Tactics: Getting there.....well, almost - Talk Angling fishing chat and tackle advice

The_Gent · 11th June 2008, 07:06 PM

I fish a venue up here and have a couple of practice sessions before the next match (waggler or pole only).

Groundbait certainly works and have had (in matches and practice) 8lbs to 14lbs of bits with a few bonus fish, mainly on double maggot, few on castor.

Last match, if you took the big bream (2 won it) and carp (the odd one here and there), I would have won it easily. Finished fifth.

Kept busy all day but failing to attract the big ones. Corn doesn't work.

What would you do to keep the smaller fish biting but maybe attract an odd bigger one ?

Help would be appreciated

stevelockett · 12th June 2008, 10:06 AM

Perhaps a few more details needed about the fishery...and where's "up here"?

Without knowing too much about the place, perhaps you should fish a shorter line for your mixed fish and a longer line for bonuses. I would try feeding loose casters at 6m for all sorts on two rigs: one set to fish just on or just off bottom; another to fish around 2' deep. Fish red maggot on the hook and be prepared to work hard on that line.
Second line can be anywhere from 9m to 14.5m depending on weather conditions. Cup in half a dozen balls of groundbait with chopped worm and casters in, possibly a few grains of corn as well. Leave that line for at least two hours before trying it, but cup in a good handful of casters every 20 minutes so the fish don't move in, clear it out and move on.
Hopefully you will sneak a fish or two from that line at soem point before the end of the match. When you try the long line, go in with double dead red maggot and hold it still for 5 minutes, if you get no indications, try half a worm for 5 minutes and if there are still no indications, go back on the short line for another 20 minutes.
Keep trying the long line, but only for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time. Always go in with double dead red maggots on, but swap the second bait each time. You can try double casters, a grain of corn, perhaps even a soft pellet. But only give it 10 minutes unless you get a fish, in which case go back in with the same bait and try to have another, but only for a further 5 minutes.

What you're trying to do is hedge your bets, while leaving enough time to put a decent net of smaller fish together. It is not the ideal match plan, but if only a couple of bigger fish get caught each time, it might be the best way to go.
Accept that the bigger fish are not a given and you still want to have a day's fishing by targeting smaller fish and you will be close to the frame every time. Sometimes the bigger fish may not feed at all and your net of bits might win! That's playing the percentages and your competitors will soon start to fear you for always being there or thereabouts.

Rigs for the short line should be perhaps 0.5g for fishing down and 4x12 for fishing up, depending on the depth. Shot up both rigs with a bulk of No10s or No8s plus 2 x No10 droppers and be prepared to move the floats up and down by a few inches until you get nice slow bites.
On the long line, a body down float taking enough weight to nail a bait on the deck is needed. That could be 0.5g in 2-3' up to 3g in 12', shotted with an olivette plus 2 x No10 droppers. The droppers can be pushed together at the top of a short hooklength (6-8") and plumbed up so those droppers are just off bottom. Most bites will then be lift bites from bream or skimmers.

As I said at the start, a couple more details about the fishery and fish and I can possibly give you a better idea of how to approach a practise session.

Good luck

Brian G · 12th June 2008, 11:57 AM

To add to the above what about a margin line, feed it on a regular basis but leave it till the last hour of a match, the big fish love the margins mopping up anglers bait that is often throwed in at the end of a match, if you have an empty peg next to you fish up to that as often it will be just a ittle deeper in the front of the peg caused by keepnets being put in and dragged out creating a natural feed holding place.

fred · 12th June 2008, 01:15 PM

Also as your main attack is small fish, fish as light as possible. Use 0.08 - 0.10mm line for hook length. Keep your elastic light. Take you time getting any bonus fish in. Bream don't fight anywhere as hard as carp.
If you've got lots of skimmers in the lake feed mini betaine pellets as they love them. The bigger bream don't mind them as well.

The_Gent · 14th June 2008, 12:16 PM

Thanks for your replies guys...all taken on board.

Steve:

Up here is as far as you can get without crossing the border - North Cumbria, Carlisle to be exact.

The venue is a place called Whins Pond, Penrith, probably the best fishery up this way. You can fill your nets with bits, although the pond stocks bream to 10lbs, carp into the 20s and good tench too.

I must admit, I do love the waggler and fished yesterday. Totelled about 16lbs over 7 hours with a few bonus roach and skimmers to about 6 or 7 ozs. Big fish just didn't show and, it was evident from the carp anglers there, that the biggies were just keeping their heads down.

Fished the waggler to hand, therefore about six metres. Short pole line gave the same results. The other line I fed, as you suggested, at about 11m. Left for two hours and no different, same stamp of fish.

My problem is, if you can call it a problem, is that I would rather finish with 8-12 lbs in a match, catching all day, not as some do, just sitting it out for a couple of big ones.

I've only fished two Sunday, float only matches there (they're monthly) since I started up after an eight-year break. Finished 6th in one, and fifth in the last. The latter, I would have walked it with 8-8 had not biggies been caught.

At best, you have 3.5' of water on one side, 3' on the other.

Thanks for your advice, we'll have another bash tomorrow

Brian: Have been doing that mate but nothing showing to date. I know what you mean though.....we fish from wooden platforms, some 3-4 metres out. A capr topped two sessions ago within a foot of me. I nearly had a bloody heart attack.

Fred: Things seem a lot easier these days than when I fished last. For my first session, back in March, I was geared up with 22s to 3/4 lb and 20s to 1.5. Now getting a bite a chuck on double maggot to a 16 on 3lbs !

Will try the pellets you suggest, although pellets are a foreign bait to me mate. Bought some for yesterday, not the ones you suggested, and could only gets the bits when cutting them in half

The_Gent · 14th June 2008, 12:18 PM

Whins Pond, Penrith - Lake District Fishing

stevelockett · 14th June 2008, 12:30 PM

The frozen North, hey. My wife went to school in the Lake District but was bought up in Northumberland. Having visited several times over the years all I can say is: I'm glad I live in the far south!

I would go they way you're going and play the percentages, you will be in the money more than anyone else.

polehard · 14th June 2008, 12:46 PM

have you tried chop worm and caster on your 11m line you might get a better stamp of fish and get more bonus fish.just a thought thats how i normally attack this sor of vednue

Brian G · 14th June 2008, 01:01 PM

From the look of it the venue is more a naturally stocked water, than a high density commercial pool, and your approach to caching fish is a sound one, ok someone might have a lump or two and you will always be playing catch up on the bits approach, but like you I like to see the float go under more than a couple of times, as to wether a margin line will work will depend on your peg, but would always be worth having especially if you draw a corner peg or a nice bed of reeds, just in case the lumps do move in albeit I think that it would be a late in the match line, but if you have not feed one any patrolling carp will just pass through, over a period of time you will get to know if this tactic will work, listen to other anglers talking afer a match see if the caught this way, dont be afraid to ask a question or two especially to those that framed.

jethro · 14th June 2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polehard

have you tried chop worm and caster on your 11m line you might get a better stamp of fish and get more bonus fish.just a thought thats how i normally attack this sor of vednue

Got to agree with polehard on this one, choppy & caster almost guarantee's bites on any venue. & according to Mr Giles Cochrane he says you don't need to feed excessively, been trying his way I'm down to a 1/4 kilo worm 1/2 a pint of casters, seem to be catching at least as well, only fish on well stocked fisheries tho. I need to fish were the banks & platforms are level.

..Jethro..