Surf rig

[castlemaine]

Hi All
Did a session at Perigian Beach on Australia Day.
Had a problem with my running sinker rig though. 9lb mono main, bean sinker, swivel, 9lb 12 inch mono leader. The leader kept twisting up the main line with every cast.
Any suggestions?
Small Dart and very average whiting at your feet; nothing in the deeper part of the gutters were biting if they were there.
Cheers

[Kiwifisho]

sometimes tying a swivel to short length of line and attaching your sinker to it and then feed your main line through the top of the first swivel and then tie another swivel on and add your trace with hook so that running rig will pull free when sinker is on bottom hope this makes sense

[Moonlighter]

Yes, use 2 swivels, with the sinker between them. I would use a longer leader too, and keep it the same strength as the main line. For whiting and dart i would go lighter say 6lb.

The following advice is from the Alvey website - very food info here:

A small brass swivel, when properly used, is a very inexpensive and efficient way of keeping a fishing line in good condition. Besides side casting, curls and twists can appear in a line from many causes. These can be quickly alleviated by the correct use of a swivel.
The swivel must be on the line, above any rig or attachment to the line. That is, the first item on the line, after it passes through the rod runners is a swivel. It must be as small as practical.
Suggested swivel and line combinations:

• No. 14 swivel – up to 5kg line
• No. 12 swivel – up to 5-8kg line
• No. 10 swivel – up to 8-15kg line
• No. 8 swivel – up to 15-20kg line

While the sizes may seem small to some fishermen, they are manufactured from a brass wire with a diameter in excess of the diameter of the nylon monofilament to which they will be matched, and consequently have a far greater breaking strain than the line.
Many Anglers use a mistaken theory that a large swivel will perform better, however, in practical use it is just the reverse. When light lines are matched with heavy swivels, there is insufficient strength in the line to cause the swivel eye to spin freely, and a build-up of twist occurs in the line.
Similar trouble exists when the swivel is fouled with seaweed or sand, or has been allowed to become corroded and hard to turn. Using a swivel under the lead sinker as a stop on the line will also restrict its action, and this rig should be avoided, unless a second swivel is attached to the line in a workable position.

[castlemaine]

Thanks Guys,

Never had this problem when using old stiff 12lb mono. Seems lines have a smaller diameter these days.

Will give the two swivels a go.

But won't the fish shy away when it feels the resistance on the sinker?

Will check the Alvey website too.

Cheers