Product Review - Gemini Splashdown Solo’s

I first tried these about a year ago after they were suggested to me by a friend who used the integrated splashdown sinker.  I had a problem with pulley rigs unclipping just as I cast causing the bait to helicopter, losing distance and harming bait presentation. 

Like many good products these are well engineered and well manufactured. Put the hook into the slot, pull down at the bottom and the hook is firmly locked in place. Once cast the pressure from hitting the water pushes the bottom back up releasing the hook. I have used this clip many many times over the last year and have never had a single cast unclip inappropriately or fail to unclip correctly.  And whilst I am a modest caster at the best of times using the Gemini Splashdown Solo immediately put 10-15 yards on my cast due to the extra confidence my rig wasn’t going to unhook. They now go onto every single snood clipped rig I make intended for light or medium ground; bombers; pulleys; up and over.  I tend not to use them over the rough stuff as I like my rigs to have minimal snag points and, though reasonably priced at £2ish for five, when reusing over and over again they could prove pricey if going through 5-10 a session fishing heavy ground for cod or the like.

If I had one suggestion it would be to make an additional bigger size as occasionally it would be nice use them on a rig with 5/0+ hooks which are a bit big to fit.

My opinion is that for any single snood clipped rig they are the business.

 

A wee while in Wormit

All week I'd been starting out the window at work at the lovely sunny blues skies and wishing I was off fishing. With things not to busy I decided to take a half day and pop over the rail bridge for an afternoon on the Fife side of the Tay. My plan was to fish most of the tide up and was soon as the chosen spot about 2 hours after low. The usual set up one big rod out far and the bass rod in close.

Soon after I had the first to two casts out and was busy chopping some baits up I heard a funny noise behind me and turned to find a fairly big swan had come up to give me the once over. A fairly comical 30 mins ensued as I tried to shoo it off and it kept coming round the back off me and nicking bluey I'd cut up to re-bait. Beautiful thing to see up close but made me a bit nervy when spreading it's wings and hissing at you. I finally got it to go away by chucking a few bits of bait as far as I could to my left. It was a photogenic beggar but I was happy to see it head off as I knew the first hour or so I was there was probably the best chance of catching and I'd been missing bites left right and whilst doing the swan dance.

A quick re-bait and the bites were still coming fast and often on the close in rod. I missed a couple of rod folders as I was still keeping too close an eye on swany who was still hanging around just not up close and personal. I was starting to think it was going to be one of those days. Next cast I put into the votex behind a boulder that was just about to be covered over by the rising tide. No sooner was the rod back in the tripod when bang bang fish on, finally! Quite fun on light braid and a bass rod, but this one was coming in and after a wee struggle a lovely bar o silver came in. Happy days no blank. A quick photo and back to the murky Tay it went.

I was there another 2.5 hours and moved to a few different spots but not so much as another nibble. Still it was a really cracking day to be out and not at work, but  still no smelt, so will be back soon.