make a clip that fits on the bottom of the trace, just before the sinker, that has a larger/longer length of metal for the hook/bait combination, and with a little fine tuning when you are fishing, it pretty much releases 100% of the time, the key point in the trace is that the hook length needs to be longer than the sinker length. The release issue, is that while the sinker has forward motion, and not overtaken by the bait & hook, the release will be on impact.

Having said all this, we prefer the 'fixed' type of release clip, as at times we are using large baits, with hooks up to 11/0 or 10/0, and developing a one size fits all situation seems to make it work well. Our general fishing - smaller sharks and larger edible species is with 4/0 & 6/0 hooks, and we have found that the simple tied on clip works very well.

If there is something that I have learned through the years, is to keep it simple, making complex rigs doesn't impress the fish, and usually doesn't work with reliability.

Cheers from sunny Africa,


Jeri

Hi Jeri,
          Thank you so much for your explanation.What's that "fine tuning" you're talking about?

Cheers from "sometimes sunny" Argentina :D

Hi Ricardo,

'Fine Tuning', sometimes the 'J' section of the wire clips is pronounxed, and we just 'unbend' it slightly, so that the hook and bait only just hold, and that way we guarantee that the bait and hook will be released from the clip on landing.

So, what species are you surf fishing for in Argentina?? Not a place made famous for its surf fishing, more the trout streams in the south. Obviously that is not to say that there isn't great surf fishing there, just it is never publicised.

Cheers from sunny Africa,


Jeri

Hi Jeri,
         Thanks for the "fine tuning" advise.Trout fishing (flycasting) in the South is very much promoted because it benefits the foreign tourism, considering their high purchasing power (a kind of an Argentine ministry of tourism strategy).By the other hand,if you look at the Argentina map,the good sea fishing zone (beach fishing and offshore) is situated from Punta Rasa (Buenos Aires) to San Antonio Oeste (Río Negro).The best places for surf fishing are:Villa Gesell,Mar Chiquita,Mar del Plata,Necochea,Claromecó y bahía San Blas (known as "the fishermen paradise".Further south, there are less fish species to fish from the shore because wind and sea currents are very strong (Patagonia coast) with the exception of Golfo San Jorge y Golfo Nuevo (Chubut/Santa Cruz).
The surf fishing species are: Corvina negra,Corvina rubia ,Corvina carbonera,Pejerrey,Brótola,Pescadilla,Palometa,Chucho,Raya,Pez elefante,Sargo,Pez guitarra,Tiburón bakota,Tiburón escalandrún,Tiburón gatopardo,Tiburón gatuzo,Tiburón martillo,Burriqueta,Lisa,Lenguado y Congrio.

Cheers

Ricardo

Hi Ricardo,

From the link you supplied to the shop Gerry's, did you see the bait clips called breakaway IMP's? I don't know what size baits you use for your surf fishing, but these bait clips are fantastic for baits that are of the worm variety, whole squid and fish fillets/strips.

For large baits (whole mackeral), the IMP bait clips are not what you want.

Here's a link to Gerry's.  There's also a short youtube video explaining said bait clips:

http://www.gerrysfishing.com/detail.jsp?rpid=0&rid=0

All the best in finding what you need,

Steve
   

Thank you so much Steve,I've already seen the Imps video and I think they work very good with small baits as you say.UK is really a worldwide leader in the manufacture of fishing devices and implements (Breakaway,Gemini,Namix,ZZiplex,etc).I'd like to get reviews or videos about the Gemini Alpha bait clips but I found very little in the web (UK) and nothing in USA
Irish Jigger was going to ask his beach friends (He is a very good guy),meanwhile I'll keep on searching.

Regards,

Richard 

I think the little information you can find regarding the alpha bait clips is proof enough, Richard.  :-\ Popular products leave a 'long' bread crumb trail of information behind. If the bread crumb trail is short, you got to ask yourself, why is this so?

I have been a surf caster for many years and I have yet to see anyone incorporating alpha bait clips onto their rigs. I had a look on youtube and found a homemade version of the alpha bait clips you enquire about. Difference is, the wire which holds the hook in position is clipped directly onto the lead link (fastlink clip). To me this looks a far better concept than the alpha bait clips, of which incorporate added terminal tackle below the alpha bait clip to make it work (beads and crimp). I'm one for keeping things simple.  ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH_c4GNozzE

I personally use Namix leads with IMP bait clips for distance casting. The IMP's keep the bait tucked directly behind the flat back of the namix lead to aid the slipstream effect. Very large baits will release mid flight as I mentioned.

