robtherake
Well-known member
Have you tried Amnesia, Ian? It's got good abrasion resistance, so it might be worth trying it as a leader. Just a thought.
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
Have you tried Amnesia, Ian? It's got good abrasion resistance, so it might be worth trying it as a leader. Just a thought.
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Graham Elliott 1
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Tigger.
I guarantee you that using fluro hooklink unless its 3ft or so to a braid mainline will give you no end of breakoffs. All pressure goes to the fluro.
Seen it many many times.
I suggest if you use braid use powerpro not the awful fireline.
Uncoated braid is not very abrasion resistant.
I use a strong abraision resistant line such as Gardner GT80 or GR60 with a power pro hooklink. Mono main to braid ok. Braid main to mono/flouro less than a couple or more feet WILL lose you fish. All the pressure goes to the hooklink.
I guarantee you that using fluro hooklink unless its 3ft or so to a braid mainline will give you no end of breakoffs. All pressure goes to the fluro.
Seen it many many times.
I suggest if you use braid use powerpro not the awful fireline.
Uncoated braid is not very abrasion resistant.
I use a strong abraision resistant line such as Gardner GT80 or GR60 with a power pro hooklink. Mono main to braid ok. Braid main to mono/flouro less than a couple or more feet WILL lose you fish. All the pressure goes to the hooklink.
S-Kippy
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Groundhog Day.
On Saturday I fished a low,clear river Wye and had 2 Chub. Not a sniff of a barbel.
Last night I fished a low,clear river Wey and had 2 Chub. Not a sniff of a barbel.
And my good friends at the DoT sportingly closed the junction of the A3 and M25 so, true to form, that meant a 20 mile detour and I got home very much later than I had planned.
I am Bill Murray.
On Saturday I fished a low,clear river Wye and had 2 Chub. Not a sniff of a barbel.
Last night I fished a low,clear river Wey and had 2 Chub. Not a sniff of a barbel.
And my good friends at the DoT sportingly closed the junction of the A3 and M25 so, true to form, that meant a 20 mile detour and I got home very much later than I had planned.
I am Bill Murray.
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Having seen Scrooged, I can believe it.....tax..
Managed to get a couple of hours on a local stream yesterday - after roach, dace and chublets - the idea was to get a bit of practice trotting prior to the Irwell match tonight, so was just equipped with a light float rod which I thought would be more than adequate!
Unfortunately I was distracted by the sight of somethings larger cruising up and down the overgrown far bank! A few samples of squashed bread thrown in revealed these to be decent chub.
It was with some trepidation that I squeezed a lump of Warburtons finest on and swung it into the right area to swim down the far bank - one of the chubs rose towards it - hesitated as if licking it's lips - then promptly bolted back down the swim and disappeared! Mystified - I was fairly certain I'd not spooked the fish - looked around - there were the spookers - a bunch of lads wandering down the bankside path - well spliffed-up judging by their merriment and far too young to be buying booze.mg:
As the last one passed me I recognised him as one of the youngsters off the local commercial - he dropped down to apologise as he realised from the look on my face what had happened. In compensation he tipped me off about a swim 200 yd further up the stream which was a bit further off the path and might be less prone to passers-by spooking the swim. I persisted with trying to tempt the chub back - but gave-up about 10mins later and moved to where he had suggested.
It was a very overgrown swim with a 'window' onto the stream - and something moving on the bottom 2ft down. Adopted a 'stalking' approach. Settling down to watch and throw a few samples upstream over the vegetation - I got my eye-in and thought "they're not chub" Removed the float, adjusted the shot and switched the hooklink to a 14 on 3.5lb, baited-up with a piece of bread squashed round the shank and cast-in.
The 'shot-ledgered' bread sat there for all of 10 secs before something nicked it off the hook - without a flicker on the line! - it had been hoovered on the fly. My limited view in the 'window' reminded me of the opening sequence of the original 'Star Wars' - where the first appearance of the craft just goes on & on - what starts off with the thought "that's big", rapidly changes to "that's seriously big"!
I should have just gone home then and 'got a bigger boat' - but the blood was up - so retrieved, rebaited, watched and waited. A smaller fish tried the hoover technique - caused a 2inch twitch on the line - but no hook-up.
