manxfisher

Flyers and sliders - mostly used by match anglers to pick up a few bonus fish by fishing two water levels at the same time. I would personally call the 'sliding a snood down the mainline' a 'slider'. I always struggled to use a slider effectively so I don't bother now. The 'flyer' on the other hand is very good at picking out fish like mackerel, coalies. To fish a 'flyer', I thread 2 small beads onto my leader before attaching the swivel/link. Then, if I want to fish a 'flyer' at a shallow mark, i simply clip in a short hooklength in between the beads. When you cast out, the flyer flies back up the line toward the leader knot. A tapered leader is useful when using the flyer simply because it can fly further back up the line away from the main baits - the idea being that you have different baits spread out accross a wide range of sea bed and depth. Add a floaty bead to your flyer hook length to fish in the upper layers of the water, add a small ball weight (and let out some line after the cast) to fish the flyer on the sea bed (good for flounder close in while the main bait is further out) A picture sure does paint a thousand words, but I hope you get the gist of what I am trying to say

Perhaps I should add: All my tope fishing is done from the shore, and I have never had a tope that was deeply hooked. Good luck warjoe - if you are getting the runs then you are more than half way there.

FWIW, I lust let them run to begin with, slowly increasing the drag pressure (from the virtually nothing that it was orig set on) until the tope stops, then I wind down and lift into it and then hang on, grinning like an idot with wobbly legs Works for me, and only rarely have I had a take and not converted it into a landed tope (big slack line bite each time, and couldn't catch up quick enough)

He has recently bought an old lighthouse + cottages here in the IOM, so I am guessing that is where he is fishing (virtually from his back door)

You are such a tease John I am now studying the maps - knowing what direction the wind was yesterday is a starting point I suppose ... I don't blame you for keeping it quiet - I do the same myself after putting in countless hours experimenting. [ 02. July 2005, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: manxfisher ]

Here in IOM we use standard beach gear. Any beach rod will cope, as will 6500 size reels loaded with 15lb line. I have had them on 6500 mag elite, but I much prefer the ratchet facility of the Penn 525 or Slosh 20. The sound of a screaming ratchet as the tope picks up the bait is enough to get the legs shaking

Hi Thurso I'm from the IOM, but I don't know anything about boats so I am defo not your man Manxman is a member on here - I'm sure he is much more qualified

http://www.geocaching.com/ If you enjoy walking / being outdoors generally then it will probably appeal.

I've been pondering buying one of these for ages - took the plunge yesterday and a Garmin Legend is currently on its way to me (hurry up Mr Postman) Not sure how much fishing use it will get (I don't have a boat) but it will certainly get used while out walking. It also opens up the world of 'Geocaching' Has anyone on here had a go at that ?

I agree that Samalite/Tiga (which I have) are without doubt the best headlamps around for rock fishing, but in answer to the specific question of what is the best LED headlamp I really dont think the £6 ebay jobbie can be beaten. I thought it would be a bit of a toy when I ordered it, but even after being used to luxury of my Tiga I was well impressed with the £6 12 LED 'Toy' and it is now my preferred headlamp for places that aren't pitch black (piers promenades etc) If it had a recognised manufactuers name on it then I am sure it would (a) get a superb write up in the angling press and then ( be snapped up readily for £20-£30 by anglers. For £6 what have you got to lose ? I should be on commission

http://search.ebay.co.uk/12-led-headlamp_W...romZR40QQsojsZ1 Without doubt excellent value for £6.00 inc batteries (auction price of £0.01 + £5.99 p+p) 12 LEDs, v bright. Superb. Time will tell how long it lasts, but for the price does it really matter ?

I go the other way round skippy - Gemini link on the top of trace, and a quality rolling swivel on the leader line. Easily unclips for quick trace change overs even with cold wet hands. I used to do it the other way around (swivel on trace, link on leader)but found I had trouble getting the gemini link through the next to last ring on some of my rods - swivels go through no bother. Trust me, it's better to find this out before you tie loads of traces. [ 16. January 2005, 02:40 PM: Message edited by: manxfisher ]

I used to use an Ian Golds tripod for beach and rock work but I usually struggled with it on rocks because I could never quite find the right place to pitch it . On the rocks I now use a lightweight telescopic rod rest (from Veals) - the adjustability of the telescopic legs (which extend from 3 to 6 foot) make it much easier to find little nooks and crannies to wedge them in perfectly which results in a stable rod rest Another bonus is that the telescopic rod rest is much lighter than the goldsie one - a point worth considering when yomping to distant rock marks.

I have a Penn Mag 525, plus the slosh 20 and 30 - all good reels, but for me the sloshes are more difficult to grip because of the positioning of the gears so the Penn gets my vote (and future custom)

My twopenneth FWIW: I have to agree with Dale. I bought a Tiga about 3 years ago after making do with various incarnations of Petzls and haven't looked back since. I suppose it all depends on where you fish. Rocks require as much light as possible for safety, LEDs are more suited to beach fishing.