[paulstewart]

hi guys
wondering if any could offer advice on the best way/and material to make a thumb strap for casting with a multi?
or are the ian golds ones worth buying?
thanks
PS

 

[Haggis Tosser]

Used bike inner tube for years; until... I discovered beer mats, the tough neoprene type. Use the rubber side down with the neoprene side touching thumb, absolutely superb and dont wear out like the inner tubing. I nicked one from a pub in wales 2 years ago and still using it. Mine was a John Smiths!

 

[Dan-arneil]

Just use a strip of rubber like a bike inner tube

 

[ade]

in this months sea angler it shows a person using one of them rubber thimbles

 

[smudge2]

One of the best materials for this job is rubber pond liner.

 

[Bootster]

For me it's inner tube until I lose it and then revert to my emergency stash of marigolds. They don't last too long, but just cut off a finger and it's a good back up!

 

[Ajohn]

Try a roll of fabric sticking plaster especially when fishing. Just wrap a bit round your thumb. It will stay in place, doesn't get in the way of doing anything and as it will get filthy it can be simply thrown away after a fishing trip.
Why mess about with all sorts of rubber things? A roll of sticking plaster doesn't cost much and will last a fair time. It's also useful for fixed spool users when using high inertia casts. Any sort of plaster is ok for that. It works a treat.

John

 

[Ravelling Tangler]

somewhere on this site (could be casting, could be tackle discussion) someone recommends blue cricket bat handle rubber. says it doesn't mark the mono like inner tube does (though I think someone said spool must be slipping if black rubbing off on leader).

Is fabric sticking plaster the type that's not wterproof (doesn't have any plastic in it) ?

 

[seancodbod]

Tape a strip of inner tube below the reel seat and you will never lose it.

 

[Ajohn]

Yep. The surface looks a bit like bandage.

John

 

[lewis888]

somewhere on this site (could be casting, could be tackle discussion) someone recommends blue cricket bat handle rubber. says it doesn't mark the mono like inner tube does (though I think someone said spool must be slipping if black rubbing off on leader).

Is fabric sticking plaster the type that's not wterproof (doesn't have any plastic in it) ?

The blue cricket bat material is very good :fish:

 

[dabhanded]

why do you want thumb strap for
john

 

[paulstewart]

to get a better grip on a wet spool.
just trying something new - i didnt use one before, but had a couple of slips at loch etive on last trip, resulting in less confident casting.

ordered a couple of the ian golds casting straps so ill give them ago.
PS

 

[Ajohn]

The other problem is that shock leader knots have been known to rip open peoples thumb and make a real mess of it. Feathering the spool can be a bit uncomfortable to.
The usual answer to the shock leader knot is to make sure it's well to one side but some form of thumb protection is always a good idea with all high inertia long distance casting.

John

 

[daznewland]

the ian golds ones are good but a inner tube is just as good

 

[mintos]

I use exactly the same setup as seancodbod, for fishing and tournament casting, I like the inner tube as well, but some go for a strip of cricket bat handle rubber.

 

[Ravelling Tangler]

if you use a "thumby" don't make the mistake I just did - had the Mustad finger cover (chamois/rough leather on side nearest spool, elastic on the back of my thumb) and decided when lead was about a hundred yards away to 'feather' the spool so I wouldn't have so much to wind in.
the thumby covered too much of my thumb to get bare skin against the metal (spool rim) and I inadvertently gently pressed the material down onto the mono - boy what a birdsnest !
knife job ! Worst backlash I can remember getting for a decade or two . LOL !