Next try - a larger one tried the same trick but I was ready with the strike - and all hell let loose! It was like trying to play rugby in a corridor The narrow swim had the fish charge up and down whilst trying to batter it's way through the walls! Thoughts of Tigger and his 'hook and hold' problems came to mind Got it to the net and as it's whiskered head looked-up at me and I'm sure it thought "Not yet pal!" - it turned and streaked for the upstream bank and 'that bush in the water' - you know the one - ideally placed for a fish to bolt into - no way of stopping it - ping!
Knowing what's in there now - and what size those barbel are - I won't be tempted to try them on roach tackle again!
As a practice for tonight's match? - a total waste of time! As an exploratory expedition for finding some local Barbel - we'll see!mg:
Unfortunately
I was distracted by the sight of somethings larger cruising up and down the overgrown far bank! A few samples of squashed bread thrown in revealed these to be decent chub.It was with some trepidation that I squeezed a lump of Warburtons finest on and swung it into the right area to swim down the far bank - one of the chubs rose towards it - hesitated as if licking it's lips - then promptly bolted back down the swim and disappeared!
Mystified - I was fairly certain I'd not spooked the fish - looked around - there were the spookers - a bunch of lads wandering down the bankside path - well spliffed-up judging by their merriment and far too young to be buying booze.mg:As the last one passed me I recognised him as one of the youngsters off the local commercial - he dropped down to apologise as he realised from the look on my face what had happened. In compensation he tipped me off about a swim 200 yd further up the stream which was a bit further off the path and might be less prone to passers-by spooking the swim. I persisted with trying to tempt the chub back - but gave-up about 10mins later and moved to where he had suggested.
It was a very overgrown swim with a 'window' onto the stream - and something moving on the bottom 2ft down. Adopted a 'stalking' approach. Settling down to watch and throw a few samples upstream over the vegetation - I got my eye-in and thought "they're not chub"
Removed the float, adjusted the shot and switched the hooklink to a 14 on 3.5lb, baited-up with a piece of bread squashed round the shank and cast-in. The 'shot-ledgered' bread sat there for all of 10 secs before something nicked it off the hook - without a flicker on the line! - it had been hoovered on the fly. My limited view in the 'window' reminded me of the opening sequence of the original 'Star Wars' - where the first appearance of the craft just goes on & on - what starts off with the thought "that's big", rapidly changes to "that's seriously big"!
I should have just gone home then and 'got a bigger boat' - but the blood was up
- so retrieved, rebaited, watched and waited. A smaller fish tried the hoover technique - caused a 2inch twitch on the line - but no hook-up.Next try - a larger one tried the same trick but I was ready with the strike - and all hell let loose! It was like trying to play rugby in a corridor
The narrow swim had the fish charge up and down whilst trying to batter it's way through the walls! Thoughts of Tigger and his 'hook and hold' problems came to mind Got it to the net and as it's whiskered head looked-up at me and I'm sure it thought "Not yet pal!" - it turned and streaked for the upstream bank and 'that bush in the water' - you know the one - ideally placed for a fish to bolt into - no way of stopping it - ping!Knowing what's in there now - and what size those barbel are - I won't be tempted to try them on roach tackle again!
As a practice for tonight's match? - a total waste of time! As an exploratory expedition for finding some local Barbel - we'll see!
mg:
robtherake
Well-known member
Cracking write-up - a most enjoyable read. Good luck for next time!
lakhyaman
Well-known member
Was up at the little lake for a couple of sessions. It looked as tranquil as ever as I started the first session.
One arm of the lake.
I decided to go whole hog and put four rods out as there were any number of small carp leaping into the air and signs of feeding fish were everywhere.
Mandan, the ghillie, keeping an eye on what my son calls my "contraptions"!
Two on a bed of my usual particle mix of sweet corn, green peas, tinned chick peas and soaked and boiled local maize and chickpeas. One had hair rigged corn and the other my attempt to create an eggless boilie as Laguna says eggs inhibit flavour spreading in the water - ground and sieved fish feed pellets, semolina and wheat flour, Casein, and crab paste. Boiled for 1 1/2 minutes. I guess I'll never make a boffin!
It did catch me a small drunken looking carp!
Drunken looking carp
Third rod was my attempt at slack lining. Fluorocarbon line slack and, presumably on the floor, two ounce running lead, hair rigged a large tinned chick pea. Got a couple of runs on it but no hook ups! Will have to work this one out.
The fourth was my Greys Prodigy VX Barbel rod with a 1 1/2 oz tip on the quiver tip carrier. A running flat bed method feeder loaded with a simple pack bait of Quaker oats mixed with a tin of sweetcorn, water and all. Four kernels of corn on the hair set the trap.
