Bob Baldock Polyball Rig

Designed back in the early 80's by the late Bob Baldock, this has now become one of the most popular ways to present livebaits, worms and leeches in stillwater situations. It offers great flexibility in that you can fish a bait just below the surface (dictated by the length of the hair) and just off the bottom when tightened right down to the lead, and of course anywhere in between. This rig tends to last a little longer on waters where dumbbell rigs have been used extensively and the cats have started to wise up a little. By inserting a chemical night light into the top of the poly-ball it allows you to be able to see if the bait is still working during the night which can be a great help if you’ve had some sort of interest and worried that either your bait is dead or has been stolen.

Construction is very simple. Create a standard running leger rig, using a stiff mono hook link of 50lb plus and a hook matched to bait size. Once the rig is built, tie a length of stiff mono (thinner diameter than your hook link) to the eye of the hook and push a 3-4inch length of silicone tubing over the eye of the hook. This creates a small boom and ensures your bait kicks out from the mainline. On the tag end of this length of mono attach a poly-ball of your choice, matched to size of bait, distance you will be fishing at and weather conditions. Everybody has their own version of this rig and there isn't a right or wrong way to make it - as long as it works for you!

Rig rattles can again be used and placing a clip on rattle next to the silicone tube often works well. Be warned though, rig rattles can be real pike magnets on waters with plenty of jack pike present. Simply cast, boat or winch the rig into position tighten down to the lead and then pay line out so you are confident it’s all running nice and smoothly right up to the surface. If this is where you intend to fish then fine, if not then wind line back to the desired depth and stop.