Finding and baiting up a spot before fishing over it can prove to be a time-consuming affair. Traditionally, it involves the use of two rods - one fitted with a marker float set-up, the other with a Spomb or spod. The former is used to map out features and plumb the depths within the swim, and latter to deliver your loosefeed to the chosen spot.
This obviously involves the purchasing of two additional rods and big pit reels on top of your actual fishing rods, as well as the braid required to spool up the reels. Which all adds up! And, of course, it’s extra kit to carry, which can be a hindrance on certain venues, especially if you’re having to walk long distances to your peg.
Fortunately, there’s a far quicker, more productive way of doing this, however, that requires just one rod and which allows you to take care of plumbing and baiting up at the same time!
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Use one rod
By attaching just a lead to the line, loop-to-loop style, you can make a few casts around the swim until a suitable spot is found, then clip the line up, make note of a far-bank marker, and wind in.
Using distance sticks, you can then count out how many wraps the spot is from the bank. It’s then a simple case of removing the lead and replacing it with your spod or Spomb to bait up accurately.
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Two loop hack
This hack comes courtesy of the hauling machine that is Tom Maker. When you’ve tied your big loop for the loop-to-loop method, tie another, much smaller loop in the end. This makes undoing the loop an absolute doddle when you want to switch from lead to Spomb and back again.
The smaller loop sits up almost like a tag and it’s easy to grab and pull to open up the larger loop. Much quicker than faffing around trying to unpick a tight knot! It’s such a simple hack, yet one that slashes the amount of time spent faffing about at the start of a session... and it causes far less disturbance too!
To switch between your lead and your Spomb, all you have to do is pull lightly on the small loop which sits proud of the lead/Spomb attachment. No more bent nails or damaged braid trying to unpick the knot!
How to tie the two-loop leader
STEP ONE:
Double over 8ins-10ins of braid at the end of your reel line.
STEP TWO:
Tie a large figure-of- eight loop and trim off the tag end.
STEP THREE:
Tie a 1" figure-of-eight loop at the end of the big loop.
STEP FOUR:
If tied correctly, this is what you should be left with. A large loop and a small loop.
STEP FIVE:
Switch from a lead to Spomb by pulling the small loop.
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