Canal Top Section Kit

[raver]

Hi,

I have always fished with 2 different lengths of top kit's when out on the local cut. The logic being for up on the far/near shelves I use a short top kit say 1.3M. Then, when fishing down the track I tend to use a 1.8M top kit to handle the deeper water. The draw back is that I need 2 x lengths of rig, to match whichever top kit is in use. Does anyone think this is good practice? or should I go with the one length of top kit suits all depths scenario?
I would appreciate your thoughts.

[scoucerman]

i would have the same to not get to complicated because i would have the longer 1 so it doesnt hurt to have another 50cm of line from float to pole if anything a bonus in winter

[ridgeacre]

All mine are the same length (7) saves a lot of messing about,

[EJAYAR]

I must admit that I have a similar set up on my 1 pole but that is by accident rather than design, the 1 spare top kit is a Maver top and about 1/2 metre shorter than the 2 originals so when I use that particular pole I use it as you describe.

I do tend to make my rigs up close to required length however as "far bank" , "slope" or "track" rigs so the different lengths usually have different floats and shotting patterns anyway so that is covered as well when I use my second pole.

I use the maver long number 1/2,s for my occasional canal trips which are about 1.4m long. If I'm fishing down the track and I need extra depth I just add the match number 3 taking it up to 2.5m.

Eric

[raver]

The canal I regularly fish (Worc/Bham)@ Alvechurch has only 24" of water on some of the far shelf pegs. My concern was that using my track top kit (1.8M) would result in missed bites due to the ammount of line I was getting between pole tip and float. Okay, you can keep the rig line taut but you would also be prone to more tangles with far shelf trees,bushes etc.

[polepot]

Short tops for short rigs

[Stu]

raver,
As long as you can feed accurately then I see no problem with having different length top kits. However, if you are having problems feeding accurately, I would suggest having 2 cup kits; 1 cut same as your long top kits and the other the same length as your short top kits. Alternatively, use an extendable cupkit.

Incidentally, are you catching much out of the canal at Alvechurch? It runs behind my house yet I've never fished this stretch in the almost 4 years I have lived up here. I thought it was solid with pike!

Cheers,
Stu

[raver]

Stu,

There are some decent bags of roach to be had on the cut here. Our Xmas contest was won with 6lB of em in difficult conditions. Bread punch scored well, as did squatt over the far side. The bream can also show, more likely in the boat yard pegs when the temperature is better. There are stripeys and gudgeon also bottom of the near shelf. Tight lines!

[Stu]

Thanks for that raver. I'll give it a go. Incidentally, I had a walk along the cut this afternoon; just 2 guys piking on the BAA members-only dead arm up by the motorway.

BTW which club do you fish with?

Cheers,
Stu

[raver]

Stu,

I fish with the Mini20 AC (originally part of the Austin Rover car plant) a small friendly club, 8/9 contest a year, mainly Rivers 7 & Avon, plus odd canal match. New members always welcome. The dead arm never ceases to amaze me. In the warmer months you can catch anything there tench, bream the odd carp and like you say Pike are also present also. I tend to fish behind the scrap yard just past the Crown pub. Ill give you a shout next time out.

[scoucerman]

cupping kits get a garbolino once that extends in and out

[Stu]

Cheers, thanks raver.

A few fish and then a pint in the Crown - sounds like a plan to me!

Stu

[Robin L]

I know this is an old post, but is the dead arm at Alvechurch still under BAA control?

Does anyone know if there's parking nearby?