bait pumps

[topbanana]

has any one used a bait pump and are they any good?

[Lavy]

Thats all we use around here now . We make our own out of a length of 22mm copper tube. These work much better than the big stainless type , it is easy to get 100 or so worms in half an hour once you have got the knack.

[Lavy]

Just thought i would post a few pics in case anyone wants to make their own.

The inside shaft is 8mm stainless and is 1 meter long the t piece is 16mm stainless and is 100mm long ,the other end has a 6mm thread 15mm long . The washers that create the suction are 2 x 15 mm tap washers with another one made from silicone in the middle. these are sandwiched between 2 stainless washers and held in place with a 6mm nyloc nut,this is also used to set the suction. Above these there is a 100mm length of 8mm bore plastic tube to stop the whole lot from pulling out of the top of the pump, there is also another piece below the t to stop it going too far the other way.
The body is made of 22mm copper tube (could use stainless but it must be seamless) with a 22mm compression tee fitting . In the top of the tee is a blanking piece with an 8mm clearance hole drilled in it for the shaft to run through.
These are used by all the proffesional bait collectors around here and i dont suppose they will thank me for this , but hey.

[topbanana]

cheers richard couldnt u use just a bit of 6mm stud for shaft or do you have the shaft specially made and is it just silicone sealant inbetween tap washers cheers richard,lee

[Lavy]

You need to use 8mm bar so that when you make the thread it creates a small shoulder for the top 6mm washer to rest against oterwise the washers would be free to move up and down the shaft. also you need to be able to tighten the nut to sqeeze the tap washers against the inside of the tube.
The silicone washers are made by filling a short offcut of 22mm tube with normal silicone sealant and letting it set ( dont try to do too much or you will have to wait for ages) .Im quite lucky in that i have a mate who makes the shafts for me at work but any engineering workshop should be able to make you one quite cheaply.

[topbanana]

is the handle welded to the shaft and couldnt you put a nut on the studbefore the first washer?

[Lavy]

Sorry about slow reply on 12 hour night shifts at mo and no internet access. The handle is drilled in the middle and then welded at the top only and ground off. If you welded it underneath the weld would be very uncomfortable on your fingers. The problem i can see with studding are that it would probably not pull very smoothly through the blanking piece in the top of the pump

[topbanana]

cheers richard,think ill get one made,do you know any good places to collect worms

[Lavy]

Hi Mate,
My mate from work makes them and advertises them locally , dont know if he would post one to you . His name is george and his number is 01424 851134.
We usually go to pett level or bexhill , both near hastings. I dont know how far that would be for you but everyone there uses these pumps.As i have said there is a knack to it and the best way to learn is by watching others. When we go to pett we usually put a rod out as well , the fishing can be quite good there over low water.

[topbanana]

cheers richard might give him aring if i cant make one,nothing worse than ringing the tackle shops to order bait and they aint got none,do you pump directly over the cast,and whats the best way to store your worms,also richard is it anygood fishing the beach at hasting as every time ive been down with the family beach is covered with dead crab and fish,ps wheres pett level and big thanks again richard,lee

[Lavy]

Hi Lee, Pett level is about 5 miles to the east of hastings, the fishing here can be exellent but at this time of year things are starting to get a bit slow . Best spots are just east of the harbour arm and at the new church in st leonards. When you are pumping for worms start about 6" away from the cast and angle the pump towards it ,when you pull the handle do not allow the pump to pull too far into the sand. The ideais to intercept the worms burrow and bring the worm to the pump not take the pump to the worm.

[Lavy]

Forgot to mention keeping them. If you are fishing next day they will be ok in a bucket of clean sea water. For 2 or 3 days time , gut them and wrap them in dry newspaper and keep in the fridge. We also freeze a lot wrapped the same , strange thing is they seem to outfish fresh ones a lotof the time when plaice fishing from the boat, dont work so well off the beach though.

[topbanana]

how do you gut them richard,thanks lee

[solehunter]

Lay them flat and run your finger up them causing them to burst all their guts (nice). Personally, i don't like the idea of using bits of skin on a hook, so salting them guts and all is a great option.
Also, some say you don't need to gut to freeze anyway.

[topbanana]

how do you salt them,sorry but if you dont ask you dont get