I also use breakaway impact leads which are not hampered by hook size. Fantastic leads and are much better design than the gemini solo leads you have already used. The cost for postage would be a consideration?

http://www.gerrysfishing.com/breakaway-impact-leads.ir?cName=sea-fishing-terminal-tackle


Cheers from a rain strewn and hardly ever sunny Wales,

Steve  :D

Hi Steve :D
                I'm very pleased for your help.I agree with you about when bread crumb trail is short...,yet I wonder why something that doesn't work properly is still on sale (are they waiting for people like me to buy them? :D :D.) I'm interested in the Alpha bait clips performance because that kind of device is very easy to make at home as it's shown in the video.You may think why he doesn't try to build one at home,go to fish and see what happens?,well, I'm going to do that, but I have to wait until mid february (unless I try them in a swimming pool :D)and meanwhile, it would be better if I get some good reviews that show it's worth to build them.As you know, we anglers are crazy people.
About the Breakaway leads with the built in bait clip (the plastic cone) I know that they work very good,but here in Argentina customs taxes are incredibly expensive beyond 20-25 grams weight and also I'd prefer a device that can be used with different leads (breakout leads,plain leads,etc)
There's a new Namix lead with a plastic bait clip built in, similar as the Breakaway Imps

Have you seen this?


http://www.fishing-forum.info/fishing-tackle-review-section/33647-new-namix-phoenix-clip-leads-here.html


I'm not sure if the plastic bait clip attachement on the wire is reliable


Cheers from Buenos Aires,Argentina :D

Richard




 

     Thanks Richard. I only surf fish a few times a year now that my childhood stomping grounds were closed for fishing. I still like to have a bait soaking wile I fish small plastics with light tackle in the areas I can still fish and have never seen the clips and leads in this post before. I really want to try some sort of clip this spring. Tight lines, Brendan.

Hi Brendan,
                 Take a look at this:http://www.breakawayusa.com/

                                               http://www.breakaway-tackle.co.uk/

                                               http://www.gemini-tackle.co.uk/


There's a lot of interesting things for fishing ;)

Richard

Hi Richard,

I'm more than happy to help when I can.  ;)

Regarding the alpha bait clips; it's not because I don't think the bait clips don't work properly, but I find it's a item that has never caught on to becoming a popular product. I don't know the reasons why this is so - or why I've never used the bait clips myself. Maybe there's a simple reason why the alpha bait clips are not popular? Maybe because there are better bait clip systems already available - or maybe it's a case of 'ease of use'?

I used the search facility on a large UK forum and there was very little information to be found.  :-\ What info' I did find was the alpha bait clips were good for small baits. At least I found that youtube link for homemade one's and I think I'll also give it a try and see how it works out for my fishing. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

The new Namix bait clips operate in the same manner as the breakaway IMP's. But what I noticed from the link you supplied, the new namix leads have incorporated a chute for water to aid in propping the bait clip to release the bait. I'm not sure if those bait clips would work on anything other than the newly designed namix leads?

Can I ask, what rigs will you be using bait clips on. Multiple hook rigs (2-3 seperate hook lengths) - or large baits to be used on a single hook length rigged up pennell style? Pennell means having slid on a hook on the hook length, while another hook is tied on. After baiting up the tied on hook, you then slid the other hook down to the bait wrap it 3/4 times around the hook length and nip it into the top of the large bait. This improves hook up ratios and bait presentation. Hope I'm not teaching you to suck eggs?

Here's a link to differing pennell set ups: http://www.worldseafishing.com/tackle/shorerigs/how_to_build_2_hook_pennel_variants.html

From a still raining, cold and sunless, Wales  :D  

Steve

Hi Ricardo,

Down here in Namibia we have a similar problem, obviously the usual import duties, as well as the seriously escalating costs of freight for bringing in products from abroad. Importing sinkers would be seriously prohibitive, so we import moulds and then locally make the newer designs.

With the clips, as mentioned before, we had troubles with some of the standard UK size of Gemini products, as they weren't big enough for the majority of our fishing. So we looked at the design, redrew the product to slightly larger proportions, and then looked round for someone with access to the slightly stiffer brands of stainless steel wire, and had them make some for us. Tested the prototypes, and offered some to our clients to test with rods that we had made, and when we had just favourable results coming back, we had 'our man' make us several thousand. We now have a product that works in our local waters with reliability, and we sell them to all the competition anglers, and even had to offer a few as 'free samples' to guys that had used Gemini clips previously, and found their limitations. They are now firm customers of ours – for 'our' clips.

