Buy an Outcast. No more tangles.

 

I'll have to google that. What is an outcast?

 

Maybe your cork is preceeding the hook at splashdown and getting tangled. You might need to slow the line down at the end of the cast. I don't know about a spinning set up but with a baitcaster I thumb the spool just before it hits the water allowing the bait to enter the water first. Hope this makes sense and cures your frustration.

 

My fishing partners for that day barely had the skill to hit the water. I will try that the next time out. Last time I used live shrimp under a cork it was with baitcaster and I do not remember having these problems.

 

Live Shrimp we use an adjustable sliding cork. On the cast the leader is short, after it hits the water it slide down to the stop knot. Depth control made easy ....... ICM

 

Use a weighted slip cork w/ a bobber stopper above a bead and spro swivel. Then use 20-30# fluro leader about 2ft long......#6 treble w/ a split shot about 6" above the hook. When using a string type bobber and the tiny bead, it's best to use two bobber stoppers as they tend to slip. A regular white 6" weighted slip cork will do fine. ($1) I use the ones w/ NO SLITS in the side. FTU sells the corks....best to buy a dozen at a time. my $.02 It works. Accept No Substitute !!
I use 20# Berkley Big Game main line also.

 

Use a weighted slip cork w/ a bobber stopper above a bead and spro swivel. Then use 20-30# fluro leader about 2ft long......#6 treble w/ a split shot about 6" above the hook. When using a string type bobber and the tiny bead, it's best to use two bobber stoppers as they tend to slip. A regular white 6" weighted slip cork will do fine. ($1) I use the ones w/ NO SLITS in the side. FTU sells the corks....best to buy a dozen at a time. my $.02 It works. Accept No Substitute !!
I use 20# Berkley Big Game main line also.

First use this exact setup in NC when learning to Trout fish.
Perfect for fishing different depths without a hassle of retying. Adjust the bobber stopper knot up or down as needed.

Great search rig when anchoring up, just feed out line let it drift till you start catching. No more tangles

No need for long cast or the potential of throwing off the Shrimp.

I tie a uni knot using Power Pro braid to act as stopper knot...... ICM

 

In San Antonio can only find these at bass pro. And I really like them. They throw a mile and have only got it tangled twice . And it was easy to untangle

 

I'm sure above is good advice..For me bait needs to be heavier/less drag than cork...(simply bait must lead way).I use those little cigar floats/not weighted about size of index finger..That come in 3 packs for a dollar or2 Mostly used for perch..There just enough to keep bait up..

 

Was your leader section below the cork.

What I read in your description sounded a lot like what happened to me one time (a long time ago) when I tried putting the cork above the leader (especially if main line was braid). Make sure your leader section is long enough to have the entire cork, weight, and bait on it.

 

slipping cork works if you are trying specific depth fishing (with weight below cork)

popping cork if you are trying to bring fish to the mid or top column (no weight below the cork). here, you allow the shrimp/lure to naturally swim down as far as it can before the next pop/retrieve

are your tangles from above the cork or below? as it's thrown or while in water?
if it's from above the popping cork & while in the water, your cork is spinning or drifting into your line. keep ur line taut. if it's from throwing, swing the bait in a wider arc to prevent the bait going over the cork in flight. also, slowing down the last second of flight was mentioned. all u need to do is put ur hand near enuf to the spool to feel the line leaving the spool and maybe stop the line going out as the cork falls into the water.

popping cork designs is a research paper where as a floating cork is a piece of foam

 

I will definitely keep a closer eye on this.

 

just get the alameda corks. They sell them in 3 packs at academy. You can adjust them throughout the day and if you lose or break them, they arent that expensive.

 

The Outcast is the way to go. They have a few different kinds if I remember but the one I tried for the first time Sunday has a weight with some beads under the cork and you tie your leader and line above the cork. Very easy to pop, very few tangles and most important it produced a limit of trout up to 26", 1-18" sheepshead and 3 sand trout fishing by myself in Galveston Bay.