I had barely settled down when the tip went round and I was into a merry scrap with what proved to be a 7 kg (15lb. 4 oz.) Catla!
7 kg Catla and Grey's rod.
I put the rod out again. The phone rang and I picked it up. I finished the conversation and put it down only to see my feeder rod in the air!. It dived into the lake and submerged like a U boat chased by destroyers!
Nothing for it. All operations were suspended as I slipped on an in line ounce lead and the largest treble in my possession on to one of the other rods and went in search of the underwater wonder in the lake's boat. An hour and a half later on the point of dark, and having lost the best time for fishing, I snagged the line! The fish was still attached. On trying to raise the rod tip while playing the fish the inevitable happened and the quivertip splintered into three pieces!
The rod was retrieved as was the offender - a Catla of a mere 9 pounds!
Here Endeth The First Session!
What sort of an idiot picks up a phone when the fish are biting? Well, you know the answer!
2nd Session:
Went for simplicity this time! Drennan Acolyte Ultra 13 ft. , sliding peacock waggler fished dead depth with a single AAA followed by a 2" braid hooklength to a No: 4 Qwner cutting point bait hook. Bait was bread paste and ants eggs! Reel was a Hardy Ultralight Fly reel with 12 lb mono on it! You have seen this ensemble before! Fishing was at the rod tip.
Four Catlas between 5.5 and 6 kg were completely overshadowed by an absolute surprise - a grass carp of 10 Kg or 22 pounds!
Catla and Drennan Acolyte Ultra and Hardy Ultralight
Catla with float and hook arrangement
Grass carp 10 kg (22 lbs.)
As usual once I get going my verbosity knows no bounds! Forgiveness craved and -
All the best
Lakhyaman
P.S. My flash was not working and the night photos are with a hand held light. So please forgive the quality. Not that it would have improved if the flash worked! Lakhyaman.
One arm of the lake.
I decided to go whole hog and put four rods out as there were any number of small carp leaping into the air and signs of feeding fish were everywhere.
Mandan, the ghillie, keeping an eye on what my son calls my "contraptions"!
Two on a bed of my usual particle mix of sweet corn, green peas, tinned chick peas and soaked and boiled local maize and chickpeas. One had hair rigged corn and the other my attempt to create an eggless boilie as Laguna says eggs inhibit flavour spreading in the water - ground and sieved fish feed pellets, semolina and wheat flour, Casein, and crab paste. Boiled for 1 1/2 minutes. I guess I'll never make a boffin!
It did catch me a small drunken looking carp!
Drunken looking carp
Third rod was my attempt at slack lining. Fluorocarbon line slack and, presumably on the floor, two ounce running lead, hair rigged a large tinned chick pea. Got a couple of runs on it but no hook ups! Will have to work this one out.
The fourth was my Greys Prodigy VX Barbel rod with a 1 1/2 oz tip on the quiver tip carrier. A running flat bed method feeder loaded with a simple pack bait of Quaker oats mixed with a tin of sweetcorn, water and all. Four kernels of corn on the hair set the trap.
I had barely settled down when the tip went round and I was into a merry scrap with what proved to be a 7 kg (15lb. 4 oz.) Catla!
7 kg Catla and Grey's rod.
I put the rod out again. The phone rang and I picked it up. I finished the conversation and put it down only to see my feeder rod in the air!. It dived into the lake and submerged like a U boat chased by destroyers!
Nothing for it. All operations were suspended as I slipped on an in line ounce lead and the largest treble in my possession on to one of the other rods and went in search of the underwater wonder in the lake's boat. An hour and a half later on the point of dark, and having lost the best time for fishing, I snagged the line! The fish was still attached. On trying to raise the rod tip while playing the fish the inevitable happened and the quivertip splintered into three pieces!
The rod was retrieved as was the offender - a Catla of a mere 9 pounds!
Here Endeth The First Session!
What sort of an idiot picks up a phone when the fish are biting? Well, you know the answer!
2nd Session:
Went for simplicity this time! Drennan Acolyte Ultra 13 ft. , sliding peacock waggler fished dead depth with a single AAA followed by a 2" braid hooklength to a No: 4 Qwner cutting point bait hook. Bait was bread paste and ants eggs! Reel was a Hardy Ultralight Fly reel with 12 lb mono on it! You have seen this ensemble before! Fishing was at the rod tip.