We do the same with our sinkers, and the 'in built' clip, and have even seen the idea being taken up elsewhere by other tackle shops. Ideas are not new, just playing around with different materials, and adapting designs for local situations.

The point with the various 'mobile' clips is that in our situation, they either are so tight they damage the sinker line, or too weak to take the loads imposed by casting some of our bigger baits – normal surf fishing often requires us to cast a whole Sardine, so quite a heavy bait when compare to the majority of the baits that are being cast in European waters – sure they do occasionally cast comparable baits – but it is generally not the norm. They have designed products that suit their local market, while the ideas are sound, occasionally the product doesn't quite suit a different fishing situation elsewhere in the world.

Seeing on your list of species, a huge similarity of species to those that we catch here with regularity, Corvima = Kob, Stenbras = Sargo, and all the sharks, I would assume that you are casting into similar situations as we do here in Namibia, and probably use similar tactics.

We did look initially when starting our tackle shop and custom rod building business, at all the 'goodies' that were available in the UK and Europe, and even tried a lot of the products, only to find that they were designed for a different market to ours. We adapted some of the ideas, the clips being an example, but built them to suit 'local' conditions, others we discarded as nice idea, but not right for the local situation. One of our competitors is going down a similar route at the moment, importing loads of Euro 'goodies', and finding that they don't quite work locally.

We have a similar situation with the rods, where some of the UK manufacturers build awesome blanks, they aren't quite suited to the local situation, and we have now developed ideas for blanks that ideally suit our local market, which use some of the UK design concepts, but have been developed to the local situation. A point is that both here in Namibia and in Argentina, we fish direct into 'oceanic' waters, and are targeting much larger fish than folks fishing in relatively sheltered waters around the UK and Europe, for generally smaller species.

Before the folks in the UK jump up in horror at the last comment – please read on. Our average day on the beach will target and usually succeed in catching Kob in the 5kg range (11lbs), and there are not many days that we fish and draw a blank – probably less than 2%. Some days we are limited in our fishing time, by reaching the fisheries management limits of 10 edible species before we are done fishing, returning home off the beach by 2.00PM, leaving the fish biting. Our shark fishing is divided into medium and large, where the medium fish are generally 10-20kgs – like Smoothhounds, while the large sharks are generally in the 50-100kg bracket. So, the comments about UK and European surf fishing are not meant as derisory, but as a reasonably accurate observation of comparison.

The point is to look at a product design, and see if it realistically will work in your local situation, and adapt as necessary – it may well be a good design and idea. Look at how over the last 15 years or so wind-on leaders have adapted – originally and idea for joining bulky fly lines to fine leaders for trout fishing, then adapted the principle was used by big game anglers for joining leaders to main lines, then we saw them being used in a surf situation for our heavy shark leaders, and now they are finding their way as essential pieces of kit for distance carp anglers looking to present fluorocarbon leaders as end tackle. Adaptation of a good idea to suit a multitude of different angling situations. Look at the differences of needs on this very board, between the various big game anglers and perhaps those using baitcaster reels, and those using surf casting reels – and how we all with different needs lubricate our spool bearings or bushes. No one is right or wrong, we just all have different priorities according to our fishing styles and techniques.

Keep an open mind, identify your priorities, and take the best that can be offered for this very widely diverse and well informed group of people. Someone out there has the answer you are looking for, but equally the others aren't wrong.

Cheers from sunny Africa – off line for the next 10 hours – going fishing.


Jeri

Hi Steve,
             I use bait clips on clip down rigs(3 snoods in cascade/small baits),clip down rigs(1 snood/large baits),clip down rigs(long snood/bent clip up/3 hooks in tandem/large baits) and pulley rigs (small/large baits).If you're going to give a try (self made bait clip) let me know how it works out for fishing (I  think that the home made fast link as shown in the video would not be capable of withstanding a powerful cast using a 4-5 oz lead,unless you use a thicker wire.
If still raining in Wales you'll be able to fish from the door of your house :D

We'll keep in contact

From a hot like hell and too much sunny summer in Buenos Aires (we are melting :o)

Hi Jeri,
         I think you're still on line before going fishing.Excelent report,I'm very impressed.You're absolutely right,we fish direct into oceanic waters and generally larger fishes, also we share the same customs duty/taxes problem.I thank you very much for your advises.I'm trying different fishing devices to see how they perform,but probably in not much time we'll have to do exactly what you've done.

