Question
Dear Dave, Why are the seeds not sticking to my Bogey?
Answer
The following information will solve your problems allowing you to maximise the full potential of this unique product.
Over the years forward thinking anglers have used Bogey to great effect. Although it was introduced over ten years ago this remarkable glue continues to catch virtually all types of fish when used in conjunction with seeds. Hemps amazing pulling power can be quickly harnessed by the use of Bogey to form specimen sized seed hook baits.
First of all there is no such thing as a tub of Bogey that is not sticky. Every single gram is exceptionally sticky, far stickier than any tube of glue. Bogey is a type of glue that never sets it just requires a little preparation.
So why then is the Bogey you have purchased not sticky for you? The simple answer is you have been applying it wrong.
I tried the tub you returned and made a number of balls and squares of hemp that stuck instantly to the seeds without any problem whatsoever. Five days later the seeds are still firmly stuck. In order for you to be successful follow these instructions to the letter.
Unscrew the lid. The white liner inside the lid will often be stuck to the contents inside the pot. The liner is there to prevent the inner material from sticking to the lid. To remove the liner grip its outer edge and using slow sustained pressure slowly prise it from the grip of the Bogey. Most anglers can do this but in case of difficulty use a pair of forceps to slowly prise it off. Take care not to leave any material on the thread. If you do the lid will stick to the thread when you screw it back on making removal more difficult next time you use it.
Once the Bogey is revealed it should have a firm hard texture almost like clear rubber.
Before removing Bogey from the pot it is vital that your index finger is wet. Bogey will not stick to anything that is wet moist or greasy. Moisten your index finger before attempting to remove it from the pot.
Stick your wet index finger into the Bogey and work it into the material with a firm twisting action. The Bogey will have a solid almost rubber like texture. As a guide work your index finger into the material up to the depth of the first joint of the finger. Once your wet finger is immersed in the material bend and crook your finger to the shape of a hook to get a good grip.
Remove the Bogey with your curled finger by applying sustained pressure. Once the material starts to stretch increase the pressure and remove it with a fast snapping action. If done correctly you will have a slug of material wrapped around your finger.
By removing it with a fast snapping action you prevent a long thin trail wafting about. The slower you snap it out the more you increase the chances of a long wispy trail. So increase the pressure and snap it out firmly.
Now we get to the point where your problems arise. The more you handle Bogey the more you contaminate it with the natural oil and grease from your skin, this will adhere to Bogey instantly.
To emphasise the point the worst thing you could do is to roll it in the palms of your hands to form a ball. If you have done this all you have done is coat it with a film of the natural grease and oil from your hands. Bogey is so sticky that the oil from your skin will immediately stick and transfer to it. Once Bogey has a film of oil on it nothing will stick to it because nothing sticks to oil. All of the stickiness lies inside and beneath the surface.
However if you have over handled it and it has become less tacky do not worry, all is not lost. Here is what to do.
Using moist fingers hold the edges of the Bogey in each hand within moist finger and thumb. Now move both hands apart slowly stretching it just like a piece of chewing gum. You will notice its appearance has changed appearing to be very shiny and extremely sticky. What you have done is now exposed the very sticky material which was once on the inside of your oil coated ball. Once you have stretched it apart gently fold it back on itself. Once folded simply drop it into a bag of dry hempseed.
The dry hemp will instantly adhere to the material on contact, using your fingers squeeze and press the hemp over the entire surface. After the slug is covered in dry seed squeeze it firmly into a rough ball and when completely covered roll it firmly between the palms of your hands.
By giving it a good roll you are compressing the seeds onto the surface, the longer you roll it the tighter the ball will be. The ball by now will be perfectly round and reasonably soft and mouldable to the touch. Once the bait is covered in hemp simply form it with your fingers into the shape of your choice.
If you are fishing over soft silt form a round ball and press it flat into a flat coin or disc shape, this will prevent it from sinking into the silt. Disc, squares, round shapes the choice is yours. Once the seeds are stuck to the surface of the material they will not fall off or be removed by small nuisance fish.
To make Bogey baits at home try the following:
Roll the baits into balls and then drop them into a glass of water and leave them to stand overnight. Initially the baits will float because of the dry hemp, after approximately four hours the seeds will blacken and take on the appearance of cooked hemp. By soaking the baits for twenty-four hours the baits will sink and the hemp will split exposing the tiny white kernels identical to cooked hemp.
Following around four hours soaking the buoyancy of the baits will start to decrease, as the hemp starts to take on water the baits will slowly sink to the bottom. If you require pop-ups make the baits straight from the tub on the bank and you will have around four hours before they start to sink. Alternatively should you want a long lasting pop-up stretch and smear a film of Bogey about 2mm thick over a cork ball or polystyrene and then press the dry seed into the Bogey.
If you wrap Bogey over a cork ball for good adhesion make sure you wipe the cork dust off first. If the film of Bogey is not sticky you may have over handled it. Just leave it standing for 30 minutes or so and miraculously the tainted coating will revert back to its original sticky state making adhesion of seeds easy.
Bogey seed baits accept flavour and work extremely well. Immerse your hookbaits into the flavour and allow them to soak for a few hours. The longer the hemp is soaked the greater the concentration of flavour the dry hemp will hold. Following casting the flavour soaked bait will release its cargo as water forces its way into the seed. You are then left with a hookbait that is slowly releasing its smell and attraction into the swim over a long period of time.
Bogey has many other uses. For pop-ups if your Heavy Metal putty is slipping on your mono or braid take a tiny sliver of Bogey and roll it barrel shaped around the line. Then mould the Heavy Metal around the sliver, your putty will not budge or become dislodged. Bogey will stick to the line as well as bonding the Heavy Metal firmly in place.
I have tried to describe to you in every detail of how to best use Bogey and although it has taken many words do not be put off. From opening the tub to making a bait it literally should take no more than twenty seconds. It’s all down to practice which many successful anglers have already found out.
Should the lid become jammed it means that you have let material creep onto the thread. Do not use brute force to remove it instead drop it into a pan of hot water or leave it on a radiator for a while. The Bogey will soften with heat and by applying slow sustained pressure the lid will eventually ease off. Then using a toothpick clean and remove the offending Bogey from the thread before replacing the lid.
Bogey follows the force of gravity, if you leave a ball of hemp on any surface it will after a period of time slowly start to flatten. Just reshape it before casting. Hope this information is of help to you.
Dave Chilton
Share Post
