Helicopter rig

[Freezy121]

Hey guys,

would welcome some advice on the helicopter rig which im going to start using on a lake i fish which is very silty but have a few questions. The lake is only 2 acres in size but holds some big carp.

the first question is-

is the helicopter rig suitable for short range margin fishing?

second question is-

can i use a small walnut size mesh bag with this rig as i fill more confident with presentation or would it affect the rig during casting?

appreciate all replies 

[Freezy121]

I have been using the lead clip approach for the last few years which has been pretty successful but as i no the lake is very silty in most places apart from the obvious gravel bars id thought id try something new

[Freezy121]

 i thought id try something new this season and thought heli system might work to stop the lead sinking into the silt but im debating whether to stick with the tried and tested. I usually fish with a 7 inche hair on a lead clip set up fishing a wafter to keep it off bottom

[Freezy121]

Does this work better than a lead clip set up in this situation or would they both be effective..

and appreciate your feed back

[Freezy121]

The lake has no weed in it at all apart from 2/3 lilly beds

[Carpbell_ll]

Not a big fan of the helicopter lead set up, had a play with it the last few years on a chod, didn't come close to my normal in line set up, i will be sticking to that from now on.

[Carpbell_ll]

Soz forgot to address the PVA part.

That's what i also had problems with, difficult to get a bag on and didn't half mess the cast up, you could try a quick link for the hook length and thread one on that, but it's a bit wobbly in flight.

[Freezy121]

To be honest in not feeling too confident in the helicopter approach and wasn't really from the start, was just tinkering for the sake of tinkering 

[salokcinnodrog]

2 hours ago, Freezy121 said:

I have been using the lead clip approach for the last few years which has been pretty successful but as i no the lake is very silty in most places apart from the obvious gravel bars id thought id try something new

Why change what works?

As the say 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'!

 

The one thing I would say, CM has picked up on, I do NOT like lead clips anyway, and would prefer an inline lead setup.

In fact, put everything in the bag, bait, hook, link and lead, works a treat.

[Freezy121]

When using the inline setup do you using fish it with a quick change link for the hook link?

also one more thing do you tend to use leaders up to the lead or tubing?? 

[Freezy121]

Oh and i decided to leave the helicopter system well alone..!!!!

[salokcinnodrog]

59 minutes ago, Freezy121 said:

When using the inline setup do you using fish it with a quick change link for the hook link?

also one more thing do you tend to use leaders up to the lead or tubing?? 

Me no bother with quick link, nearly always a braided hooklink to swivel or 'O' ring. (A large rig or o ring sits right inside a rubber tulip bead better than a swivel).

 

I have a short length of tubing going through the lead, and out if I need to protect the line at all, probably around a couple of inches longer than the hooklink. It's also easier to lick and stick PVA bags around tubing than mainline

 I rarely use leaders at all.

[Carpbell_ll]

17 hours ago, Freezy121 said:

When using the inline setup do you using fish it with a quick change link for the hook link?

also one more thing do you tend to use leaders up to the lead or tubing?? 

I fish my line going through the inline lead and tied to a fox no 7 quick link, my hook length has a loop tied to the swivel end that i can remove from the quick link and thread a bag on before each cast.

I don't use a leader, but have in the past, it would depend on the water you are fishing and the mainline you use, i haven't used tubing in a long time, tubing has moved on since then, i would happily use some of the tungsten tubing the is about these days, years ago it was very stiff and had no sinking properties, today's tubing is different, and if i was unsure on how to use a leader safely the tubing would be an excellent alternative.  

[Nutcracker]

On Fri Apr 07 2017 at 16:10, Freezy121 said:

 i thought id try something new this season and thought heli system might work to stop the lead sinking into the silt.

If anything the lead on a heli setup will plunge deep into the silt ... try the hinged stiff rig with an inline lead best over silt imo.