Tight lines and good fishing :D

Ricardo

PS:Would you put some pics of "your"clips?

Jeri, you have hit the nail on the head with your last post. Don't worry, no jumping up in horror from myself - maybe a tad envious, though, saltwater fishermen in the UK know full well the difference between the offerings of Africa (lucky so and so's), compared to the offerings of the UK ;D Like you said, Jeri, what's suitable in one country, probably wont be suitable somewhere else (horses for courses). The species of fish determine the tactics employed and it really is a trial and error practice. Learn from your mistakes and it will definately make you a better angler for it.

Richard, you are certainly on the ball. I had the exact same thought about the 'homemade' fastlinks from the video I supplied. I wouldn't be comfortable power casting with the gauge of wire he used in the video. The Breakaway fastlinks are made from a thicker gauge wire and that's what I personally use for power casting 5-7oz leads with bait. I fish the Bristol Channel and it has the 2nd highest rise and tide fall in the world. The tides are very fierce and baits need to be anchored to the seabed.

The rigs you are using are the same as the UK's. The Pulley rig is my 'go to rig' aimed at larger species. My pulley rigs incorporate interchangeable hook lengths. Basically, instead of having a swivel to attach onto the hook length, I use a gemini genie clip. This enables me to make two seperate hook lengths for the same rig body for the pulley rig. This is called double patting. I bait up one hook length and cast out into the sea; with the other spare hook length, I bait it up ready for a quick interchange when retrieved. Speed = more fish  ;)

When I trial the 'homemade' alpha bait clips, I'll let you know my findings.

From a now lightly snowing, sunless Wales. Lightly snowing means it isn't sticking to the ground. Rubbish snow. lol!

Steve.

Hi Steve,
            Sut ydych chi heddiw? :D,I think that instead of the plastic tube,burn the edge with a lighter and press against a knife blade you can use a  stainless steel or even aluminum tube rivet ;)



http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/283168721/Aluminum_Brass_tube_rivet.html


Richard

From a burning hot Buenos Aires :P

PS:Your pulley rig is very interesting

Hi  Ricardo & Steve,

We rarely use more than one bait, except for scratching with lighter tackle, so using clips for multi-hook rigs has never really been an issue – so a problem we haven't solved or investigated.

Yesterday was good to get out onto the beach – the tourists have mostly gone home, and it was the first day of calmer seas for 10 days.  The fish were there, but feeding was 'nervous', the Kob were not shoaled up and competitive – so we used pulley rigs. It allows the fish to only feel the flexibility of the rod tip, rather than the drag of the sinker – for the first 60cm or so, by that time they mostly have the bait, so our first choice when the fish are a little shy.

3 good Kob, totalling 20kg – best about 8kg, 1 8kg gully shark, a St. Joseph (a Chimera species – probably like your 'Elephant fish'), a couple of Guitarfish, as well as a host of undersize Kob. A busy morning, for the turn of the tide saw huge amounts of weed coming in, and while we tried other spots, it is not unusual having had such big seas. We were back home just after noon, and busy cleaning fish and tackle.

The pulley rig was really the best option for that sort of circumstance, in a couple of days time, when the fish have fully arrived back inshore and shoaled up, it will back to fixed paternoster – no need for subtle rigs, they will be feeding in competitive mode. Used the sinkers with the release clip all day, no problems; and possibly the pulley rig is potentially the worst rig to use with a release clip, as both legs of line become tight.

Enjoy the snow Steve, I got 'rained on' the first time in 8 years back in October – it was surreal coming originally from the UK!!!

Cheers from sunny Africa,


Jeri

Hi Jeri :D
              You had a good fishing day,specially being the first day of calmer sea,fishes feeding nervous and weeds coming in.Here in Argentina when fishes are shy and nervous we also use pulley rigs but generally with circle hooks. I'm sure you have very good recipes for cooking fish,a good red wine... and you're done!! ;) What  rod and reel do you use for surf casting?

Cheers from Buenos Aires

Hi Tom! :D are you there?

Hi  Ricardo,

Plenty of good recipes for fresh fish – local variety is to fillet the fish, but leave the skin on the fillet. Make a fire with local hard woods, and burn down to coals – drink plenty of wine or other refreshments while waiting for the wood to burn down. Then coat the flesh side of the fish with apricot jam, and then lightly grill over the coals. The skin on one side, and the caramelised jam on the other, keeps the fish from drying out. Just a hint of apricot flavour to go with the fresh fish – food for kings – best enjoyed eaten with fingers!!!!!!

