Bite Alarms For Pike

[Anderoo]

SNAP !

 

Double-snap!

[Andy Macfarlane]

Fox Micron 'M's have done me proud for years. They don't come with all the bells and whistles but really, I've never thought for one second that I was using inferior alarms and the batteries last for years...literally. Used in conjunction with the Fox Swinger, you can't really go far wrong. Set up properly with good banksticks (I use the Dinsmore Power Drives) you can sit in a heavy gale without listening to your alarms.

 

 

 

[Guest tigger]

Fox Micron 'M's have done me proud for years. They don't come with all the bells and whistles but really, I've never thought for one second that I was using inferior alarms and the batteries last for years...literally. Used in conjunction with the Fox Swinger, you can't really go far wrong. Set up properly with good banksticks (I use the Dinsmore Power Drives) you can sit in a heavy gale without listening to your alarms.

 

 

 

The Dinsmores Power drive banksticks really are good. Have you tried to pull them out after you've screwed them in?

You have to screw them back out again or risk pulling your back. As you say Andy there pretty much windproof and bombproof.

[noodle996]

the new swingers have a line gate on and its not adjustable so they open quite easily when thers a bit of tow.

One lad on a recent pac region 31 fish in gave up as he couldnt keep his line in the clip for more than a few mins plastic clips held line all day those of us that had changed the plastic clips to stailess ones managed about 30 mins bfeore the tow and weed popped the line out

[Andy Macfarlane]

I was using 50lb PowerPro braid, which is pretty thin, clipped into both, the old plastic and stainless line clips yesterday and it was blowing a proper gale. Neither popped out so I would suggest the folk who were having bother haven't tightened their clips sufficiently. If anyone does have bother, they can quite easily pull the line clips out and attach the plastic Gardener adjustable line clips, which are superb. Solar do good stainless line clips also or you could always go for the original kirbie grip and bead line clip, which is also pretty efficient.

I like the idea of line gates for some applications but I don't think they'd be much use up in the Highlands. It's a wee bit wild.

[noodle996]

my stainlee sclips are the solar and as tight as they would go with 50lb sensor the action of the tow and weed build up made fishing nigh on impossible

 

to be honest when 3.25 rods are behaving like little bomb rods at the tip end perhaps i was asking a little much fishing into a cross wind but i think the new line gate type ones although good for dropbacks are useless once any wind picks up

[Houseplant]

controversial i know, but when i feel the need to use an alarm, i use a micron m with a fox (carp) swinger and the baitrunner engaged

 

you're all going to tell this that this is going to cause dropped runs. it hasn't for me, in fact, i can't remember the last time i had dropped run. however, i don't fish hard-fished waters and would humbly suggest that if you're getting a lot of dropped runs, it might be time to give those pike a rest.

[Steve Burke]

Noodle, are you using the Fox Pike Swingers or the ordinary carp ones?

 

I haven't seen the new Pike Swingers and so can't comment on these. I use the old model, and like Andy replaced the clips with Gardner ones. What I didn't say in my review is that I put the clips on the top of the foam rather than at the end, as it's easy to just push them in and secure them with superglue.

 

I'd add that my preference is for Good Fishing alarms that are very similar to Fox ones. In fact the Fox MX seems to be exactly the same spec as the Good Fishing GFs except that it uses a different battery - and costs a lot more. Both are excellent choices though.

 

The Fox Pike Swinger doesn't hit your bankstick when it drops off, and I like to put a box underneath it - you can't miss the sound it makes!

 

Talking of banksticks I prefer those from King's Angling Supplies on pits as their strong and ultra-thin brass points find their way between the gravel. In fact, they're the only aluminium banksticks I've not managed to bend! They're excellent on many waters, but if you fish just on clay a screw point like the Dinsmores that Tigger recommended is also first rate. For my review of the King's banksticks go to http://anglers-net.co.uk/reviews/king01.htm

Edited December 11, 2007 by Steve Burke

[Guest tigger]

to be honest when 3.25 rods are behaving like little bomb rods at the tip end perhaps i was asking a little much fishing into a cross wind but i think the new line gate type ones although good for dropbacks are useless once any wind picks up

 

 

If you set your rods up with the tip under water you may find you don't get the problem of your line being pulled out of the gate/ clip in rough conditions.

[noodle996]

well i was using et backbiters but i have the pike swingers and cant say i like em that much (stainless clip and all)

 

setting the rod tips under water fishing a 45-50 drop off wouldnt make much difference really

sorry i know it would on some waters but the difference it makes in the lakes is minimal your line just goes down anyway