Four Catlas between 5.5 and 6 kg were completely overshadowed by an absolute surprise - a grass carp of 10 Kg or 22 pounds!
Catla and Drennan Acolyte Ultra and Hardy Ultralight
Catla with float and hook arrangement
Grass carp 10 kg (22 lbs.)
As usual once I get going my verbosity knows no bounds! Forgiveness craved and -
All the best
Lakhyaman
P.S. My flash was not working and the night photos are with a hand held light. So please forgive the quality. Not that it would have improved if the flash worked! Lakhyaman.
B
binka
Guest
Mandan, the ghillie, keeping an eye on what my son calls my "contraptions"!
Now that just has to be the last word in bankside comfort!
Cushioned chair, footrest, stunning scenery.... I want one.
sam vimes
Well-known member
A short while ago on a river far, far away..........
Had a tough day attempting to trot a river with little flow to work with.
Whilst results weren't exactly spectacular, I learned a few things.
1) the proverbial "good" upstream wind isn't always a good thing.
2) rods that are perfect for a certain type of river venue may not be great for another venue, even when the fish are of comparative size.
3) Don't buy Drennan Acolytes unless you want most of the rest of your rods to suddenly seem stupidly heavy.
As the day wore on it became very obvious that the speed the float was traveling mattered hugely to the fish. As the wind was swirling around, I got bites when the wind chanced upon the right direction. An upstream wind was enough to stop the float dead in the light flow. It stopped bites dead too.
In the conditions, I'd probably have been better served using a tip rod. However, I'm not really a fan and hadn't taken anything other than float rods. A "mistake" that I'll be making again in the future. I dare say that I should have given the waggler a try. I'm not entirely convinced that it would have made much difference. With 20/20 hindsight, I should have given it a go to see.
Ended the day with plenty of roach and perch, a few dace, the odd bleak and a couple of skimmers. Only a couple of the roach topped 8oz. Best fish of the day was an unweighed perch that was safely over a pound but fought like it was going to be a real lump. The bigger fish failed to turn up (for anyone on the stretch) as did, surprisingly, the expected gudgeon. Similar story for my mate in the peg below. He didn't get the bigger perch and had chublets in place of my skimmers. He did catch a little more consistently than I did though.
Still a grand day out. Let's hope the next is even better!
Had a tough day attempting to trot a river with little flow to work with.
Whilst results weren't exactly spectacular, I learned a few things.
1) the proverbial "good" upstream wind isn't always a good thing.
2) rods that are perfect for a certain type of river venue may not be great for another venue, even when the fish are of comparative size.
3) Don't buy Drennan Acolytes unless you want most of the rest of your rods to suddenly seem stupidly heavy.
As the day wore on it became very obvious that the speed the float was traveling mattered hugely to the fish. As the wind was swirling around, I got bites when the wind chanced upon the right direction. An upstream wind was enough to stop the float dead in the light flow. It stopped bites dead too.
In the conditions, I'd probably have been better served using a tip rod. However, I'm not really a fan and hadn't taken anything other than float rods. A "mistake" that I'll be making again in the future. I dare say that I should have given the waggler a try. I'm not entirely convinced that it would have made much difference. With 20/20 hindsight, I should have given it a go to see.
Ended the day with plenty of roach and perch, a few dace, the odd bleak and a couple of skimmers. Only a couple of the roach topped 8oz. Best fish of the day was an unweighed perch that was safely over a pound but fought like it was going to be a real lump. The bigger fish failed to turn up (for anyone on the stretch) as did, surprisingly, the expected gudgeon. Similar story for my mate in the peg below. He didn't get the bigger perch and had chublets in place of my skimmers. He did catch a little more consistently than I did though.
Still a grand day out. Let's hope the next is even better!
Graham Elliott 1
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Sam. Re the upstream wind.
I had exactly the same on the previous report I madeon WA.
In fact I was going to comment on it as the first time I had really noticed it.
When the float slowed or stopped due to the wind putting a loop in the line bites pretty much died even when it only happened for 20 secs or so.
Good spot.
I had exactly the same on the previous report I madeon WA.
In fact I was going to comment on it as the first time I had really noticed it.
When the float slowed or stopped due to the wind putting a loop in the line bites pretty much died even when it only happened for 20 secs or so.
Good spot.
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
A bad case of wind? One too many Mansfield lagers or pies, methinks??
Now that just has to be the last word in bankside comfort!