As for rods, well we are pretty much spoilt, as I use blanks that I have had a part in the design from a couple of our suppliers – as we are a custom rod builder, before dabbling in reels. The latest is a 3 piece with serious power, but remains very flexible in use, best launched with 6-7oz sinkers, but as light as a feather. We have been trialing the prototype over Xmas, and will start to take the blanks seriously next month, but to date it has done really well. On the casting court it has exceeded 190 metres with either sinker – so pretty good as a fishing rod. Though still currently prefer a 2 piece that we had late last year, it really launches, but you need fast reels to give the sinker the line, as the launch/tip speed is so high.


Cheers from dark Africa – the sun has gone down,


Jeri

Jeri,

If I may say your recipe for the grilled fish with Apricot jam sounds amazing, I will try it out next chance I get to BBQ. Unfortunately living down here in the South West of the U.K. we get a lot of rain, I think I need to build a shed over the BBQ!!

Mike.

Hi Jeri,
          It must smell exquisit!, a good fresh fish covered with apricot jam ,lightly grilling over "hard wood coals"... man!!....I'm hungry :P
Thank you so much for the recipe.We'll keep in contact.

Richard

PS:You put the apricot jam during grilling or at the beggining? 

Quote from: buitrechico on January 14, 2013, 05:25:39 PM
Hi Tom! :D are you there?

Hi Richard,Yes as a former beach/surf angler I am following this thread with great interest.
Reached the 75 year mark today and gave thanks for a good life and look forward to the next 25 years.
Had a few hot whiskies to celebrate and finished the day working on a Penn Albacore Special for a friend, yes we do have Albacore off the south west coast of Ireland where they are commercially fished during the summer.

Cheers,from a cold,wet and windy  Emerald Isle. ;D

Happy 75th Tom, I hope you have many more. All the best to you buddy.
Sal

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D All the best .I've sent you a personal message

Richard

Hi  Ricardo, Mike & Tom,

For 'Apricot fish', you just wash the fish after filleting, then lightly coat the flesh side with the jam – but cover it all, the trick is then to put it in the griller cage, and over th high heat of the coals, caramelise the sugar in the jam – to effectively seal the 'open' side of the fish – locking in all the juices.  STOP DRIBBLING ON YOUR KEYBOARD!!!!!

Did this recipe one night while on a camping and fishing trip with a load of very Afrikaner guys, who basically eat meat, meat and more meat. The comments after the meal was completely cleaned out – bones sucked and all, was 'why had I not done the cooking before?' They all started sceptics firstly about an Englishman cooking, and secondly eating fish – that night it was fresh Bluefish.

For the various localities – Bass would be a good fish for those around the British Isles, and Corvima for Ricardo, all very similar to our Kob.

Mike, the locals down here on the coast of Namibia have cured that problem of poor weather, as we have strong winds and obviously cold temperatures at night – so they moved the BBQ (Braii) indoors, every house has one, with a neat design of chimney that sucks all the smoke out, you can have a BBQ anytime. The chimney system has a rotating cowl design, so that it swings round to the wind and creates the draw for the fire, and pulls all the smoke up the chimney – very civilised. A friend that visited was so impressed that he took measurements and photos do build one in his house in the New Forest, the idea of BBQs any day of the year was just too much for him.

The locals all have very open plan living and kitchen areas, so when you entertain with friends, the braii is a central part of the event, where some or all of the meal is cooked over the open fire. It harks back to the very earliest travellers in southern Africa, trekking and cooking over open wood fires. There are obviously thousands or recipes for this style of cooking, 99% involve meat, but the nice adaption is the fish.

Tom, see that you are in 'the north', we spent many years worth of holidays down in Union Hall, with a friend that lives there, chasing Albacore, and eventually after 13 years of trying, he was the lucky chap, to be the first angler to 'intentionally' catch an Albacore in Irish waters – a guy called Colin Barnes, an expat Englishman – still lives down there I think, doing Whale and Dolphin trips. Unfortunately lost touch with him over the years. A great guy, very knowledgeable about all things fishing, a good friend of Peter Collins of the Irish Tourist Board – Angling section. Happy birthday.

Ricardo sorry to hijack your thread – its amazing what happens when folks start talking fishing?


