How to choose slingshots for fishing: varieties
To bait fish in areas with a distance of more than 30 m, it is more convenient to use special slingshots. They are divided into two large groups:
- slingshots, which are used to throw crumbly feed,
- slingshots, with the help of which various bait balls of greater weight are thrown.
Another interesting way to cast boilies is Cobra tubes. Their advantages are the range and accuracy of boilie throwing. You can get acquainted with these throwing tubes in the article “Cobra for boilies”.
Several useful tips
A slingshot (or a slingshot) is a universal tool for catching an underwater predator. You can use a slingshot in snags, as well as in the presence of aquatic vegetation. It is in such places that the predator hides, waiting for its potential victim. The technique and tactics of slingshot fishing allow you to fish precisely those places where it is not possible to use a spinning rod. The fishing mechanism is as follows:
• to fish hard-to-reach places you will need a straight stick, about 3 or 4 meters long. The slingshot should be tied to the end of the stick using a rope. A rope no longer than 0.5 m is suitable for this; • a slingshot, like a girder, involves the use of live bait. Only freshly caught live bait that has good activity is suitable for this. To catch live bait, you need to take with you a device for such fishing, since a bulky float rod can injure a small fish, and it will not live under water for the required time; • small fish of any type can be used as live bait: redfish, small perch, raft, rudd. As a last resort, you can catch a small frog, the pike will not refuse it either; • then the required amount of fishing line is unwound from the slingshot and fixed in the cut; • live bait is baited on a hook on the upper lip or behind the back, in the area of the fin. If the slingshot is installed in the current, then it is better to attach the bait to the upper lip, and if in still water, then it can be attached to the back. Moreover, it must be fastened carefully so as not to damage the spinal muscles; • after this, the bait is carefully lowered into the water, and the stick is secured on the shore. If there is a pike in the place where the live bait was dropped, then soon you will be able to rejoice at the catch; • pike in the river can be found in floodplains, on sand spits, snags or at the border of water and dense aquatic vegetation; • lake pike can be hunted in thickets of reeds or reeds, in shallow water or in places surrounded by aquatic vegetation; • many fishermen tie the slingshot to an empty plastic bottle, closed with a lid, and let it float freely. It’s not difficult to see a pike bite, just as it’s not difficult to fish it out later, especially if you have a boat.
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Slingshots for small feed
Slingshots of this category are used for baiting fish in the upper water horizon.
When choosing a model, you should pay attention to the elastic band and cup. Due to the fact that you will have to hold the slingshot in your hand for a large amount of time, also take into account the shape and size of the handle, which should be quite comfortable. The casting distance depends on the thickness of the rubber. The thicker the elastic, the further you can launch the prepared food. It is advisable to be equipped with several slingshots with different rubber bands.
The best shape for a cup is cone-shaped. The cup should not be too hard, otherwise the bait will simply fall out ahead of time.
Slingshots for bait balls
Slingshots of this type are more popular, and their range is wide. With elastic bands the situation is similar to the previous one: the thicker the material, the further you can throw. With cups it's a little more complicated.
By and large, there are two types of cups: the same cone-shaped and mesh baskets. Slingshots with bowls of the second type are more convenient and effective, since the bait balls are well held and are not crushed. Models with mesh baskets are suitable for casting both large balls and small “sausages”. Cone cups are suitable for starting feeding using a large number of small balls.
As a rule, the handles in all slingshots in this category are quite comfortable. But be sure to pay attention to whether the elastic band is securely attached to the base. The optimal method of fastening is when a pair of pins protrude from the handle, onto which the ends of the rubber are pulled. If necessary, you should press the rubber with clamps so that it does not fly away along with the bait during casting.
How to properly make a slingshot for pike?
Let's look at some of the secrets of making a slingshot for pike with your own hands. You will need a blank in the form of a branch with a straight split from wood species such as willow or hazel. Experienced fishermen use these trees because they have fairly smooth wood, from which the line will easily come off when bitten. In addition, they make a straighter tackle, from which it is easy to remove the bark.
