Sawbelly Tangles!

[Biz-R-OWorld]

I know everybody has issues with sawbellies swimming in circles and causing a mess with the leader, swivel, weight, etc.......I just feel like there has to be a better wait to bait fish? Im starting to think the whole setup of hook-knot-leader-knot-swivel-knot-egg sinker-main line isnt worth it anymore. Everytime a sawbelly tangles everything up, im forced to cut everything and re-tie 3 knots and re-do the whole setup wasting valuable fishing time.  Im thinking about trying just a a main line with 1 knot to the hook.  Using 1 split shot to hold the egg sinker 3 feet above the hook.  Thoughts on this? or better yet a better way to fish with sawbellies? Sometimes I have no issues, but yesterday I was retying all day long, luckly i have 2 baitfeeder setups so i kept switching and re-tying while hooking....but man, it gets annoying.

[JulesArcher]

I've been putting another weight farther up the line so that the line that heads back up to the top is too far from the Sawbelly's swimming to reach it.

[Biz-R-OWorld]

I've been putting another weight farther up the line so that the line that heads back up to the top is too far from the Sawbelly's swimming to reach it.

Not sure what you mean? Can you describe ? Thanks!

[KenH]

Biz,
What weight egg sinker are you using?

[Biz-R-OWorld]

1/2 oz. sliding egg sinker above the swivel. Same setup I used the day you and I fished Kensico, and I dont think I had 1 tangle from any of the bellies.

[JulesArcher]

I've been putting another weight farther up the line so that the line that heads back up to the top is too far from the Sawbelly's swimming to reach it.

Not sure what you mean? Can you describe ? Thanks!

[KenH]

Cool picture! 

[Biz-R-OWorld]

Thanks for the pic, but I dont see how this would help stop the sawbelly from tangling everything up?

[JulesArcher]

Doesn't the bait tangle with the line going back up to the boat? 

If the distance between the hook and the first weight is less than from the first weight to the second weight (closest to the boat) then the bait can never reach the line to tangle. 

You must reel in a bit at first to take up any slack between the two weights.

[Biz-R-OWorld]

doesnt the belly still swim circles around the first weight causing the usual birdnest of tangles?

[JulesArcher]

doesnt the belly still swim circles around the first weight causing the usual birdnest of tangles?

No, it's sitting on the bottom.  This is assuming you're not trolling, of course.

[lionpshark]

Biz the problem with the split shot is it can possibly slide and the line tangles up because there is no swivel to allow the line to spin 360 degrees or more freely. I know its not fun but you will catch fish either way. Try both and let us know what works well for you

[Biz-R-OWorld]

Some days I get no tangles, and other days it seems like there are constant tangles.

[GenaVorn]

               Looked at this post couple hours ago-  picture dramatically changed !                                                            
                                   JulesArcher ,
    Thank you for new improved picture  , didn't know that Kensico holding  giant octopuses too 
 

                                  Biz  ,
   How do you place your rod holders ! If you put them on the back  ,bellies will  tangle the line sooner or later.
Had this experience last time I fished.Then I move rod holders on opposite sides -didn't have any problems .

  Good luck ,
                           Gena V

[Biz-R-OWorld]

I dont mean tangled with each other. I mean tangled in its own line.