The "Ultimate" Balloon float for Swording.

[ReelIntubaiter]

Mike (Fili) and I have been trying to develop or improve on the flotation devices used in Swording. I normally use a balloon with a lightstick on the top. Mr. Swordy picks up bait and usually comes to the surface allowing the ballon to "flip" indicating a pickup. At times the balloon may be too far to witness the "flipping" or it may be moving with the waves or acting "funny" therefore not being entirely sure if there's a pickup. I've also tried different types of "sponge bobs" and milk jugs but I remained totally unsatisfied. I believe we came up with the ultimate "balloon float": here's a Photo:


I use opaque helium grade 12" balloons from Party city. I tape a GREEN lightstick to the top of the balloon with Clear packaging tape. Clear so it won't block the light. I also tape a 1 oz egg sinker right next to the green glowstick. I then tape a RED glowstick on the undersurface of the balloon right next to the nipple. Under normal circumstances the green upper lightick will be visible. When Swordy pick he bait up the balloon flips due to the added weight by the sinker. Now the green is underwater and the red stick is on top and CLEARLY visible. We saw this work like charm Wednesday night on three occasions. There was ZERO doubt when the fish picked up the bait. GREEN= No fish.... RED= Fish ON!
Give it a try. So far this is the easiest and clearest way of setting up a balloon float. Tightlines. Any Feedback? Al.
PS. Mike, you can move this to the rigging thread if you feel it's more appropriate. Thanks.

[FinalPoint]

Good stuff! If you wanna spend the short time to do it, it is not a bad idea at all.

[swordfish123]

i like it, a lot. nice work man im definatly going to switch to that.

[SFLMAN]

How are u making the connection to your main line.Do u use floss with a rubber band?If so how is it done?

[Shark Tagger]

thats a great idea!

As for attaching it to the line, use telphone wire to break away on to some floss or a rubber band. Small rubber bands work great

ST

[cogzwell]

looks good. I always have difficulty trying to determine if a fish is playing with a bait. I get a bit lazzy and often do not check my bait.... especialy at 300 -- 400 ft. I will start using this method.

Risk Taker has a some type of homeade bober that works well also.

Thanks man!

[Venice Tunaman]

Thats perfect.

Will only take a few more seconds to rig up and might even cause some bait to gather around the balloon...

[Freejumper]

Originally Posted by Venice Tunaman

Thats perfect.

Might even cause some bait to gather around the balloon...

Can you imagine some bait gathering around your ballon!! That should really increase your chances!

[StetsonLaw23]

Great idea, will give that a try!

[JahMussa]

Great idea.

[ReelIntubaiter]

Originally Posted by SFLMAN

How are u making the connection to your main line.Do u use floss with a rubber band?If so how is it done?

SFL, I have loops made with rigging floss at 100 ft intervals up to 400 ft. I tie a size #32 rubber band on to the balloons nipple, pass it through the loop and tie it back on the nipple. I'm not sure this is the optimal way to do this but I know it works. The only complaint I have is that the rubber band sometimes gets stuck to the loop and is wound onto the spool. I later have to let line out in order to remove the rest of the rubber band. I don't like telephone wire since I've heard that the wire can cut through the line. But I know Capt. Dean Panos uses telephone wire and he's one of the top guides. Any other ideas?

[hannaman]

With phone wire I insert the tag end through the balloons knot as I pre-make them, about 2 inches through and twist about 5 or 6 times, then I take the other tag end of the wire and give a couple of twists onto my floss loop as I'm deploying each rod. Basically never a probem, just don't over twist, 3 is usually the # and is easy to rip off when it comes to the rod tip. 90% of the time the wire will pull off the mainlines floss loop when a fish takes it down. If it's rough waters I will make another twist in the wire.

[ReelIntubaiter]

Originally Posted by hannaman

With phone wire I insert the tag end through the balloons knot as I pre-make them, about 2 inches through and twist about 5 or 6 times, then I take the other tag end of the wire and give a couple of twists onto my floss loop as I'm deploying each rod. Basically never a probem, just don't over twist, 3 is usually the # and is easy to rip off when it comes to the rod tip. 90% of the time the wire will pull off the mainlines floss loop when a fish takes it down. If it's rough waters I will make another twist in the wire.