Cushioned chair, footrest, stunning scenery.... I want one.
Lakhyaman, a ghille? That set up, I think you must be related to Lord Paul of Sheffield
lakhyaman
Well-known member
Lakhyaman, a ghille? That set up, I think you must be related to Lord Paul of Sheffield
I am sure M'lord of Sheffield has ghillies - in the plural, not just the one like us commoners! :w
All the best
Lakhyaman.
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Mr Lakhyaman,
A serious question if I may, please? Whilst fishing at lakes like the one in the pics, are there any hazards (snakes, etc etc) that one would have to look out for?
I ask because I'm trying to remember the last time I fished anywhere with a clear hazard/s that I had to bear in mind.
Just curious, but a serious question - honestly.
A serious question if I may, please? Whilst fishing at lakes like the one in the pics, are there any hazards (snakes, etc etc) that one would have to look out for?
I ask because I'm trying to remember the last time I fished anywhere with a clear hazard/s that I had to bear in mind.
Just curious, but a serious question - honestly.
itsfishingnotcatching
Well-known member
lakhyaman
Well-known member
There are snakes there. I have had a Hamadryad (King cobra) swim up to a few yards of me and giving me a good long look. Just curious not threatening. Last month a banded krait swam right alongside our fishing platform causing my friend to take to the air (it was a short flight)!
Saw another one two weeks ago. Since we walk back to the bungalow we stay in when there late at night and often in darkness my son and I have taken to carrying a small bore shotgun and torch with us. The result was one banded krait dispatched so far.
Long gone are the days of my childhood (sixties) when cats both striped and spotted roamed here. There is still one leopard around but he does not come near this area and prefers to filch the odd goat from the more backward parts of the estate. Long may he live!
All the best
Lakhyaman
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Wow, makes the roaming deer here in Dorset and the Wye banks feel fairly tame by comparison. Sometimes feel like I need a shotgun at Longham but nothing to do with wildlife. Take my hat off to you, King Cobras? Yikes.
B
binka
Guest
King Cobras? Yikes.
Just wait until next year Phil...
Mink wrestling!
They're bigger than the barbel
SFAS Wednesday Evening Match
Overnight rain in t'hills had pushed-up the Irwell by about a foot or so - half of which ran-off during the match - didn't help for those of us who wanted to trot - except the odd one or two who had pegs they could wade-in from.
The winner with a 1.5lb chub was Dennis who was one of the 'waders' and was able to find a fish.
The rest of us blanked - though not without some dramas on the way - a few fish 'bumped' - and the odd trout created a bit of excitement before a few leaps and adieu!
I started on the feeder with sweetcorn - had a wraparound bite while greeting one of the latecomers - nothing there - including the hair-rigged bait!
Post match post-mortem decided I needed bigger feeders - a 30g Medium - wasn't upto the flow and not baiting the swim enough to tempt back whatever had promised with the 3ftTwitch! Have to get some tips off the Ribble boys! - ooh - that's a thought - I've got some 120g 'perforated buckets' in the 'found tackle' box from last time I fished the Rubble after a flood! Just need a ghillie/sherpa to help carry the bag after I add those to it!
As we gazed-back down the match-length after packing-up - the reduced water was starting to come alive with fish topping and spladooshing everywhere - always the way - innit!?mg:
Overnight rain in t'hills had pushed-up the Irwell by about a foot or so - half of which ran-off during the match - didn't help for those of us who wanted to trot - except the odd one or two who had pegs they could wade-in from.
The winner with a 1.5lb chub was Dennis who was one of the 'waders' and was able to find a fish.
The rest of us blanked - though not without some dramas on the way - a few fish 'bumped' - and the odd trout created a bit of excitement before a few leaps and adieu!
I started on the feeder with sweetcorn - had a wraparound bite while greeting one of the latecomers - nothing there
- including the hair-rigged bait!
Post match post-mortem decided I needed bigger feeders - a 30g Medium - wasn't upto the flow and not baiting the swim enough to tempt back whatever had promised with the 3ftTwitch! Have to get some tips off the Ribble boys!
- ooh - that's a thought - I've got some 120g 'perforated buckets' in the 'found tackle' box from last time I fished the Rubble after a flood! Just need a ghillie/sherpa to help carry the bag after I add those to it!As we gazed-back down the match-length after packing-up - the reduced water was starting to come alive with fish topping and spladooshing everywhere - always the way - innit!?
mg: