One to avoid methinks.

[Trampster]

Was pushed for time yesterday, and since I had to go to a local tackle shop for Bait, I thought I would pick up a couple of Rigs. Normally tie my own, but in the interests of saving time etc. I was thinking of a couple of Flapper rigs, but also in the back of my mind was "Go big or go home" to avoid the usual Pout fest at the mark we were heading to.

The tackle shop only had one 1/0 hooked flapper rig in stock, and the guy in the shop said "Try one of these, but be sure to check the knots before you use it, as one Guy recently lost a large Huss". Alarm Bells! It was a 3 hook rig with Feathers & 5/0 hooks usually used with Bait. Made by a company called WSB Tackle, based in Redruth, Cornwall, who are trade only wholesalers. Anyone else had dealing with their rigs?

Anyway, went home and took the rig out of the packet and was totally shocked. The rig body was about 4ft, no mention of the breaking strain, and it was made with a loop at either end, which didn't look tight so I gave them a good tug. The 3 snoods and hooks were each attached to the main body by passing the snood through an overhand knot in the mainline, and tying 2 Granny knots in the snood to prevent them pulling back through!

Never seen anything so cheap & nasty, and I'm surprised that particular tackle shop was selling such crap, even though the guy (employee I guess) had said check it! The overhand knots on the rig body were already working loose, and one snood had released itself as I removed the rig from the packet.
I stripped the rig down, tied 3 small figure of 8 loops in the rig body and re-attached the snoods to the loops. Moistened all of the knots whilst pulling them down tight, and all was well until I tried to pull the bottom snood tight. The hooks were spade ended and snelled knotted to the snoods. As I pulled the last knots tight, with very little pressure, the snood pulled away from the hook.

Won't be buying anything branded WSB tackle again! Incidentally, the flapper rig was branded Koike and was very well made, so thumbs up for that one.

Lessons learned: Best to always tie your own rigs, and if you do buy pre-made ones, check 'em thoroughly before you get to the mark! ??

 

[J Richards]

Shocking how they can sell stuff like that…. Someone could easily be killed

 

[John Mitchell]

Was pushed for time yesterday, and since I had to go to a local tackle shop for Bait, I thought I would pick up a couple of Rigs. Normally tie my own, but in the interests of saving time etc. I was thinking of a couple of Flapper rigs, but also in the back of my mind was "Go big or go home" to avoid the usual Pout fest at the mark we were heading to.

The tackle shop only had one 1/0 hooked flapper rig in stock, and the guy in the shop said "Try one of these, but be sure to check the knots before you use it, as one Guy recently lost a large Huss". Alarm Bells! It was a 3 hook rig with Feathers & 5/0 hooks usually used with Bait. Made by a company called WSB Tackle, based in Redruth, Cornwall, who are trade only wholesalers. Anyone else had dealing with their rigs?

Anyway, went home and took the rig out of the packet and was totally shocked. The rig body was about 4ft, no mention of the breaking strain, and it was made with a loop at either end, which didn't look tight so I gave them a good tug. The 3 snoods and hooks were each attached to the main body by passing the snood through an overhand knot in the mainline, and tying 2 Granny knots in the snood to prevent them pulling back through!

Never seen anything so cheap & nasty, and I'm surprised that particular tackle shop was selling such crap, even though the guy (employee I guess) had said check it! The overhand knots on the rig body were already working loose, and one snood had released itself as I removed the rig from the packet.
I stripped the rig down, tied 3 small figure of 8 loops in the rig body and re-attached the snoods to the loops. Moistened all of the knots whilst pulling them down tight, and all was well until I tried to pull the bottom snood tight. The hooks were spade ended and snelled knotted to the snoods. As I pulled the last knots tight, with very little pressure, the snood pulled away from the hook.

Won't be buying anything branded WSB tackle again! Incidentally, the flapper rig was branded Koike and was very well made, so thumbs up for that one.

Lessons learned: Best to always tie your own rigs, and if you do buy pre-made ones, check 'em thoroughly before you get to the mark! ??

Good job you checked it before using it

 

[Trampster]

Good job you checked it before using it

Agree, and I probably wouldn't have done if the guy in Rob's hadn't mentioned it. ??

 

[Ianpick]

If I'm beach fishing, even close in, I use a minimum of 70lb bs for rig body and shockleaders, 80lb most of the time.
The fact that the bs of the rig wasn't stated would be a red light for me and a knot in the rig body reduces its bs by 10lb or as as well, as I understand it.

I always make my own rigs and feel l build them well enough reduce the risk of an accident to the minimum.

What you've described is potentially lethal.
I'd definitely talk to the tackleshop owner about them.

 

[Trampster]

If I'm beach fishing, even close in, I use a minimum of 70lb bs for rig body and shockleaders, 80lb most of the time.
The fact that the bs of the rig wasn't stated would be a red light for me and a knot in the rig body reduces its bs by 10lb or as as well, as I understand it.

I always make my own rigs and feel l build them well enough reduce the risk of an accident to the minimum.

What you've described is potentially lethal.
I'd definitely talk to the tackleshop owner about them.

I normally make my own too Ian, usually similar to you, using 60 or 70Lb for bodies & shockleader. Using Conti rods, I never use more than 4oz Leads anyway. I take your point about speaking to the shop owner, but since it was a member of staff that tipped me off about checking the rig before I used it, I'm pretty sure they are already aware. Whether they do anything about it or not is another matter.

I also discovered that WSB Tackle have a website. Supplying trade only, they also have a lot of own branded Rods & Reels on there, probably all generic crap imported & re-branded from China.

Home Page

Did a bit more digging - WSB was sold in 2018 to a company called Gloveman supplies - a Company with no previous experience of the fishing tackle industry.
Oh Dear! WSB have got a Twitter account - they have been told about their terrible quality & potentially dangerous product!

 

[Mr Fish]

I normally make my own too Ian, usually similar to you, using 60 or 70Lb for bodies & shockleader. Using Conti rods, I never use more than 4oz Leads anyway. I take your point about speaking to the shop owner, but since it was a member of staff that tipped me off about checking the rig before I used it, I'm pretty sure they are already aware. Whether they do anything about it or not is another matter.

I also discovered that WSB Tackle have a website. Supplying trade only, they also have a lot of own branded Rods & Reels on there, probably all generic crap imported & re-branded from China.

Home Page

Did a bit more digging - WSB was sold in 2018 to a company called Gloveman supplies - a Company with no previous experience of the fishing tackle industry.
Oh Dear! WSB have got a Twitter account - they have been told about their terrible quality & potentially dangerous product!

WSB used to (and I assume still do) fairly cheap hooks that were okay in a pinch and sometimes I’d buy them rather than the extortionate tackle shop prices for 10 Sakuma or whatever, if I hadn’t got around to doing a bulk order.
The hooks were adequate but tended to lose their point quickly.

Otherwise, a lot of their stuff I’ve seen looks of dubious quality!

 

[Tatunka joe]

But these are the only rigs I use ???

 

[Wolf]

That's why I tie my own rigs & make sure I've got plenty ,a mate of mine had the same sort of problem with wsb rigs as you did ,he now ties his own !!!!

 

[Trampster]

WSB used to (and I assume still do) fairly cheap hooks that were okay in a pinch and sometimes I’d buy them rather than the extortionate tackle shop prices for 10 Sakuma or whatever, if I hadn’t got around to doing a bulk order.
The hooks were adequate but tended to lose their point quickly.

Otherwise, a lot of their stuff I’ve seen looks of dubious quality!

Agree, and since they were bought out by a company that specialises in Rubber gloves & Cleaning products, I think it's going to go even further downhill! ??

Home Page

Gloveman Supplies Ltd have been supplying healthcare, sanitising and hygiene products to businesses across the UK for the past 18 years.

www.gloveman.co.uk

 

[John Mitchell]

But these are the only rigs I use ???

Is that the reason you don’t catch

 

[Tatunka joe]

Is that the reason you don’t catch

I’ll ave a fish off with you anytime jhon bey ??????

 

[John Mitchell]

I’ll ave a fish off with you anytime jhon bey ??????

Bring it on , lrf or lures ?????

 

[Trampster]

Bring it on , lrf or lures ?????

Nah - Boat would be more productive! ??????

 

[John Mitchell]

Nah - Boat would be more productive! ??????

Not boat don’t do boats , ???

 

[Tatunka joe]

Bring it on , lrf or lures ?????

I’m not flicking sex toys or tiddler fiddling jhon that’s the end of it ???????‍?‍?‍

 

[John Mitchell]

I’m not flicking sex toys or tiddler fiddling jhon that’s the end of it ???????‍?‍?‍

Ok mate , I will pop up your way sometime when the hounds come in

 

[Tatunka joe]

Ok mate , I will pop up your way sometime when the hounds come in

Feck that come Seaton coding 12 lber off there last week ???

 

[Topwater]

Last time I saw a WSB clearance list it included crablines and pond nets (bamboo canes and a 6in circumference net of sorts on a wire). Tat dealers not tackle dealers I'd say, just as you'd expect from a seaside stall selling to holidaymakers

 

[GPSguru]

Made by a company called WSB Tackle, based in Redruth, Cornwall, who are trade only wholesalers. Anyone else had dealing with their rigs?

Yes, and I don't deal with them !

I have never seen anything good or quality from them.