Booby Beads (USA: Snap and Rattle Beads)

Booby Beads, also referred to as Rattle Beads, have been around now about 5 years, and like anything innovative it's often difficult to get anglers to initially try them. This was originally the case with the Booby Beads. But 5 years on, those that did try them have come to rely on their effectiveness and this good word has slowly spread to other anglers.

DESIGN FEATURES
It's long been known that distress signals and noise from bait fish attracts bigger predators to their prey. The Booby Bead uses this weakness to great effect putting vibrations in to the water for a predatory fish to locate via its lateral line. It brings into play a third sense beyond normal sight and smell location.

The rattles are a simple round, hollow plastic sound chamber hinging in to two halves. The halves are moulded together in the open position and require only light finger pressure to snap them securely shut.

There is a hollow tunnel running through the flat side of the body that takes lines from 50-60lb, but for smaller diameters the kit contains a short length of plastic tubing that, once cut to length, requires the ends to be flared with a cigarette lighter, then this is placed inside the hollow tube in the body before the two halves are closed. The flared ends then keep the tube retained inside the closed body.

The "rattle" comes from small ball bearings that are supplied as part of the kit and are placed inside the open sound chamber prior to closing. Tidal currents and the buoyancy created by the air trapped inside the chamber keep the bearing on the move at all times. The sound in water is not actually a rattle, it's more a muffled "tick", but it's consistent and acts like a homing beacon.

They come in a range of colours including black, yellow, red, white and silver, and there are 12 bodies in a pack which retails for £3.99.

HOW TO FISH BOOBY BEADS
The key to the beads being effective is the distance you mount them in front of the lure or bait. I've found a distance about 9 inches away to be best. Put them closer and they seem slightly less effective, likewise further away, but experiment on the day.

You can use the chambers, either as a single body, or clip two full bodies together side-by-side to give a twin rattle effect. Fished 9 inches in front of a Redgill on a flying collar rig they have proved devastatingly good, equally so fishing in front of baits for cod in coloured water when uptiding and for normal ledgering for rays, tope, huss, dogfish, flatfish and gurnards. What's more, they are reusable time and again.

They work well with pirks over wrecks attached above the pirk on the main line, onto feathers for mackerel and pollack, fished in front of spinners and plugs, and on float tackle. Shark anglers will also find them a useful addition to their shark traces when float fishing whole fish baits, but use a double bead and place it 3-feet above the hook for maximum appeal.

It's not only their rattle either, for their vivid colours act as a double attraction to flounders and plaice. Try placing three or four separate beads of different colours in-line about 9 inches above a plaice bait and fish a long trace on the drift.

REVIEW CONCLUSION
At the risk of being accused of bias, I admit to having fished with Booby Beads since they first came out. I'm a fan! I've used them in just about every possible fishing situation you can imagine, boat, shore and rock.

I reckon I've caught over 30 different species on a variety of rigs now with Booby Beads added. If I'm cornered, then I'd say they are at their best for cod, bass, whiting, plaice, huss, tope, sharks and gurnards. My catch records show me that these are the species that take rigs with the beads added best, but I'm being deliberately selective.

The Booby Bead has a habit of increasing your catch when compared to other anglers fishing close by and working identical rigs and baits without the beads. In a nut shell, it gives you an edge!

MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER
For more information and current stockists contact.....

Stayfresh UK
The Boat House
Halton-on-Lune Nr Lancaster,
Lancashire
LA2 6LR
Tel 01524 811184