| MARK HODSON | |
An angler since he can remember, Mark Hodson almost literally lives, eats and breathes fishing. A match angler in his youth, fishing for the junior Starlets, he turned to the dark side and joined the ‘floppy hat’ brigade in his college years. He worked in the tackle trade for ten years, on a part time or full time basis at Chaplains, one of Birmingham’s busiest tackle shops and managed the specialist department there for two years. He now fishes just for fun, although the ‘floppy specialist hat’ still dominates his angling, his writing concentrates on getting the maximum enjoyment from your angling and trying something different from the norm. |
The Forgotten Arts – Touch LegeringTOUCH LEGERING, NOW to some this method really is the stuff of legend, a method of sepia coloured halcyon days gone by, when cane and cork ruled the roost and the angling’s leading thinkers wore hats and pressed shirts that made them look distinguished rather than like an extra from a war movie. Nothing could be further removed from today’s era of multi rod set ups, digital alarms, baitboats and fish finders. Many will ask, “What place does touch legering have in the modern day anglers armoury of fishing techniques?” Well, firstly let me tell you no other method will give you a greater insight into what a ‘bite’ or ‘take’ actually is, it will literally send tingles down your spine as the fish mouths, then takes your bait. Secondly, in today’s age of ever increasingly pressurised waters and wary fish this, the most sensitive of all bite indication methods, could just be the advantage you have been looking for. Thirdly this method will truly reconnect you to your quarry and the mystical side of angling that most crave, it will give you the opportunity to open yourself to the sensations that will relight the flame that started the inferno that is our love of fishing.
This method, that utilises every available sense an angler possesses will, with a little patience and dedication, also give you a massive advantage when using other forms of bite indication, as the experience and lessons learnt whilst touch legering help interpret every twitch, knock, rattle or lift of other standard forms of bite indication. Meaning those little indications that previously left you scratching your head in puzzlement or tearing your hair out in frustration will become uncoded, like a newly learnt language it will open your horizons and lead you on a journey of discovery that will leave you a more complete angler. Rigs Simple methods require simple rigs, you will be using the most direct form of indication possible, anything overcomplicated will ‘numb the senses’ and interfere with the messages you will be wanting to be telegraphed from interested or taking fish. Freelined, rolled, low resistance or running style rigs are the order of the day. Rigwise I wont try to describe what is better shown by the picture, anything similar to those shown will suffice. Mono or braid? Braid, with its near zero stretch characteristics really amplifies any indications given by taking fish or fish in the swim. It’s like switching over from an analogue signal to a digital one – the difference is amazing. If fish breathed, with braid you would feel their breath on the line as they approached, that’s the level of detail it gives. However, it does have disadvantages, having zero stretch it takes a great deal of self discipline not to be over exuberant on the strike at close range, which is the range at which most touch legering takes place. For those like myself who do not have the composure to ‘lift’ into fish and in the excitement of a take end up reverting to my usual rapier like strike, then mono is probably the better bet when fishing close in. At such close range the compromise made by sacrificing the sensitivity of braid is minimal and gives you that safety margin on the strike. Anything over two rod’s length out I’m happy to use braid, knowing that at this range the absorption qualities of a good Avon style rod and the small amount of stretch in the braid at this range will help counter any possibility of an immediate crack-off or hook pull. Indication – its all in the fingers baby! It literally is all in the fingers, the indications from interested or biting fish are sensed by your fingers. The two methods are shown in the pictures.
The first, the crooked index finger, is quite simply a case of hooking a bent finger (some people do use their middle, ring finger or a combination of the three mentioned fingers) over the line so the pressure is on your finger instead of the bale arm, indications will be then sensed by your finger. This method is predominantly used with fixed spool reels though it can be used with a centrepin as well. The second method is to hold the line in the fingertips of your off-rod or reel hand, this I find is slightly more sensitive than the crooked finger technique as the finger tips are the most sensitive part of the hand and can be utilised with any sort of reel with comfort, even a multiplier.
