Question??

[Kahi]

I fished with a guy a while back that made a sleeve type thing that slipped over the main line and had a loop that you attached to the outrigger clips. I think he made it out of hollow core, or might have braided it himself, like one would do with a gaff handle. The sleeve thing passed through the guides, but made it easy to quickly attached to the outrigger in a pre determined place. I fish alone, for the most part, and this would make resetting the rigger baits easier.

Anyone know the name of this sleeve, and how it's made? Any pics?

Thanks,

Kahi

[floridadeckie]

Kahi, I just call it a finger trap. There are a few ways to do it, you can do it cleanly and splice dacron over your mainline, leaving an open gap of about 1-1.5". once you have the dacron where you want it, whip the ends with waxed floss. when you squeeze the ends toward each other, it slides on the line. when you stretch it out to come tight, it locks down on the line. you can also do it with waxed floss, half hitching your way down the mainline with the same 1.5" gap to the halyward pin.

[Kahi]

Yes, that sounds about right. I'm going to try it out. Have you used it? like it or pass?

Also, I'm up in Miami, if you ever roll through here.

Kahi

[floridadeckie]

I like using the dacron sleeve version, its easier to adjust and gives you a good idea of how close the fish is. I've used it and like to use it with big plugs. when you miss a lure bite, you can easily wind the mark back to the tip and reset it, circle back, and get another shot. I dont like it with baits because more often then not you have to wind the bait up and check it after a bite so any time saved is moot.

And right now Im up near gainesville while the deckhand market is slow, but I may be coming to Islamorada in a few months to work my old charter job

[FESS]

This is the only way to go once you dial in the style hanger u like. Too lose and it has trouble staying put...too tight and it can be a hastle adjusting it or moving it...so trial by error here will rule, so do not get frustrated...u r on the right pathway.
Tag lines with blacks clips and these hangers are so effective and fast is embarrasing to have ever used rubber bands...and u set each clip with drag scale dialed in to each lure's resistance etc..or drag desired from the get go. Some folks use 8-15 lb loops of mono (pre-made) that go in hanger and then into the outrigger clip or tag line clip for a fail safe connection if some twists develops and during a turn etc the tag becomes wrapped in main line...but that's truley overkill and I like dat!

Be carefull if u have aftco guides though...the portion of the hanger that's left hanging with the loop, can get caught in the slits on the sides of some of their guides...highly unlikely, but possible.

mark the spot where you decide the leave the hanger with a dab of magic marker to monitor if it's sliding or slipping....and two dashes for the next position in case left long has to turn into right long etc....any changes are so easy it's a crying shame not to dial these hangers in. Like so many things, you'll have the first generation change to second and so on until you get it dialed in and can't believe you ever fished with first generation stuff.

80 lb dacron (hanger material) for 100 lb. mono worked well...what size main line are u fishing with?

[Kahi]

Great response and very detailed, I thank you for taking the time and effort.

I will be first testing these "hangers" on my 30# trolling outfits, as they get the most use.

It had never occured to me to dial in the release tension on the clips by hand scale, which makes so much sense I wish it had thought of it. My clips have failed me by either not releasing during a strike or by releasing too often. Great tip here.

I think I will try to make the first set using the waxed thread method, but question wether the waxed thread is movable or able to "slide" to adjust to sea conditions, bait tracking or other variables?

Any images out there of what the final "hanger" or "chinese finger cuffs" look like?

Thanks

Kahi

[FESS]

Waxed line hangers are not movable...at least none I've seen or made were. Get a count on the arm lengths for each position so it can be duplicated for consistant spacing (you'll have to mark each reel too...LL for left long etc.)
That's what so nice about the hangers., any cut-backs or chafes u cut out and u just slide the hand-cuff or hanger back to the arm length for that position and u ready man. As u get better at making them they'll get shorter and more managable. I usually keep two on each reel...one u use and another burried on down the spool in case u break one...don't forget to install one or two on your top-shots too...if applicable.
30lb....try 30 and 50 lb dacron...u could try 80lb dacron too because it'll be easier to open the loop on to deploy or use it.
That smaller dacron may be hard to get the loop open in heavy seas or in heat of the batttle. But may be flat out too big to grip 30lb mono.
pics...can't help u there as yet.
Start by putting dacron on a bait needle and slightly burn the end that'll be on the end towards the bait...once on the main line u have to usually do a small serve like a rod guide wrap (use dental floss not waxed line or dental tape...they are too bulky) but too tight and you'll lock it down too much and it'll be too tight to move easy enough...too lose and it may come undone too easy, so hang in and experiment. Amount of dacron on the main line is usually 3-4 inches and then a short loop that'll go in clip.