Bait flags

[mikench]

How many of you dead bait fisherman routinely use bait flags on one of the treble hooks ie the one with a barb!

Are any better than others ?

 

[john step]

I never have got around to trying them. I think the theory is they attract being red. I try to use pop up deads when possible which I think are more visible. The pop up balls are red come to think of it!
Maybe others have found them useful. If so I may give them a go?

 

[terry m]

Use them for lip hookedbaits to prevent the bai5 from coming off. Live or dead. They work well as a retainer. Occasionally I may stick one 9n a treble, but not sure that it significantly increases catch rates.

 

[flightliner]

Years ago I fished a gravel pit on a syndicate ticket . Two rods out with deadbaits-- nothing!
My partner dipped his baits head only in a red dye and had two runs producing two nice double figure pike.
Not red retainers but red all the same .
Co incidence was it was the first Red Nose Day .
I never bothere to follow it up with any trial of my own but maybe something in the red colour side of things.

 

[mikench]

Thanks for your comments! I watched a vid about a deep hooked pike and the angler stated he always put a flag on the barbed prong of the trebles so that it could be readily identified as such when removing the hooks after cutting them!

 

[john step]

Thanks for your comments! I watched a vid about a deep hooked pike and the angler stated he always put a flag on the barbed prong of the trebles so that it could be readily identified as such when removing the hooks after cutting them!

Thats actually a good point. I do try to avoid that though!!

 

[daniel121]

I honestly didn't know what a bait flag was previous to this thread

 

[john step]

I honestly didn't know what a bait flag was previous to this thread

How about this for an alternative :wh although I dont think there would be many runs on them!!

View attachment 6091

 

[mikench]

I am honestly enjoying reading up on Pike even if i never catch one! I have ordered some bait tags, some long nosed pliers, cutters and forceps and a pike rod so i will have all the gear but no idea!

I am also rereading the book by Neville Fickling kindly recommended by John Step!

 

[Jimk2]

There's 2 reasons why I use a bait flag, 1 when using live baits I put the flag over the barb to keep the fish on the top hook, 2 when I'm using semi barbed traces to identify the barb in which to put into the dead bait. They don't have to be fancy, I've used elastic band pieces before.

 

[mikench]

I've ordered some!

Santa is bringing a pike rod!

 

[Jimk2]

That's good to hear, Do you know what rod Santa chose?