When the desired workpiece is found, it is necessary to remove the bark and dry it. It is best to dry the future slingshot not in direct sunlight or in the oven to avoid cracking, but in a well-ventilated place in the shade. The slow drying process will last a week. If the spears on the workpiece are located at too large an angle, then it can be reduced while the wood is raw. The ends of the spears must be compressed until the desired angle is formed, secured with a rope, and only then dried.
Read more
Catfish fishing gear
The next stage is the direct assembly of the gear. To prevent the fishing line from slipping on smooth wood, it is necessary to screw wood screws or small screws into the spears, leaving a small distance from the fork. It is not recommended to use nails in this case, as they can split the slingshot and render the workpiece unusable.
If it is important to insure the tackle against splits, then before screwing in the screw, first drill small holes of a smaller diameter, and screw self-tapping screws or self-tapping screws into these holes, then the rods will definitely not crack.
To secure the fishing line in the butt of the slingshot, cut out a groove, tie the fishing line to the fork with a strong fishing knot and wind it around the slingshot in a figure eight. When the line is completely wound, put on a sliding sinker and secure the leash with a swivel. It is best to use high-quality and small trebles, as they do not alarm or scare away the pike.
The workpiece should look like a slingshot, with the most correct, symmetrical shape possible
Hunting and sporting slingshot bow
Main types of hunting slingshots “SlingBow”
SlingBow - this mysterious and cute name, in fact, hides a throwing weapon, where rubber bands act as elastic elements. It can be extremely similar to compact compound bows, but for the most part they are nothing more than slightly improved slingshots of our childhood. Only they do not shoot balls from bearings or pebbles, but real arrows, and are intended mainly for hunting. Fans of survival practice may well call them “combat slingshots” - there is actually no difference (see the article “Combat crossbows“)
The top photo shows an almost complete analogue of our slingshot-arrow throwers, otherwise known as “slings” (well, that’s what we called them). Here the arrows, or more precisely, the darts, have a hook in the area of the tip, which holds the cords. Once upon a time we made them from electrodes with a special hook cut, but now, as you can see, this is a completely industrial product.
By the way, the top sample itself is positioned as “Powerful Hunting Tool Sniper Slingshot Folding Catapult Wrist Fishing Broadheads,” that is, “A powerful wrist-mounted sniper slingshot-catapult for catching fish” (!) and costs 35.99 USD.
Below is a more sophisticated and sometimes even “tactical” version of such a device. A lot of similar products are sold on Aliexpress or eBay.
In the photo below we see a slightly different approach, largely borrowed from compound bows. Some of these hunting slingshots are equipped with bows, known as “hairy” or Whisker, and bow sights with several “pins”. Tension and retention of the cords, as well as the shot itself, are carried out using a release.
The author of this creation, called “Falcon Slingbow,” Randy Rathlin is far from a teenager. And his weapon is quite adult, the tension force is 18 kg, or almost 40 pounds. According to the generally accepted classification among bowhunters, this is exactly the minimum level for hunting bows. Moreover, for individual “amateurs”, whom we can hardly imagine, the author produces perfect monsters with a force of 90 kgf! But even if we are talking about pounds, then with such a “slingshot” the enthusiast would quickly find himself in the friendly arms of his respective comrades.
Types of slingshots
Depending on the type of bait, a slingshot for fishing can be of two types: for light food and for bait mixtures. You should choose a suitable model based on the type of bait.
For fine or crumbly feed
It is used for throwing feed consisting of individual particles that do not crush into a dense mass: maggots, pellets and others. Such products are equipped with cups that hold a small amount of complementary foods.
You can throw it at a distance of up to 20 m, since the cup of such a slingshot is made of lighter material, and the elastic band is much thinner.
To make the complementary feeding process more effective, it is recommended to include several slingshots with elastic bands of different lengths in your mandatory set of fishing tackle. This way you can distribute complementary foods over a larger area.
For bait balls
The bait ball is a small dense lump that is formed from a viscous feed mass. It is useful to use them for the first feeding in a new place or periodic supplementary feeding. Slingshots for bait balls are equipped with large round cups. They are made of hard, heavy rubber - this allows you to strengthen the throw and increase the casting distance.
