Natal Snoek: Better, faster bait preparation - for me, that is

[PH]

As Bennie & other guys mentioned in another thread, good looking bait presentation not
only gives the angler confidence but restricts the spinning tendency of the bait when trolling.

I think my poor presentation of Snoek bait in the past resulted in excessive spinning
 and hugely contributed to my success in blanking.

So I devised the following method which resulted in dramatically improving the prsentation,
and will hopefully limit the spinning tendency due to a much more hydro-dynamic shape.

A kekab stick is clamped in a small vice.

A length of heat-shrink tubing is slipped over the kebab stick. (I found that drinking straws are too
thick).
The spiky side of adhesive Velcro is wrapped around the tubing and further secured with latex
thread. This helps to prevent the slippery fillet from moving around when securing with thread.

A fillet of sardine is then lightly slit lengthwise and carefully and evenly fixed to the velcro with thread with the fleshy side outside.

The hook "assembly" is then pushed throught the tubing and the swivel on the hook assembly
clipped to the skirt side of the trace.

It sounds like a lengthy process but the use of the vice helps to speed up the process and
contibutes to a much improved and consistent bait presentation.

Question, please:
Does it matter if the "baited tube" is re-frozen after preparation? Or should one do this just prior
to the fishing trip?

[PH]

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[PH]

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[CLS]

Hi PH.
I only tie the top of the fillet around the swivel to stop it sliding down, I also cut a small short "V" at the bottom so you have 2 little tails either side of the hook which gives movement like a flap bait,this way you have shine and meat showing, I find they don't spin, and work for me. They are also quick to tie.
Cheers my 2c

[PH]

Hi PH.
I only tie the top of the fillet around the swivel to stop it sliding down, I also cut a small short "V" at the bottom so you have 2 little tails either side of the hook which gives movement like a flap bait,this way you have shine and meat showing, I find they don't spin, and work for me. They are also quick to tie.
Cheers my 2c

That sounds like a much better idea.
I take it that you dont hook the hook trough the fillet?

[CLS]

Hi PH, yes I do through the flesh side just above the V which is only about 20mm long - no longer as the snoek are sometimes sly and nibble the end off. I fish with quite a tight drag so when it takes it hooks itself.

[PH]

Thanks, I will do that.