Ajing in strong currents, part 2

I am currently trying a new way of fishing around Nogama, in Amakusa.

Previously, at “T Island” in Amakusa, I used a sinker I had developed myself. I even gave it a name: Weightless Sinker Tangsten, or WLST. It uses tungsten; “weightless” refers to the idea of a sinker whose weight does not feel like a load.

A homemade sinker

To give a simple idea of what it is like: you know the S-Carry sinker from 34? I did not copy it, but mine is similar.

To my eye, the WLST is considerably more refined, and looks better too. You can make one yourself. In fact, I had been making things along the lines of the S-Carry for some time.

Instead of 34’s clip swivel, I use just a swivel, keeping everything tidy. I find that this also means fewer line tangles.

34 uses the clip swivel to make attachment and removal easy. This is where making something yourself has an advantage: you can choose a simple arrangement with fewer complications.

I imagine the big manufacturers have all sorts of difficulties to contend with. A wonderful idea can end up as a compromise product. It must be hard to operate outside the mainstream of capitalism.

Does that mean homemade tackle has an overwhelmingly bright future? Well, that depends on your ability.

There is always the danger of simply pleasing yourself, too. Even so, if the catches are overwhelmingly better—which is not something that happens very often—then that is sheer joy.

At any rate, I enjoy it.

Beyond the usual rigs

Now, what I am using around Nogama is a different rig. A Carolina rig might catch fish there too. A few, perhaps.

But if your pride gets in the way of using something ready-made… yes, there are other possibilities.

I think this is where a truly interesting world begins.

A jighead on its own, an ordinary split-shot rig, the other familiar arrangements: there must be plenty of people who are not satisfied with those alone. I am one of them. Probably quite a few of us.

The pleasure of trying

Thrills, adventure, new discoveries—and invention, if we can get that far. That would be wonderful. But it takes an exceptional willingness to keep trying.

The rewards can be vanishingly small. Even so, having something that makes you want to carry on is rather good.

Then, after effort upon effort… one day, an idea works. Perhaps.

That is the dream I want to make real. Wonderful—if it comes true, of course.

Although perhaps it can be rather wonderful even when it does not.

And that includes the part where the dream does not come true. Personally, I like that too. Ha!