INTRODUCTION TO BILLYS BACKBITERS

The combination of 22 years of engineering and 25 years of pike fishing have provided me with the experience necessary to deliver what all Pike anglers want. A high quality and supremely reliable 'Back Biter' or 'Drop Back' style alarm that will provide season after season of continuous reliable service no matter what the worse of the winters weather has to throw at them. My promise is to give you an exceptional product with exceptional service.

Billy's Backbiters give you just that, Pukka Alarms For Pukka Pikers. Their neat, compact design using components of only the highest quality will guarantee that when that pike takes your bait the 95dB sounder will let you know about it.

(33lb 12oz - 'Lydia' The Queen of the Wye and a record for Billy's Backbiters)

So why Pikers need a Drop-Off type bite alarm

Most Pukka Pikers out there will use a Drop-Off style alarm. Even pikers using front alarms will have a drop off arm at the back end as the need to detect a slack line run is as important as using a wire trace when piking.

Since Eddie stopped selling his legendry Backbiter back in the 80's there has been a void for a quality alarm for Predator anglers that has finally been filled by 'Billy's Backbiters'. Many Pikers will have reverted to front alarms in this time and will have spent years putting up with the bleeping all day long when fishing in flow on a river, fishing in wind on a still water where the waves are rolling or when using big live baits. As a result you get complacent to the beeps and tend not to pay them any attention. When a Backbiter or Drop Off style alarm goes off it is for one reason only and that's because a predator has grabbed your bait. In my opinion and that of most serious Pikers the Backbiter or Drop Off style alarm is the only type of alarm that covers all round predator angling from fishing small lives on the local cut to banging out big dead baits on a Scottish Loch.

Billy’s Backbiters have raised the bar to new heights for Predator alarms and will give you a good visual and audible indication of 'clip out' and 'slack line' runs.

Models and Options

With 100'S sold since their launch in December 2007 Billy's Backbiters have set the standard in the predator angling world as the bite alarm of choice for the discerning piker. All products have the same functionality and principle of operation and it's just the look that differs between models.

The original and the Bite alarm that set the standard

The traditional model. As tough and reliable as they've ever been and built to the tried and tested design that goes back over 10 years of seasoned piking. Shown here in RED other colours available are YELLOW and GREEN.



By far and away the most popular model and for good reason. Yeah, it looks great but it's not a bite alarm aimed at the tackle tarts. The tough blue box has a practical application in that when you get a run the box lights as bright as you like. I cannot emphasise enough what a brilliant feature this is for when you're either giving it that hour into dark for the big girls or staring at rods through bleary eyes when you're going through the night for Zeds.



Billy's Bluenose Backbiter shining brightly in the dark during a Zander session on the Warwickshire Avon. No mistake as to which rod's got the run.....

A new variation on the theme. The new red box and flashing 10mm LED make this alarm stand out like a like a beacon. They look great and perform even better.

The New Standard Arm (Intoduced Feb 09)

I am continuously seeking to improve the design of my Backbiters and after extensive trials I have decided to do away with the old standard arm with the gardener line clip as I have introduced a new arm as shown below.

The new arm features a swivelling head on a stainless steel arm with a stainless steel ball clip. This arramgement performs brilliantly for registering 'drop backs' and clip outs and the arm has sufficient adjustment for all predator fishing situations. The head is hinged allowing movement for when livebaiting or fishing in a chop and features a reflective orange sleeve that can be removed revealling a translucent plactic head. This head can be unscrewed in order to fit an isotope or starlight.

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

1: Volume Control
(£5 extra for each backbiter)

It took a while to find a suitable volume control as cheap potentiometers wouldn't last more than a few trips in bad weather. This encapsulated unit keeps your Backbiter nice and quiet so that the whole water doesn't know what your up to or what your catching whilst not compromising the quality of my Backbiters. The cost of this option reflects the cost of the component used.

2: Adjustable Weighted Bobbin Arm
(£10 extra per Backbiter)

Predominately for Pikers fishing at long range with bait boats or fishing rivers or Drains with a good pull these arms give you the ability to adjust the pull of the arm will improve your bite indication by ensuring the line is always tight to the lead.

The stainless steel ball line clip has adjustable tension and will register drop backs perfectly. The bobbin head will screw off so that an isotope or starlight can be added when night fishing. The Arm comes with a reflective orange sleeve that will go over the head for when fishing in daylight.