Where practicable the rod needs to be pointing at the bait, keeping everything as direct as possible with minimum angles or friction to dull any indications given from fish. Obviously if you need to keep line out of the water as when fishing running water to avoid a bait being dragged out of position or to avoid near bank snags or cover then a compromise has to be made, as long a you don’t go over a 45 degree angle then you will not be losing your edge over other forms of indication. Getting all Touchy Feely Does it all seem a little daunting compared to your normal fishing? You don’t feel you have the confidence to give it a go and see how well it works? Then try this little learning technique that I used to master the method and you’ll be a master in no time. I learnt to touch leger at commercial fisheries and I suggest anyone trying it for the first time should do the same. I know the technique and the venue seem at opposite ends of the fishing spectrum but the one thing a commercial venue will give you is feeding fish in front of you, which is essential if you are to get experience at using the technique before progressing on to venues where bites are more sparse. Here’s what to do. Choose a venue with a good mix of species, this is essential so you can experience the indications given by different fish and the subtle differences in the takes and the indications that come before. Start on a method you have confidence in, be it the waggler, standard feeder set up with a quiver tip, pole, but the main thing is to get feeding fish in front of you. Then once you’ve started catching well change to your touch legering set up. As soon as your rig’s in the water you realise how much feedback you get from the vibrations and knocks running up your line to your fingers. You’ll feel fish bang into your line as they feed, you’ll feel the bait being sent fluttering up in the water as it gets washed about by fish hungrily seeking out your freebies and you’ll feel the slow tightening of your line as a fish sucks in your hookbait which is instantly replaced by the sensation of the line being pulled from your fingertips or your finger straightening as a fish takes the bait in earnest. Soon by changing hookbaits and hook sizes and targeting different species you will be able to identify the individual characteristics of the indication that each species give when touch legering. You’ll quickly identify a perch which gives an indication similar to a heavy weight boxer kicking in your door and smacking you in the face, it really is like that, two massive thumps as the perch aggressively grabs at a bait and then closes its mouth and turns. Then there’s the carp which gives a thousand signals of being around the bait before you feel the line tightening, and tightening, and tightening some more before you realise a strike is unnecessary and back winding would be more appropriate. Get to know the subtle mouthing of the roach and the slow tightening of the tench and bream which is followed by a short sharp tug as they right themselves from their inverted feeding position.
Once you’ve caught a few fish it is then time to get fully literate in the language of touch legering. You take off your hook and tie just a 1 oz bomb to the end of your main line. Cast into the middle of your feeding fish and learn what line bites feel like. You can imagine the fish rubbing against the line as your line vibrates and the tension increases but you realise the difference in feeling from an actual take, also you feel the difference when a fish gets the line caught on a fin, differences that are indistinguishable with any other form of indication. Once you’ve done this a few times take your new found skills to running water and discover the electrifying sensation as a barbel’s whiskers rub over a hookbait sending thousands of tiny shivers up into your fingers just prior to your finger nearly being pulled off as it charges away, hookbait in its mouth. You’ll also learn how sensitive some chub can be as they suspiciously mouth baits with their big lips prior to swallowing them down. You soon realise how many bites, indications and so much information you were missing out on using other forms of bite indication. Get comfy, Watch the World go by Touch legering lends itself to slouching in a reclining chair and watching the clouds drift effortlessly by. It is the method of angling’s greatest dreamers and fantasists who are too often rudely awakening by the sensation of a bite being delivered to the fingertips. Soon when you fish other methods, such as floater fishing or stalking with a float you will find yourself holding the line feeling for the tell tale vibrations, taps or tightening that precede any sort of visual indication. Like all the forgotten arts, touch legering is not the most productive or practical of methods at all times, but it is one of the most rewarding, enjoyable and, most importantly, most educational of fishing methods you can ever employ. It can be used to fish the smallest of streams to the mightiest of lochs, for the smallest of minnows to the largest of carp. So go on, get back in touch with your quarry, and your fishing. |
