Bite Alarms for dead bait fishing with open bail

[Fritz]

I am looking for a bite alarm.
In the last months I fished mostly for eel, zander, perch and asp using small roach as bait.
As these species can be very suspicious I fish always with the bail open and for bite detection I use a droparm indicator (Fox).
That works fine and I got two big asps, but I do see sometimes a bite late, especially if it is getting dark or if I am distracted.
That’s why I am looking for bite alarms. I think the best bite alarm while fishing with open bail are Delkims (Vibration Sensing). I have to say I never owned a Delkim or a good bite alarm. I had 2 very cheap bite alarms (10€ each) for a while, but bite detection (open bail) and quality was not good.
I am thinking of buying 2 bite alarms, but I am not sure which.
Maybe Delkim TXI-I plus, or Delkim ev, or the new TXI-d.

Is there any good alternatives to Delkim for fishing with open bail?

 

[ukzero1]

Delkim would be my first choice for those conditions, but also look at the Prologic SNZ's. The Nash Siren S5's are also good.

 

[Yuccaman]

Depends what you want. If you are JUST looking at a dead baiting alarm, then I'd go for Billy's backbiters. They are (IMHO) THE alarms for piking.

 

[Markywhizz]

To some extent all bite alarms require a bit of tension to operate so if you have the bail arm open you will still need a dropper of some sort IMHO. In the textile industry we used to use optical sensors to detect a running line but I’ve never seen them for fishing.

 

[ukzero1]

To some extent all bite alarms require a bit of tension to operate so if you have the bail arm open you will still need a dropper of some sort IMHO. In the textile industry we used to use optical sensors to detect a running line but I’ve never seen them for fishing.

I would have thought that if free-lining then you could tighten up a bit to the bait (maybe I'm wrong as I'm not a predator angler). But why an open bail arm? If you use a bait-runner then the bite will still be detected by the alarm.

 

[Yuccaman]

Backbiters are designed for exactly this reason...

 

[Yuccaman]

I would have thought that if free-lining then you could tighten up a bit to the bait (maybe I'm wrong as I'm not a predator angler). But why an open bail arm? If you use a bait-runner then the bite will still be detected by the alarm.

There is a widely debated belief that pike are sensitive to any kind of pressure on the bait, so open bail arm with a drop arm indicator is fairly standard practice to minimise it. Some people will say that it is a change in tension, others that it doesn’t matter. Personally I’m somewhere between the first 2; I’ve certainly had enough occasions where I’ve done something like flick a baitrunner off accidentally (when fishing a river and open bail arm isn’t always an option) and not struck quickly enough on a run after I’ve done it and a pike has dropped a bait instantly to believe that they don’t trust a change in tension

 

[ukzero1]

There is a widely debated belief that pike are sensitive to any kind of pressure on the bait, so open bail arm with a drop arm indicator is fairly standard practice to minimise it. Some people will say that it is a change in tension, others that it doesn’t matter. Personally I’m somewhere between the first 2; I’ve certainly had enough occasions where I’ve done something like flick a baitrunner off (when fishing a river and open bail arm isn’t always an option) andnot struck quickly on a run and a pike has dropped a bait instantly to believe that they don’t trust a change in tension

Thanks for explaining that. As stated, I'm no predator angler but what you said certainly makes sense.

 

[Fritz]

Does someone has experience with the new Delkim TXI-d?

 

[Fritz]

@Yuccaman
Yes, I looked as you recommend at Billy’s backbiters and they look like very good quality and very good function, but at my fishing spot I can not use banksticks and have to use a rod pod (an old solar sod pod - awesome quality) due to stoneground at the banks.
I am not sure if I can mount the backbiters on my rod pod.

 

[Yuccaman]

I've never seen them on a rod pod, but I've just looked on the website, and they do sell a rod pod adapter - you can always contact them on the website too.

Rod Pod Adaptor – Billys Backbiters – Puka Alarms for Puka Pikers

www.billysbackbiters.com

 

[AdeR]

Fox make a sell a bracket so you can use drop off alarms on a pod.
Drop off alarms are the best option , avoid alarms that have a roller as the line skates over them when there is no tension and you may not get a audible warning.
FOX RAGE PREDATOR BITE ALARM INDICATOR ADAPTER STEM PIKE FISHING ACCESSORY 5055350273579 | eBay

 

[Fritz]

Fox make a sell a bracket so you can use drop off alarms on a pod.
Drop off alarms are the best option , avoid alarms that have a roller as the line skates over them when there is no tension and you may not get a audible warning.
FOX RAGE PREDATOR BITE ALARM INDICATOR ADAPTER STEM PIKE FISHING ACCESSORY 5055350273579 | eBay

Thanks! I am still not sure if I will use Billy’s Backbiters or a normal droparm indicator and front bite alarms. The rod pod adaptors are fantastic (Fox and Billy’s)
Do you know which other bite alarms beside Delkims are without rollers?

 

[AdeR]

Thanks! I am still not sure if I will use Billy’s Backbiters or a normal droparm indicator and front bite alarms. The rod pod adaptors are fantastic (Fox and Billy’s)
Do you know which other bite alarms beside Delkims are without rollers?

No sorry I cannot help there , I know fox did a model some years ago , they also did drop off alarms .

 

[spittlebug]

Hi, tried a few ways to make rollers work, with some success.
But ended up with Delkims, like most do.
Did buy one of these for middle rod drop off, when on a pod (when needed).

Rod Pod Adaptor – Billys Backbiters – Puka Alarms for Puka Pikers

Don't fancy Billies, but some do like em.


Bob

ps Some old Fox Alarms had vibration on roller.
ET still sells a billy like alarm.

BACKBITER FAMILY | Eddie Turner | Specialist Pike Tackle

Plus another chap who does tackle, Norfolk Broads area i think, does a billies type.

 

[spittlebug]

Hi, Broadland Rods, sells Rods, various Alarms etc.

Broadland Rods


Good stuff supposedly.

Bob

 

[Fritz]

Today I tried something new which I did not know before that it will actually work.
I mounted the Solar Titanium Long Arm on the buttrest and it worked very well. This is a very versatile product! I do not know why we Germans do not produce such good fishing tackle. We have very good cars and mechanical engineering, but producing good fishing tackle is in my opinion neglected.