3: ATTX REMOTE SYSTEM compatibility
(£10 extra for each Backbiter)

There's been a few rumours about me producing a wireless Backbiter and now after extensive field testing I can finally reveal that it's 'JOB DONE'.

I was a bit dubious about offering this as an option for pike welfare reasons but having talked with loads of pikers who want this option the reasons are obvious. Wind swept days on remote Fens with that third rod tucked around a bush. Busy pits where the slightest sound of a buzzer sees heads popping out of the undergrowth to see 'whose catching what'. There are numerous reasons to have a remote system and having field tested it for nearly 12 month now I'm confident that the system is robust and compatible with the quality of what I already offer.
Looking at all the remote systems out there I was drawn to the ATTX system for its compact size, robustness and I haven't been disappointed. Their remote transmitters plugs into a 3.5mm jack socket on the base of my adapted Backbiters (as shown below) and in doing so this will disable the speaker on the backbiter but not the light inside the box. The modified Backbiter is compatible with both the ATTX V1 & V2 systems.

(NOTE: ATTX remote system needs to be purchased separately. 3.5mm Jack Plug required. Adapters available if you already have the 2.5mm system)

OPTION 4: Rear Rest Adjustable Weighted Bobbin Arm
(£12 each)

Since I started offering these as an option for my Back Biters I've been inundated with enquiries for them to be sold separately. If you still use front alarms then you still need reliable slack line detection and there just wasn't a decent arm out there that was reliable and well built 'UNTIL NOW'. These fit the bill perfectly and are easily detached from a special bank stick adapter for storage. I also add a fluorescent orange sleeve to fit over the bobbin head to make them stand out better but this can be removed if you want the natural bobbin colour. Available in RED, BLUE or YELLOW.

The History of Billy's Backbiters

The first Drop Off alarm I made was back in 1985 as a final year Technology project at school. I’d just got into piking and needed an alarm and it was either a couple of month’s worth of paper-round money or a trip down to Radio Shack for a bag of bits. This original drop-off had a mercury tilt switch in a kinda egg case with a hair grip as the clip, the little solid state buzzer could hardly be heard if you we’re more than a few feet away but it did the job and after proudly showing off my creation to the lads up the local lakes it wasn’t long before I was knocking a few out for a bit of extra cash in my student days.

As the years went buy I would always knock a few up when asked to by the local Pikers and PAC lads. It would normally be a couple of years between making a few and so I’d always go back to the drawing board each time in my selection of components to use. About 10 years ago I settled on a design that has changed little, this finished design has been based on pike fishing week in week out of a true variety of waters, the reason it hasn’t changed is that this design has stood the test of time and as I walk the banks of the local rivers and lakes I will always invariably bump into someone who has had a set of drop offs and is still using them, many have bought fancy new ones since and binned them after a couple of seasons and returned to using the old faithful’s. It made me laugh the other week when chatting to an old piking mate he commented “You know them Drop-Offs I had of you in 98, well they ain’t ‘arf quiet now”..... “When did you last change the batteries” was my reply, “don’t think I ever have” was his “DOH”.

At the start of this piking season (2007/8) I had a request for a few drop-offs from mates and PAC Region 20 members and so got the bits in to knock up 10 units. 5 we’re spoken for and I thought I’d have a fancy new set myself and punt the others out on the Forum. Well the response was overwhelming and I was inundated with enquiries, especially as there was a whole host of threads on the forums about how un-suitable and un-reliable some of the mass manufactured drop off alarms were.

After having all these enquiries I thought long and hard about the time commitment required in making so many drop offs but decided to give it a go for a limited time to see the response. It seems that pikers out there have been crying out for a decent reliable drop off alarm and so now I find myself in the workshop most nights making my alarms. A twist to the story came when one night whilst going through parts catalogues I came across a crystal blue case exactly the same dimensions as the ones I was already using… “oooohhh” I thought, If I stuck a bright LED in them the whole case would light up and it would be one less hole for water to get in and so the Billy’s Bluenose Backbiter was born. Bits were purchased and the prototype signalled its first run a few days later. I haven’t looked back since. So now I’ve decided that so long as folk want them I’ll make them and give my fellow pikers what they’re after; a tough and reliable drop-off alarm that will see them through many seasons.

