Terry Lomax wrote:
I would be reluctant to use a device that keeps live bait on a hook
even if someone gave me the device. The main reason: I'd suspect the
fish would be turned off by the retaining device. They might not
bother to bite when they see the device, and if they do bite, they
might quickly get spooked by the unnatural feel and bad taste of the
device.


First, thanks for your thoughtful answer, and you are correct, I would
think, but this was addressed in this design, this is so small, that
throughout testing it should no reluctance of the fish to hit it, even
bass attached like normal, you would have to look very hard to notice it
with the baited hook in your hand, you would have to be looking for
something different, just a glance you would not even see it,

In an old tackle box originally belonging to my grandparents, there's a
device intended to keep minnows on a hook without being stolen. It's a
mesh container. Haven't used it, figuring the mesh would reduce the
bait's ability to twitch along with the above-mentioned visual and
tactile turnoffs. Apparently that idea was discontinued 50+ years ago.

Worst of all, I believe the bigger the fish and the more special the
species, the more likely the fish will avoid the retaining device. A 4
or 5 inch Bluegill might not mind, but a 7 inch Bluegill that would
bite a regular hooked worm might avoid a retained one, and other
species such as Catfish or Carp might avoid the worm entirely. One
reason I use worms is the chance of something huge or unusual biting.

Again in testing, many catfish were caught, no carp, but I would think
it's just there were none there. (testing was not a 1 day affair, it was
done over two months, more than 100 man hours of fishing

When I test anything , I test it side by side a control (using what is
normally used) if I end up catching less fish on a new product, it is
dropped, if I can't correct the problem. Actually I drop new products if
they are not at least twice as effective as what's normally used. It is
impossible to license something to a tackle manufacturer if its not.

Stolen bait is a fact of life.


That is something I'm trying to change, I don't accept "you just have to
live with it" on anything, things that were thought were just a fact of
life 100 years ago have been totally eliminated today. Just because we
have always done something one way , does not mean there is not a better
way that someone can invent.

Your thinking though, is one that will be thought by many fishermen, and
one that must be over come with proper marketing, thanks for being so
honest sharing it


One way I cut down on lost worms is to
use pieces instead of an entire worm.

One bait that should be protected is chicken livers because they're
incredibly easy to steal. Have hear a good protector of chicken livers
is cut pieces of stocking/hose, then enough for the scent of the livers
to seep through.

A better, faster, and easier way is to just take 10 inches of sewing
thread and wrap the liver with it after it's on the hook, no knot is
needed, you would not think it would work , but it does



--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Long Shot "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread
Boomerang Fishing Pro. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, Decoy Activator
and the EZKnot http://www.ezknot.com