[Guest]

On the Carolina cast pro site Mr. Farmer sells his pre-made fish finder drum rigs. Can anybody tell me what the purpose is for the Rosco McMahon clip that is attached to the swivel of the bite leader? Why not tie the shock leader or mainline directly to the swivel with the bite leader and hook? Then a bead on the knot and sinker slide. Is the purpose of the clip and extra swivel to give one the ability to change hook sizes easier or change bite leaders quicker if it gets mangled? Thanks in advance!!

 

[ez2cdave]

Hi, Oister,

To me, it appears that the McMahon snap is used to allow rigs to be swapped rapidly, as you mentioned. Those could be rigs with different sized hooks, replacement of a damaged rig, or to allow pre-baited rigs to be exchanged, in order to speed up re-baiting.

Tight Lines !

 

[dawgfsh]

The Mcmahon is used as a sinker slide. we usually putt a bead on the shock, then run the shock thru the eye of the Mcmahon and tie to the swivel that's attached to the bite leader and hook. then clip on a sinker.

 

[Guest]

I See now..... that is the sinker slide. I was looking at it thinking there would be a knot and bead on the swivel with the clip and sinker slide above that. But wouldn't you be worried that the thin metal of the swivel eye would tear into the line sliding up and down? I normally use the blue heavy duty braid slides.

 

[1BadF350]

Yes, the swivel is used as a sinker slide and will not hurt your leader.

 

[DaBig2na]

Dave is an Idiot who doesn't fish! He is an Internet Fisherman

The beads protect the knots as your sinker slide move up and down you line, and also act as a Stop. Throw every one of those blue and semi clear slides away. Unless you have Dave standing to your right about ten feet away. That is if you are a right handed caster. Then use them until you run out..

The McMahon snaps are extremely strong and you can easily put your sinkers on and off. It travels up and down your shock line or the line of your rig (CannonBall/ Tommy Harris). Depending on how you like your rig set up and the fishing conditions.

We will teach you to make your own rigs and make them well. After. You go through about fifty or more a season you will know what I'm talking about. Tommy Farmer makes a fine rig no doubt but as a fisherman you'll want to make your own. Bought rigs are really expensive, combined with store bought eight ounce sinkers. I make everything up for just under $2.00 sinker included.
Sorry, I don't sell any... You'll have to find the most economical way to make your own.. If that is the route you choose.

ABU Mike gets a great deal on these McMahon snaps and makes up an order once a year if memory serves me well. I'm didn't get in on it this year and don't remember if he got one up either.

 

[dialout]

His last bulk order was a bit of a fiasco for him if I remember correctly , he may not offer to do it anymore.

 

[AbuMike]

His last bulk order was a bit of a fiasco for him if I remember correctly , he may not offer to do it anymore.

It was kinda but I may do another. I think my minimum order now is 2000 of each.

 

[Guest]

I do make my own. I Snell to the hook with 80 lb ande clear. Then I use a crimp to a swivel instead of a knot. Add a sinker slide and then a bead to my main line and Palomar knot on the swivel. I just started to use a a double crimp at the connection of the bite leader and swivel to completely eliminate any tag end because I do notice if I get a helicopter the mainline likes to catch on the tag end of the crimp. I also notice that the main line sometimes tangles on the dura lock snap that comes on those sinker slides. The McMahon snap looks like it would help in eliminating that as it has nothing to catch on. I probably could get away with one crimp and cut the tag end flush but I always worry that if it slipped a little I would lose it all.

 

[Guest]

 

[1BadF350]

Many of us do not use the plastic sinker slides because of their tendancy to fatigue and weaken, increasing the likelihood of an accident on the pier.
I used to use them too until i was set straight.

 

[DaBig2na]

You got the right idea... One crimp is sufficient as long as you are using a good set of crimpers. You will need the 1.0 double crimps for 80#.
Shorten up your bite leader to about 2 inches.. Use a 100# barrel swivel for your slide and get rid of those damn blue things.. The metal snaps are fine to use on the above mentioned 100# swivel to connect your sinker to.

 

[dawgfsh]

Put the bead on the other side of your sinker slide so it stops on the shock knot. Prevents the sinker from coming up the main line and tangleing with other lines around you.

 

[1BadF350]

I use a bead on both sides of the sinker slide

 

[SteveZ]

I probably could get away with one crimp and cut the tag end flush but I always worry that if it slipped a little I would lose it all.

I'm a bit anal but when I crimp I put a wee drop of super glue on the line or leader and slide the crimp over it. Then I can cut the tag end flush. Have never had a problem.

 

[AbuMike]

I use a bead on both sides of the sinker slide

Really not needed on the swivel side. The swivel on the sinker slide will go over the knot and not really bang on it.

 

[1BadF350]

Really not needed on the swivel side. The swivel on the sinker slide will go over the knot and not really bang on it.

Youre right, but old habits are hard to change. Makes me wonder if the bead on the hook side is actually worse than no bead.

 

[Tommy]

Wow

I guess it's good to see my rigs getting press...lol

Oister, you have been given correct (mostly) advice here. The McMahon clip holds the sinker and the attached swivel serves as the sinker slide. Shock leader runs through the swivel eye (end not attached to McMahon clip) and is tied to the short hook bite leader swivel. One bead goes above the slide to prevent the sinker from backing up past the shock knot (source of MANY "point" tangles), sinker below is optional. I use one below, many fishermen do not. IF you choose to use a nylon slide, USE THE HEAVY DUTY BLUE ONE, the lighter one will split and send your payload straight down the beach. I prefer to keep the whole package as compact as possible and the McMahon serves that purpose very well.

Tommy

ps, I can supply the Mcmahon/swivels to those that want to tie their own.

 

[Guest]

Ok thanks. I always wanted to try just a swivel with a dura lock snap but I thought the swivel eye would cut into the leader hence having the plastic sleeve for the line to run through. I only use the heavy duty slides but hate the dura locks. Eventually I will get a helicopter and it always catches on that snap. I will switch to them McMahon snaps because obviously they are stronger but also less chances of tangling. I have shortened my bite leaders to about 6 inches a few weeks ago on the new rigs I tied. That leader in my pic was from an old batch that was easy to access that morning for a pic.

 

[DaBig2na]

Shorten your bite leaders unless you want it to keep looking like a Helicopter coming in for a landing
Below are what they should look like. I've included J-hooks as well as Circles

Sinker slides should look like below picture. The left and the center are the most economical and cost me about nine or ten cents..also extremely strong
. The one on the right, is one of some ABU Mike shipped me 2015 season. i can't remember the exact price but much more expensive