old_carper

the only problem with winding in 2 or 3 feet of line after casting would be if your using pva bags, stringers etc, or fishing tight to snags/small features,in fact using these items would probably negate any need to retrieve line to avoid tangles

there is a product out there that you apply to the hook length that actually stiffens it, cant remember what its called but it then disolves in the water once cast out leaving your hook length in a supple state

first post on here as just joined. Ok now for some constructive comments, Ideally the fish should be hooked during the ejection phase and the first rig would not achieve this, as already mentioned the hook would be ejected bend first, the second modified rig is really no different than using a stiff hair rig as used in the 80's, the main problem you have being as the rig is ejected the stiff hair does not allow the boilie to be overturned as it is in a fixed position and cannot get blown out of the way during ejection to allow the hook to set. in other words the boilie is masking the hook. IMHO i would go back to the first prototype, lose most of the tubing and bore a much bigger hole in the boilie which would then allow it to slide on the d part of the rig and hence move out of the way during ejection of the rig....it really couldn't be simpler. sorry if i offend anyone, your on the right track though