How did you get on?

[sam vimes]

Might not be your choice but after bumping a load of grayling the week before I thought it might work and last Sunday I lost a lot less.

My third trip after grayling so still looking around for a rod I feel comfortable with. Next trip will be the Acolyte or the Matchpro to test them out.

I promise that I wasn't criticising. I'm just really surprised, because I know that I'm like a bairn with a new toy in the same circumstances. I actually go out of my way to fish venues where new gear will be perfectly suited. I couldn't buy anything and not go and use it in the shortest time possible.

 

[dorsetandchub]

I promise that I wasn't criticising. I'm just really surprised, because I know that I'm like a bairn with a new toy in the same circumstances. I actually go out of my way to fish venues where new gear will be perfectly suited. I couldn't buy anything and not go and use it in the shortest time possible.

No worries, mate. I got it a couple of years back and have barely used it since then. I was just experimenting with it to see if it could be put to use for grayling but today, at least, it was a choccy kettle!!

Back to the drawing board and out with the Drennans next trip

Reading Neil's write up, I feel a lot better as it looks like he went through the same process with specimen rods being tried.

 

[barbelboi]

For me new toys can wait, I recently bought my first new rod for many a year (a 14ft Acolyte Ultra) after selling my old (90's) Harrison 15'GTI on fleabay due to the old timer's weight for trotting and ‘dodgy’ cartilages in my R/H shoulder. I took it to the LIF as back up on Sunday and used my 17 year old Titan 2000..............

 

[dorsetandchub]

Jerry,


I'm terrible for it but I don't smoke and my best pal works in a brewery so no better beer than free beer. As you can't take it with you....

Totally agree about the 2000, was going to use mine on Sunday and should have today!!

Bestest

 

[robtherake]

I'm fine, thanks Mike. A healthy dose of cynicism gets me through life. It's like body armour for those of us who weren't born with fur coats.....

More annoyed with myself to be honest, sloppy error this morning, should have packed a longer rod as well but didn't. Oh well, live and learn, eh??

Welcome to my world, Phil

 

[greenie62]

.... Next trip will be the Acolyte or the Matchpro to test them out.

I used the 15ft Acolyte on Sunday and generally happy with it. Only downside was the wind trying to blow it away 'cos it's so light - and a loss of 'feel' at the tip - again possibly due to the effect of wind on the extra length. Was half-tempted to swap to the 11ft Maver just to keep the end 4ft out of the wind! - decided against it cos it was heavier!

Didn't seem to 'bump' as many ladies as I have before on the old 13ft DAM Quickstick - when Not in a gale! Part of that may be from using a 506MkII rather than a bale-arm kerchunker Shimmy! mg:

Tight Lines :thumbs:

 

[dorsetandchub]

Thanks Mike - there's fuel for my recently diagnosed grayling paranoia .


Come on then, kids, what's the grayling float-based weapon of choice??

 

[greenie62]

...Come on then, kids, what's the grayling float-based weapon of choice??

Do you mean generally - or in the high winds experienced last Sunday?

 

[robertroach]

I seem to be in a routine of fishing the lower Frome for roach for a couple of hours then dropping in to the river further up at Wool for a couple of hours on the way home. Had a nice roach about 2 pounds yesterday but couldn't weigh it because I had wandered too far away from my tackle rucksack.

After moving upstream had 3 decent grayling and numerous small ones but didn't stay long, the usual wicked wind at Wool was not very appetising. Hoping to meet some of you others there sometime. Someone with a small white car was there yesterday at the top of the beat.

 

[dorsetandchub]

Probably both Mike but I'll raise it as a separate thread - it could grow legs

 

[dorsetandchub]

Probably both Mike but I'll raise it as a separate thread - it could grow legs


Nice roach, was that from Wareham?

 

[edsurf]

For me new toys can wait, I recently bought my first new rod for many a year (a 14ft Acolyte Ultra) after selling my old (90's) Harrison 15'GTI on fleabay due to the old timer's weight for trotting and ‘dodgy’ cartilages in my R/H shoulder. I took it to the LIF as back up on Sunday and used my 17 year old Titan 2000..............

I have the Acolyte ultra Jerry its a very good rod for grayling and with wide gape hooks ups the catch rate.

 

[Neil Maidment]

Mmmmm.. trotting!

I was brought up on float fishing from about the age of 5 or 6. Always a centrepin, no matter what the conditions, and principally on the lower tidal Dorset Stour and Hampshire Avon. Never touched a leger weight until much later, then swingtips, donkeytops and quivertips allied to Intrepid Elite's, 505's/506's and various Mitchell's. But always, always enjoyed the centrepin. I now almost exclusively fish with centrepins for the sheer joy and pleasure I get from using them.

I have never had much belief in shirt button style shotting patterns and light stick floats but have been known to use a waggler every now and then. That is not to say I am right or others are wrong, far from it. I've watched and fished with some very accomplished float anglers from several generations and regions and marvelled at their skills.

