How to use the Flying Collar Rig

The Flying Collar Rig was developed to solve the problem of quickly getting a lure on a long flowing trace down deep from a slowly drifting boat, without the trace tangling around the mainline on the drop.

The essential component of the rig is a simple wire construction known as a flying collar boom.

Devotees of this system will tell you that a wire boom is preferable to the tubular plastic versions that are available, as it will flex less than the plastic version on the drop, and therefore be more successful in keeping the trace away from the main line.

Properly assembled into the flying collar rig, a 10 inch to 15 inch (250mm to 400mm) should eliminate tangles around the mainline.

Incidentally, if there's a chance you could get hung up on a wreck or rocky sea bed you should think about putting a 'rotten bottom' (a short length of weaker line) between the lead and the link on the boom.

OK, you'll loose your lead but there's a good chance you'll recover everything else.

What it looks like...

The sketch shows a wire boom version used with an artificial sandeel, but it could equally have been a leadhead, a shad or a jelly worm.

And although not shown here, it's worth tying in a barrel swivel halfway along the trace. This will allow and twists arising from the lure spinning on the drop, to unwind.

The break in the trace is intended to put over the idea that the trace is much longer than shown - 20 feet (6m) wouldn't be excessive.

How to use it...

To use it from a slowly drifting boat, lower the whole shebang until you feel the weight touch bottom (or the wreck), then knock the reel in gear and slowly wind in around twenty turns or so.

No takers? Then drop it back down and do it again. When you do feel a bite, don't strike, just keep winding. If the fish had just grabbed the tail of the lure it will take another gulp - then you've got him!

Some anglers attach the lead to the flying collar boom with a weak length of line - a rotten bottom - so that if it does get hung up, you'll not lose the lot.

A practice generally discouraged by tackle dealers - there's nothing cynical about me!