How it Works During Setting and Retrieval
The running float dropper rig will work on dropper rigs of all sizes and there is no change required to the existing tackle except for the addition of an extra float bottle the same size as the one you normally use.
Simply attach a short cord to the handle of the extra bottle and tie a seaharvester clip or other running clip to the other end of the cord.
THE RIG
When setting your rig attach your first float bottle to the bottle cord and add sand or water as you normally would to prevent the kite from lifting the gear out of the water.
Clip the second running float bottle on to the leader line just in front of the first weight on the hook section. Leave the running float bottle empty, as this will provide the extra buoyancy to lift the hook section during setting and retrieval.
Clip your traces on to the main hook section as per normal but put your last trace on to the spare eye on the back crossline swivel.
The back weight on the hook section on this rig then goes on to the clip where you normally put your back trace. Only a very light back weight should be used on this rig.
For example, the 65kg dropper rig will require only one 4 oz weight on the back of the hook section at most. The Flexiwing rig will require no more than one 2 oz weight on the back.
SETTING THE GEAR
As the running float dropper rig works better at faster setting speeds it pays to wait for a steady gust before you let the gear go out.
As the gear moves out the running float bottle will move down the leader line until the sea-harvester clip comes up against the front crossline swivel and weight.
This action lifts the baited traces and hooks off the bottom and they are towed out mid water until the mainline reaches the desired distance offshore.
Once the ratchet is put in place on the reel the gear stops moving and the running float bottle will run back up the leader line to the main float bottle as the hook section drops to the bottom.
In lighter winds it may be useful to put a lifesaver lolly cats-pawed (the same as fitting a triangle type clip to the mainline) into the leader line to hold the running float bottle in position until the gear is well offshore. See Diagram Inset
RETRIEVAL
When the gear is hauled back in the running float runs back to the front sinker and as long as the gear is hauled in steadily the hooks are lifted are retrieved midwater.
BREAM BAY
Undoubtedly, Bream Bay is one of the best east coast winter kitefishing spots close to Auckland. Occasionally this area suffers an onslaught of a red seaweed, which at times can make kitefishing difficult at best and impossible at worst.
The weed is known by kitefishers in the area as red sack weed. While this weed does not put the fish off the bite it can wrap around the mainline, traces and hook section so thickly that it makes setting and retrieval very difficult and can hide the bait from the fish.
When thick patches of this particular weed are encountered it can take kitefishers up to 3 hours or more to retrieve their longlines and clean the weed from it.
This year the weed seems to be hanging around longer than usual and has been reported as being patchy from the South Head of Whangarei Harbour down to Te Arai Point on Pakiri Beach.
Unfortunately those kitefishers using longline rigs or kontiki fishers can do little to prevent the problems caused by the weed. Kitefishers using dropper rig however can all but eliminate any of these problems.
The attached diagram shows a running float dropper rig designed to keep the hook section mid water and above the weed during setting and retrieval.
This rig will ensure that no matter how thick the weed is your baits will be set the required distance offshore and will not be smothered in large amounts of weed. |