Thanks Cappy! I'll give it a try.

[J.P Freeman]

that is pretty awesome. i will have to give it a try.

[AkaUrDad]

All that damn work for a float. You guys like wasting your time out there, huh?

[RiskTaker]

Hey Al:

That is a pretty novel idea. The added weight is a great enhancement as well.

I do believe that you have come up with a solution that is rather slick and there should not be too many objections with the method since it is still a break-away style of balloon.

A while back I was rigging up 93 oz. bleach bottles with a fiberglass tickle stick which pretty much accomplished a very similar result.... The stick was plenty top heavy enough (when using a 2 lb. weight) below that it would flop over into the water when the weight tension was relieved. You could still see a little bit of light when it flopped over but it was no longer waving at you. The nice thing about the stick concept was that it elevated the cyalume about 2 ft. above the water. So when using a green cyalume you could see this light waving , even if it was sent out 200 yds. or so.

The only problems or objections was that it was a permanent attachment using a long-line clip AND some boat captains didn't lke me bringing the paraphenalia on their boat. (But so far I have not experienced anything bad from this concept, except that you must pause to unclip the jug when it comes in. Solo is awkward but with assistance about 3 seconds. Although that seemed like a pretty good idea, I have seemed to gravitate back to using balloons for the most part. I will have to consider using the dual cyalume idea too. Although I still like to use one of these bobber thingies for the far line, when it is authorized gear on a guest's boat.

Feedback. Great job, Al and Mike for working it out. The only additional comments I have for your balloon idea is to attach your green cyalumes on the bottom side, so that green is up if the balloon flops. The reasons for this is because the green cyalumes are usually the brightest color of the cyalumes. You will have a bright light in the water to attract fish. For me the other combinations of red, blue or white cyalumes are not as bright, all night. So when you see a brighter green anywhere: that translates to Green = GO, go get that fish. RT

Sales have not been too brisk on that supper bobber thingy, so I think that you are onto one of the better methods.

Are you getting your cyalumes for less than $1.75 retail? since you are now using two at a pop now.

[ReelIntubaiter]

Originally Posted by RiskTaker

Sales have not been too brisk on that supper bobber thingy, so I think that you are onto one of the better methods.

Are you getting your cyalumes for less than $1.75 retail? since you are now using two at a pop now.

Hi RT, I put the green on top since it's the brightest and most easily visible. Obviously you can use any combination of color schemes which best suits your needs. As far as the price of the glowstick....I was paying the usual retail price but I recently ordered some glowsticks (the larger 6" and thickest) from an eBay store. They sell 50 glowsticks for $.64 each ($26.95 + $5.00 shipping). I'll report on the quality when I receive them which should be soon. These are not expired sticks which I have seen up for bidding. Here's the link if your interested.
http://<a href="http://search.stores...arch</a><br />
You also commented on the sale of the "super bobber thing". Who's selling this bobber? Any description or photos?
Thanks for the feedback, Al.

[RiskTaker]

Hey Al:

I was just joking about the sales being slow. Nobody sells these jugs commercially, except for the super-markets, especially when they settle in the contrarian camp. Although you my be able to procure a few from, Island Time Spirits, a/k/a my tackle shack. http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/g...g/112_1237_IMG Perhaps we can hook up some time for a Peces Espadas Expedicion and I can set you up with one of those super bobber thingies for an experimental run on the far side.

I haven't been out lately due to the bombardment of wind events and keeping majorly busy at the day job which I want to keep.

Kevin K told me that you can get the generally popular cyalumes (foil wrapped) for about a $1 at a dive shop somewhere down by Bass Pro in Dania. I haven't found the place yet, so I am still on the typical retail plan about $1.75 - $2.00 per cyalume.

I'm sure you can get them at a good price by the case, but it is always nice to continue to support your local tackle shacks by picking up a few things on an ongoing basis.

[hannaman]

I've got them for .95 each Check out my small shop.