[Missed bites on Spam]

I have the same on my local lake. Some of the carp I landed fought hard for their size, until I got them into the net to find them hooked in the belly!!. Sometimes the hook will come back with a scale on it. I am not alone in this, as others have the same problem. The lake is quite shallow with fish in the 3-8 lb range. They seem to swim quite close to the bottom and get foul hooked. It is not only meat, but corn and pellets have the same problem. I now have the bottom shot on the bottom about 12" from the hook, and drag the float back after casting to leave it all on the bottom. This has reduced it noticeably, but not prevented it entirely

 

This all sounds very familiat particularly the conditions on the lake. Thanks for all the info and the shotting as per the lift method is worth some further consideration. I am fishing at more or less dead depth so will try laying on a foot or so.

Regards,

Dave.

[Derby Angler's Journal]

Gents, thanks for the kind comments I will have to keep it up now. Interesting comment about my (or rather my Dads) centrepin, I though it was a Mordex.

Regards,

Dave.

[Missed bites on Spam]

I assume you're not covering the point of the hook with the meat? I had similar problems today with ledgered luncheon meat on a hair rig. Started off with 8lb main/6lb hook length/size 12 hook and was getting some real screecher "runs" but no connections. My mate had exactly the same thing and he was float fishing. We reckon it was line bites but not sure. After downgrading to 4lb main/2.5lb hook length and a size 14 hook, i hooked into a 12 pounder. Big fish + light tack = hard work!

 

EDIT:

Must learn to type faster!

 

Thanks for the advice Gents, I tend to rest the hook point on one of the sides of the meat once I have pulled it through the meat with the baiting needle so the point is exposed, perhaps I'm not exposing it enough. Interesting to hear of similar problems with a hair rig which was my plan A to overcome. Certainly some food for thought though.

Best regards,

Dave.

[Missed bites on Spam]

Hello All, could do with some advice on getting more connections when fishing Spam as hookbait. In a small lake with a good head of carp I am only hooking up with about 1 in 4 'bites' whilst floatfishing. Using about 10mm cubes on a size 8 barbless hook, depth about 3'6", 2AAA waggler all shot locking float. The fish are in the 2lb to 6lb range and the bites are clear sail aways of the float.

Do I need to go smaller on the hookbait?

Am I getting line bites?

Should I try a hair rig?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,

Dave.

[which reel for trotting for barbel]

There are still plenty of the older ABU500 series available secondhand on auction sites and these IMHO take some beating for quality.

[Autumn River Campaign]

A wet and windy morning on a Derbyshire brook was made almost bearable by this angry chap. Not the biggest of perch but it made my morning nevertheless.

[Tench raking]

Very quickly at times. Depending on the water.

 

Bit late to be talking about tench aint it Andy?

 

 

I would tend to agree and would not set out with the intention of Tench much past early September. But that's just me and would be interested in others experience.

Regards,

Dave.

[Macaroni Cheese]

Like Lutra I have never tried it either, but I seem to remember that there was an article in one of the fishing mags recently. I think it may have been "Improve your Coarse Fishing" Some one else on AN may be able to confirm which mag and month. I you can get hold of a copy it may provide further information on the method and give an idea if it works in Atumn/Winter.

 

It was indeed in Improve your Coarse Fishing Jul/Aug 2009 edition number 222.

Hope that helps, regards.

Dave.

[New Royalty Barbel Record falls to my work colleague]

That is one hell of a first barbel, well done.

[Back to Fishing]

It can't have been that bad can it?you must have caught fish with it to want to take up fishing again.There is a lot of tackle in the shops that is designed to catch anglers rather than fish(especially for carp fishing.like rusty says you could just use your old tackle with new line and hooks,then build your new tackle up a bit at a time.

 

I'd agree with giving your old tackle a go, it's probably at least up to the job that modern gear is. I'm still using Mitchell/ABU reels, fibreglass rods (an old Shakey Alpha match is my current go to rod) and an old wicker basket.

PS Hello all, first post for me on this forum.

Best regards,

Dave.