Cheers from dark Africa – the sun has gone down,


Jeri

Hi Jeri,

Thanks for the detailed instructions. As we live right on the coast here in Mevagissey Cornwall, we also get stong winds, but unfortunately we don't have room in the bungalow for the bbq, so I will have to design and build some sort of structure outside. The ideal soultion here would be a three sided structure with a roof on a turntable so you could always face the wind, perhaps a bit ambitious but who knows! When I do it I want to get it right as bbq is my favourite way of cooking, summer or winter.

A little bit of humour, although it didn't seem funny at the time. A few year back, a New Zealand friend, over a few beers started talking about a 'Hangi'. The idea got more appealing as the beer flowed. So we waited until the weather was supposed to be set fair and dug a large pit in our garden, ready for the next days feast. On waking the next morning, the wonderful Cornish weather had changed and the pit was full of water! To this day I have still not experienced 'Hangi' style food!!

Mike

Quote from: buitrechico on January 14, 2013, 02:38:28 AM
Hi Steve,
            Sut ydych chi heddiw? :D,I think that instead of the plastic tube,burn the edge with a lighter and press against a knife blade you can use a  stainless steel or even aluminum tube rivet ;)



http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/283168721/Aluminum_Brass_tube_rivet.html


Richard

From a burning hot Buenos Aires :P

PS:Your pulley rig is very interesting

Hi Richard,

Nice touch with the Welsh. To Answer; Buenas Gracias!  :D

Checked the link you supplied and they look good. When I find the time to make some, I'll let you know how the homemade alpha bait clips work out.

As for my Pulley rig, I will try and post a few pics to show you. Might make a mini pulley rig of about 8 inches, purely so the scale of the rig can fit into the pictures. They are normally tied no longer than 35 inches for my type of fishing.


Hi Jeri,

Fair play to you for upping sticks and starting a new life in Africa - best of all - doing what you love doing! Homage to you!

"I got 'rained on' the first time in 8 years back in October" - If you came back to the UK, you'd probably have your very own little rain cloud hovering above your head; purely to catch up on your drought  ;D

Great fishing you had, too. People are either blanking or catching whiting and dabs here at the moment. Very poor showing of cod this year, though, a few lunker cod have been caught off the shore. My mate had a 23lb shore caught cod just before New years. His mate had a 7lb bass in the same sesh. Biggest cod off the shore I've heard of this season, and caught yesterday, is a 28lb'er.
Oh and the bass record was broken last year with a 19lb13oz fish. Could of been a 20lb'er if it hadn't reguritated it's last meal.

The snow didn't stick after all. We had rain again, but today was dry and cold!


A belated Happy Birthday to Tom!

Cheers all,

Steve.

Hi Steve,
            I've already built some homemade Alpha bait clips using aluminum tube rivets(20 mm x 3mm x 2mm hole diameter), 1,3 mm gauge wire (10 mm short leg, 23 mm long leg), 45 grades angle.An approximate copy of genuine Gemini Alpha bait clips, because I don't know exactly the components size.I had to mill the aluminum tubes to eliminate some cutting edge.Built a rig as shown in the Gemini pictures (two beads/1 crimp).Used two cigarette lighter springs (they look as the Gemini SRT springs) for the main line rig /snood attachement (to absorb line snood stretching at the beggining of the cast).Tube hole diameter and 1,3 mm gauge wire admit line diameter up till 0.60 mm for smooth sliding ( 0.70 obviously gets stuck) Sliding the tube by hand ,the hook was released everytime. I've got a doubt about the sliding tension,if too tight, bait hook may remain clipped when rig hits the water,by the other hand, if too loose, bait hook may release during flight ( tube sliding in the air).Hope using this tube size it'll be ok. Of course, the only way to eliminate any doubt is to go fishing and see what happens (as I told you ,I have to wait until February).I also made some as shown in the video you supplied.The fast links were ok(25 mm long,5 mm wide,same 1,3 mm gauge wire).Same tube rivet size.Built a rig and seems to work ok as the other I mentioned before.Unfortunately my camera is broken and I can't post some pics >:(

Cheers

Richard

From a still burning hot Buenos Aires :P

DIY for bait clips - It's not really rocket science
You need a hollow tube - I used a plastic tube that was on a lollipop - And a paper clip
Paper clip goes thru the tube - make a double loop on top of the paper clip can use a tooth pick or anything similar -main Line goes x3 thru
To adjust is simple loosen the last loop hold it open and the clip can slide up and down till were needed
here is 2 photos of the clip for bait casting