HISC: Tie the lure with a tail that seems to be too long.
Fish this with a floating or neutral density line so that you can allow it to dive alongside a weedbed, then draw it up.
This lure is too bulky for light lines to cast, you'll need at least a no.7 to throw it safely. It's of most use when the fish are taking large fry late in the season. Try it too when there is about a metre and a half (four feet) of tide over the kelp in a deep gully, let it tumble in the surge; pollack love it.
If fish come short clip the tail until you start to hook them; like this.
Tying:
- Hook:
- Size 2 to 2/0 Weighted with lead wire near the eye so that it dives nose first, it can be tied as a tandem if you wish.
- Tail:
- A thin strip of sheepskin with the wool attached. It may be more than twice the length of the hook. Tie it long and trim to suit at the waterside. The bouyant tail and leaded nose work together to give a very characteristic sinking attitude.
- Hackle:
- Three to six large cock hackles wound very densely on top of wet varnish so that they are level with or just in front of the hook point. Experiment with different colours.
- Head:
- (Most of the hookshank) Well varnished thread over lead wire.