Bait dropper.

[Richard Isaacs]

When I was a young lad at school I made a bait dropper out of an old tuna tin. Did a great job and served me well.
I was gonna pick up another one from the tackle shop last week as my 2oz dropper which is used on every nene fishing trip the hinge has broken. I’ve come to the conclusion nothing really serves the exact purpose I want from a dropper nowadays. The hinges are usually crap the dropper itself is usually steel and fully loaded it’s heavier than the weight at the bottom meaning it doesn’t always go in feet first and overall they tend to be pretty naff things. Even the dinsmore things ain’t that good anymore. I’ve a lovely little work shop at home with some nice toys so it was time to make one again after all these years.
It has to be as small as possible but have the capacity to hold 3-4 broken 20mm boilies.
The body must be light yet substantially hard wearing. Not steel or plastic.
The weight at the bottom must be much heavier than the fully loaded dropper.
Just finished it after work this evening
It just needs a coat of paint.

The body is 2mm wall aluminium, lovely and light and strong

The shaft and lower weight are solid stainless steel which will see this thing always hit the water feet first

The hinge is off an old broken zippo lighter nicely made stainless steel and strong.

Can just about get 4 broken boilies inside it so perfect.

 

[Rhys Perry]

That looks unbreakable!

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Hope so.
Being aluminium I was able to get away with thicker gages and still keep the weight down.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

AFew holes in the door, a lump of rubber on the back and a swivel to hook her up and she’s ready to try out on the river.
Hopefully tomorrow night.

 

[Joe Winstanley]

I want one!

Tidy work Richard. Should you feel the urge to fire up a production line I would gladly buy one of you...

 

[Jon Young]

Looks the business that does mate

 

[Dave Bartell]

You know what to do Richard, there's a cottage industry beckoning !!!
Something to do when the rivers are unfishable and a willing market on here.

 

[Terry Simner]

Now this is what I call a dropper ..... (but yeah, I'll buy one too Richard!)

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Now this is what I call a dropper ..... (but yeah, I'll buy one too Richard!)
View attachment 8948

Yeah that’s a proper one for sure.
No good for me mind.
I’m fishing rivers where 1 maybe 2 fish might be present (usually doubles if they show up) and I simply pop out a few free offerings for them but not much.

 

[Terry Simner]

Yeah that’s a proper one for sure.
No good for me mind.
I’m fishing rivers where 1 maybe 2 fish might be present (usually doubles if they show up) and I simply pop out a few free offerings for them but not much.

Yep, appreciated. I think your version is a true work of art. Only 'snag' is, I'd be scared of losing it in the river

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I’d be more scared of losing yours
Those large dinsmore droppers are a good few quid.
Mines only cost me some aluminium tube and a bit of bar I had laying about.

 

[Clive Shipman]

Here is a Fox Impact Spomb I have converted that sinks like a bait dropper but flys through the air lovely.

 

[Derek Funcks]

Count me in when production commences please Richard.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Sorry to disappoint gents but production isn't commencing.
I simply wouldn’t have the time to start making lots of them.
I may do a few more later in winter. We shall see.

 

[Rhys Perry]

Has anyone else tried these? I bought one the other week, used it once, seems ok but not sure if it's much better than just chucking a big feeder in.
https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/preston-wire-bait-up-feeder

 

[Vince Maddock]

Here is a Fox Impact Spomb I have converted that sinks like a bait dropper but flys through the air lovely.

Clive,

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would appreciate details of your conversion so we may do our own?

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Just got down to the river
2 x dropper fulls each containing 3 boilies broken in half. It works an absolute treat completely emptying its contents on the bottom.
Best thing about it is the way it actually hits the water. It’s so heavily weighted on the end of that shaft it hits the water like a bullet making nothing more plop on the surface

 

[Dave Bartell]

Yeah, go on Richard, rub it in some more whilst we drool over your little Frankensteins

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Yeah, go on Richard, rub it in some more whilst we drool over your little Frankensteins

Next little project will be a quick release landing net adapter.
Those plastic Korum things are just a disaster waiting to happen. Mine will be a solid stainless steel part with a locking mechanism that can’t fail.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Oh and I made my own bank sticks a while back too. Still need painting.
The points and extending bar are solid stainless steel and the brass female thread I turned and threaded out of solid brass bar and brazed it to the stick. No poxy pins or rivets or glue.