Happy Customers

The feedback I get make the effort all worth while and with customers list like a 'who's who' of piking with the likes of John Watson, Dave Horton and Jason Davis I guess I must be doing something right. You've read my stuff now see what my customers have to say.

The txt from Sam in Northern Ireland made me especially proud...

"Morning Steve! Love the alarms, awesome job, been waiting for something like these 4 a long long time, i've been through a multitude of alarms the past few years and have to say yhtat yours are head and shoulders above everything, ur a legend, cheers Sam."


Dave Horton notches up his 20th THIRTY - Well done Dave
A big hearty congratulations to Dave Horton who has notched up his incredible 20th 30pounder. A truly magnificent achievement from one of Pikings true gents.

Dave recentley passed this incredible milestone which has capped an incredible season for the 'Pink Piking Pixie' from Harlow. Dave has been using Billy's Backbiters throughout this season



Bloody, well done Dave. Top bloke, top piking.


Andy Williams talks about his Billy's Backbiters
Having owned quite alot of drop off alarms (backbiters) i decided i would treat myself to two of steves alarms with the attx system. On arrival a quick inspection showed the alarms to be very well made on turning them on i was surprised at how loud the alarms were the volume control being a very good add on.

On first using the alarms i couldn't find anything to pick fault with the standard arm being great for close to medium distance and the new weighted arm fantastic for long range legering i must admit though i do like the gardner clip that steve has modified.


Just a note on the ATTX if you like to fish in secluded places and like to keep everything quiet this system is great ive been using it since the beginning of december and would find it hard now to do without so if your after a brilliant backbiter with a full remote system you know where to get it i think steve must have got hold of some of lumbys pixie dust as since owning them ive had some great days fishing.


Andy Williams (Nottingham)


"Steve - Big cheers for the Backbiters,used them throughout the 07/08 winter season and they've proved to be a valuable asset to my pike fishing approach.Very efficient, innovative, super loud and i've found the construction to be positively bombproof !

The blue version has proven to be a real boon when fishing wind stricken swims during those twilight hours. Many thanks for the 'modifications' first rate workmanship. First class back biters from the upper top draw........

Tight lines all and keep working for the clampdown !"

Simon Blaydes (Lincs Fen Ferret)

Probably all been said before however, I got mine today and gave them a test, they worked so thats a good start. Was surprised by how robust they are and how simple also to set up. Very well thought out and piker friendly. Why cant the big companys do something right instead of ripping us off with absolute SH*TE time and time again.

Steve bown in making these and marketing them for the same or less than 99% of the garbage on the shelves has proved one man can better a multi million pound company and embarrass them into the bargain. well done that man, a superb product that must surely put all others in the shade.................
Alex Cairnie (taken from the P&P forum)

I have just recently recieved 3 of your blue backbiters and i would like to take this opportunity to compliment you on them, i am very impressed.
Brian (Coventrey Zed Head)

After a long search for the Utopia Bite Alarm here are comments made on the PAC forum;

"Billy's Backbiters fit the bill.

They meet all my original requirements apart from sounding at the movement of the indicator. I've had a play with them and you can set them so the bait only has to be moved a small amount to sound the alarm, not like a mecury tilt switch for example which needs a greater amount of movement.

He's even started offering volume controls as an added extra to meet my requirements. Top man!The degree of sensitivity you can get from the line clip is unrivalled when compared with anything else I've seen and it will be suitable for both my Piking with lives and deads and my zandering too."
Mark Ross.

"At last, somebody has used his years of experience to produce exactly what Pike Anglers have been asking for - a backbiter that does the job! It's robust, it's functional, it's loud and it's BLUE! Well done Steve!"
Mike Kelly

The BBBB's are spot on. Got mine just before xmas and had them on the sticks for a full week - didn't bring em in overnight - left them on the sticks overnight out in all weather - not even a bit of condensation in them. Loud as you like - can't miss it nor the light. Superb bit of kit - you won't go wrong with these.
Paul Sheridan

"Once again, many thanks for those Steve, I’m very pleased with them."
Jason Davis

"I've received the backbiter off you, and it looks a great bit of kit."
Dave Reilly

Hi Steve, I just received my 2 backbiters and am very pleased with them."
Ian Rimmer

"Hi steve,they really do look the dogs whatsits."
Paul Mart

"first 3 arrived today safe and sound, look great"
Mike Crimp

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