rotten bottoms, necessity or not ?

topbanana

Well-known member
When fishing heavy ground I always use a rotten bottom, an upside down genie clip. However I know some very good anglers seldom use them. So what's people's take on this, I'm intrigued.

cheers.
 
I never use them, A lot of the time you can pull out of a snag and still have your hook, lead & fish attached, Using rb's you will more than likely lose your lead every other cast even in the lightest of snags
 
me to

me to

When fishing heavy ground I always use a rotten bottom, an upside down genie clip. However I know some very good anglers seldom use them. So what's people's take on this, I'm intrigued.

cheers.
personaly also use them myself, even over semi rough ground.like your self had many a fish out minis lead thanks to rotten bottom system.but there again say 30-35lb straight threw somethings got to give.imo why lose the lot when rottom bottom in theory should do a better job.TIGHT LINES.hahaha.mr DEAN
 
Rotten bottoms all the time for me, never leave landing a fish of a life time
to the flip off a coin, ill try and stack the odds in my favour.
If my hook snaggs, theres a damn good chance there aint a monster cod
hanging off it !!
 
Worth remembering that more often than not it is your hook that gets snagged not the lead ;)

Sorry but have to disagree, I have lost a lead way more times than I have lost a hook, chances are a fish of a lifetime has more chance of running into a snag than a small 5-6oz lead has, just my opinion
 
depends

depends

I never use them, A lot of the time you can pull out of a snag and still have your hook, lead & fish attached, Using rb's you will more than likely lose your lead every other cast even in the lightest of snags
ok, so say you have 30lb r/b then say 40lb hook trace,what should give first? why take the risk for as quoted for a lead .think this threat is a case of is black better than white,but we all know red @ white wins all the time GET IN.
 
In Daniel willis's st abbs report he said that he used 50lb straight through, to a 3-way swivel with a 50lb hook snood and 30lb to the weight.

I like the sound of that system - if the hook snags, it's gonna bend out before anything snaps, and if the lead snags, youve got a good chance of pulling it out, but if it is stuck fast then the 30lb should snap. (if the swivel snags I suppose the main line will snap at the swivel).

Ive already loaded my slosh 30 with 50lb line and will be giving it a try for myself this weekend.
 
ok, so say you have 30lb r/b then say 40lb hook trace,what should give first? why take the risk for as quoted for a lead .think this threat is a case of is black better than white,but we all know red @ white wins all the time GET IN.

I use 40lb straight through on rock marks, 30lb rb isnt exactly weak and will take some snapping but to answer your question common sense says the 30lb should give first but it all depends on knot strength or if the hook bends out etc etc, Im intrigued to know exactly how many of you have caught a fish of a lifetime through using a rb?
 
I've just started using them on my last session but I was wondering if anyone uses a stronger one with something like 40lb mainline 70lb shock leader with 25/30lb on the weak link. Just cos it didn't take much pull to snap the lead off. Or would the bs being closer together risk loosing the lot anyway.
 
I use 40lb straight through on rock marks, 30lb rb isnt exactly weak and will take some snapping but to answer your question common sense says the 30lb should give first but it all depends on knot strength or if the hook bends out etc etc, Im intrigued to know exactly how many of you have caught a fish of a lifetime through using a rb?

Had a few doubles on rotten bottoms
 
In Daniel willis's st abbs report he said that he used 50lb straight through, to a 3-way swivel with a 50lb hook snood and 30lb to the weight.

I like the sound of that system - if the hook snags, it's gonna bend out before anything snaps, and if the lead snags, youve got a good chance of pulling it out, but if it is stuck fast then the 30lb should snap. (if the swivel snags I suppose the main line will snap at the swivel).

Ive already loaded my slosh 30 with 50lb line and will be giving it a try for myself this weekend.

this method saves using a rotten bottom clip so a little saving plus 30lb is good enuff for a weak link in my eyes but the hooks i use wont bend out there strong as fook. most of the time in snags the weak link snags but if the hook snags im normally left with my swivel the sensor i use must have better knot strength and its very rare for a snap in the main line... only wen its been frayed by rocks.

give this method ago its simple to tackle back up and as cheap as ul get

tight lines
 
Always use a R/B in the rough. Had a 9lber and lead was hung up, snapped and got fish in, has happened countless times with fish around the 5/6lb mark. 20lb rotton bottom, usually pulls out of most snags. Also change my weak 20lb link every 5 casts or so, or if frayed, as the abrasion will weaken it. Change the link regularly and you will save a lot on leads. Isn't worth losing a fish of a lifetime for a lead as has been said.
 
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