But for me on the Stour, Avon and the typical southern local venues I fish, particularly in full winter trim, I invariably use chunky balsas, big sticks and similar. Typically fished with a big single bulk (equiv of several AAA) and a single dropper (BB or no:1). The relationship between that bulk and dropper is regularly tinkered with as is the depth I'm fishing at, particularly if I'm loose feeding. I like to boss the flow/current and have no problem using 10g+ floats if I think the situation requires it.

My all time favourite with this is on the Stour trotting for chub. Big chunky bulks but small hooks and baits, often down to a #20 and single red maggot. Just because your using a carpenter's offcut for a float, it doesn't mean you can't fish fine on the business end.

I can't stress enough, it's just the way I do it. It's not right and it's not wrong, it works for me, I enjoy it and it's caught me enough fish over the years to keep me happy!

 

[maggot_dangler]

Well all things Considered it was a decent day, nothing big but 23 assorted roach and perch.

Not forgetting the same chuffin Mallard that swam thru and broke the Li e was I apply, you bet not

PG....



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[peter crabtree]

Is just me? Both Neil M and maggot dangler have posted on this thread in the last few hours but I can't see either reply?

Strange, now I've posted I can see them:/

 

[tigger]

Is just me? Both Neil M and maggot dangler have posted on this thread in the last few hours but I can't see either reply?

Strange, now I've posted I can see them:/

Snap!...me n'all Peter.

Just re loaded the page and the posts have come up, must have been a glitch of some kind.

 

[sam vimes]

Is just me? Both Neil M and maggot dangler have posted on this thread in the last few hours but I can't see either reply?

Strange, now I've posted I can see them:/

No, I knew that Neil had posted. I read the post in the email notification because when I clicked on the link the post wasn't there. It is there now though. I suspect that the server hamster needs feeding.

 

[tigger]

Mmmmm.. trotting!

I was brought up on float fishing from about the age of 5 or 6. Always a centrepin, no matter what the conditions, and principally on the lower tidal Dorset Stour and Hampshire Avon. Never touched a leger weight until much later, then swingtips, donkeytops and quivertips allied to Intrepid Elite's, 505's/506's and various Mitchell's. But always, always enjoyed the centrepin. I now almost exclusively fish with centrepins for the sheer joy and pleasure I get from using them.

I have never had much belief in shirt button style shotting patterns and light stick floats but have been known to use a waggler every now and then. That is not to say I am right or others are wrong, far from it. I've watched and fished with some very accomplished float anglers from several generations and regions and marvelled at their skills.

But for me on the Stour, Avon and the typical southern local venues I fish, particularly in full winter trim, I invariably use chunky balsas, big sticks and similar. Typically fished with a big single bulk (equiv of several AAA) and a single dropper (BB or no:1). The relationship between that bulk and dropper is regularly tinkered with as is the depth I'm fishing at, particularly if I'm loose feeding. I like to boss the flow/current and have no problem using 10g+ floats if I think the situation requires it.

My all time favourite with this is on the Stour trotting for chub. Big chunky bulks but small hooks and baits, often down to a #20 and single red maggot. Just because your using a carpenter's offcut for a float, it doesn't mean you can't fish fine on the business end.

I can't stress enough, it's just the way I do it. It's not right and it's not wrong, it works for me, I enjoy it and it's caught me enough fish over the years to keep me happy!

Interesting, hearing your methods Neil as I think fish in a very similar fashion. I very rarely use less than a 4grm float and nearly always bulk shot with a single dropper. It's easy to slide them about to fine tune things if need be. My favourite floats are avon bolo's which I use in 2grm to 8grm but for the majority of the time a 4grm covers most of my fishing. I don't like going below 4lb mainline and for the most part 6lb is my choice. Most of the time I prefer to fish straight through but if I feed the fish are clued up and weary of my set up I just add a low diameter bottom (preferably Silstar matchman but sometimes prestons) attatched via a micro swivel. The swivel is good when targetting grayling because of all the twisting they do when bringing them in, also helps to cut the line twist down especially when winding in fast (with no fish on).
All that said there are occassions when fishing small clear rivers where I do use a small (usually wire stemmed stick float) and shirt button my shot....not a lot mind! I do prefer to fish as heavy as possible.

 

[rubio]

At LIF I used 2 set up rods, one with a 3g bolo and my favourite crowquill, about half the weighting. I caught roughly evenly between the two allowing the crowquill to run thro closer to my bank and the heavier rig further across. Both with a bulk. The classic 'on the drop' shirt button didn't seem appropriate in such a flow.
Today I used a pole! Found a few roach better than half pound at a commie but maggot at half depth was bite a chuck for blades. I only fished for an hour or so myself as I was actually there to facilitate 3 newcomers. One took a decent low double pike, playing it superbly well. Another lad caught his first pike. Small at 5lbs but big enough to inspire a little bit of awe with it's 'malevolent grin'.
Hope to have a few more roach down the river this weekend, and maybe find those beefy dace i've lost touch with.

 

[maggot_dangler]

Snap!...me n'all Peter.

Just re loaded the page and the posts have come up, must have been a glitch of some kind.

Hi I was having a problem earlier on posting as well seems there may be the mealy worm in the UK works

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