The cup can be solid or mesh. The solid one has a slightly convex bottom, it is heavier and larger. It is inconvenient to use: the ball can stick to the bottom, and the accuracy of the sight will be lost.
The mesh cup gives better results. It can be used to throw several small balls and large balls. The elastic on such a product should be short and thick, otherwise it will not support the weight of the cup, and the bait will crumble.
Ponds on Srednyaya Rogatka are a great place for fishing and recreation
Thanks to its convenient location near major highways and metro stations, getting to the Srednyaya Rogatka area will not be difficult. This can be done both by public transport and by private car. It is located in the south of the city, between the Moskovskaya station and the Zvezdnaya station.
The park is located south of Victory Square, between Pulkovskoye and Moskovskoye highways. Look for the Srednerogatsky pond in the southern part of the park, and the large pond in the eastern part of the park. When you go fishing for the latter, you will truly enjoy contemplating the tranquil beauty of the temple complex located on the shore, which includes three churches, a chapel and auxiliary buildings.
How to make a slingshot for fishing with your own hands
A homemade slingshot is not inferior to a store-bought one in terms of quality and efficiency and will exactly match the fishing characteristics of the selected body of water. In addition, the materials for it are much cheaper.
To make a slingshot, you can use available materials. The hardest part is making the handle. A branch with a fork, rods from old rollers or thick wire are suitable for it.
The main thing is that the handle is comfortable, and the ends of the spear are the same length and thickness. If wire is chosen as the material, it must be bent several times and wrapped with electrical tape on top - this will make the handle stronger.
In addition to the handle, to make a slingshot for fishing with your own hands you will need:
- rubber catheter or strong elastic band;
- insulating tape;
- thick fabric or leather;
- scissors;
- strong thread.
For the first product, it is best to choose a cup-basket. It is easy to make and suitable for any type of complementary feeding. First you need to cut out a blank for the cup from the selected material.
It should be no more than 10-12 cm in diameter, otherwise the finished structure will be too bulky. You need to cut two holes along the edges of the workpiece at the same level - the elastic will be attached through them.
A piece of elastic no more than 0.5 m long should be cut in half. Place one edge of each piece into the hole and tie it with a tight loop, attach the second to the top of the spear using electrical tape. The edge of the elastic band, fixed in the cup, can be additionally secured by tying a knot with thread.
The resulting product should fit comfortably in your hand. The length of the two pieces of elastic must be the same, otherwise you will not be able to make a throw. Making a slingshot for fishing with your own hands is a simple process, but it requires care and precision.
Secrets to increasing your fishing performance
Usually, to attract the attention of fish, as well as to increase its appetite, fishermen resort to all kinds of drugs. Biologically active components that activate fish bite are called pheromones. At the moment, they are still on the market, although there is already talk of banning products containing pheromones.
See also: TROUT - THE TROUT EVERYONE DREAMES ABOUT
If a fisherman cannot find a slingshot of the correct shape, then he can cut it himself, making a much larger fork shape. During drying, its shape can be adjusted. The forks are adjusted in this way: the ends are carefully tied with a rope and left to dry. After drying, you can begin installing the gear.
In order for the fishing line to be securely fixed to the slingshot, you need to screw a small screw into each slingshot. You should not drive nails into the slingshot; they can split it, thereby ruining the workpiece. When screwing in the screws, it is best to drill one small hole in the slings.
Using a small groove, you can secure the fishing line more securely. Typically, a fishing line is used for a slingshot, the diameter of which does not exceed 0.5 mm and the length is from 5 to 10 meters. It is permissible to use a nylon cord instead of a fishing line; in this case, you can be absolutely sure that there will be no fish escape.
After the fishing line is secured, it is fixed on the spear in the form of a figure eight. A narrow cut is made at the end of the spear to secure the end of the fishing line.
Finally, the tackle should be equipped with a sliding sinker and a leash with a tee. The size of the tee must be selected depending on the size of the desired prey. It is best to make a leash from a durable material that can withstand the compression of a predator’s teeth.
Having completed all the above manipulations, first familiarize yourself with the nuances of using a slingshot, and only then go fishing.
