My method for Wingham

[Newt]

Sorry Den. I can't see most of the free photo hosting sites like Photobucket from work (where I am now). They don't even show an empty box.

 

I keep forgetting this since the blocking is fairly recent. Oops.

[Comus]

Thanks for sharing the rig. I'm hoping to get down to Wingham this weekend, I'll try and replicate it.

 

Comus

Edited May 20, 2008 by Comus

[Guest tigger]

Looks very much like a method feeder type set up. Certainly worked well enough.

[Dick Dastardly]

Simple but very effective Den.I especially liked the homemade feeders.

 

All though Ive been quite into bolt rigs for Tench for some time Im still not to sure about them for Bream (the fixed rig scaring them on liners thing Ive spoke with you about) If I have a tench session over there I will certainly give your rig a try though.Going to concentrate on the bream untill they spawn then leave them alone till autumn so should be plenty of time to try for those tench.Your catch (espoecially the one that got away) really inspired me. A fine piece of angling.

[poledark]

Various elements in play with this setup. The feeder weighs 2oz so helps to set the hook a bit like a semi fixed bolt rig. Most commercial feeders are much to light after the feed has dissolved/broken down.

 

The short tube out the front coupled with the short hooklink ensures no tangles, and also makes certain the hook bait is close to the feeder. No tangles....heaven

 

No hair..I have had problems with those maggot clips getting tangled up with the hook, threading maggots on a bit of cotton etc is to fiddly for me, I want to be able to get the rig out again as soon as possible. The maggots will remain alive even the next day when threaded on the hook.

 

Getting the feed down to the bottom in one lump, even after a long chuck, is vital to the success. The solid sheet base of the feeder acts like a shield on impact, and stops the feed getting knocked out. You should be able to wind in after a cast with the feed still in place...some of the fish I had were landed with most of the feed still in the feeder.

 

Some of you older members will know I have been fiddling about looking for the perfect rig for years. Bait presentation/hook setup is essential for consistent success while botttom fishing. I am convinced that many times my bait is inspected and rejected without me knowing, certainly without the fish getting hooked, but there is no single answer. It has to be a combination of things, often something very simple can transform a catch.

 

I test all my rigs in water, either at home or when by the lake. Seeing what happens to a feeder after 30 mins can be an eye opener...I have learnt a lot from doing that.

 

Richards setup last year seemed to me to be pretty good, the mesh and feeder ensured the package all arrived on the lake bed close together. PVA mesh is damned expensive, if you miss the spot (like I often do) you have to dry off everything and restart,and so I converted some commercial feeders. The "shield" effect was a bonus, a very lucky bonus as it has turned out, works even when chucking 90 yds

 

Sorry, I am going on a bit, I am afraid presentation is a bit of an obsession with me, But I do catch a lot of fish, not just at Wingham :)

 

Den

Edited May 20, 2008 by poledark

[Anderoo]

I can share my carp rig details if anyone's interested.

 

Anyone?

 

[tumbleweed rolls across screen]

 

[Kappa]

Richards setup last year seemed to me to be pretty good, the mesh and feeder ensured the package all arrived on the lake bed close together. PVA mesh is damned expensive, if you miss the spot (like I often do) you have to dry off everything and restart,and so I converted some commercial feeders. The "shield" effect was a bonus, a very lucky bonus as it has turned out, works even when chucking 90 yds

Very interesting Den! I've slightly changed my rig from last year from a helicopter maggot feeder to an inline version. The newer rig in my opinion is much improved in terms for hooking and bite indication, my runs have gone from slow jerky ones to screamers. I did actually try a method feeder the other day and it seemed to be about as effective, however as it was in a slightly diffferent spot to "my rig" I couldn't be certain is one was better than the other! I do love PVA though, especially as I can thread the hooklink through as per last year and know for certain my hooklength is not tangled. Jury is still out there on that!

 

I agree about the maggot clips though I'm currently dreaming up a better way to present maggots, on the hook is fine but I've had them 'turn over' and mask the hook point too. I'm thinking of something similar to a medusa rig hopefully still using a maggot clip in a way that it cannot tangle up with the hook.Rich

 

I can share my carp rig details if anyone's interested.Anyone?[tumbleweed rolls across screen]

 

I'd be interested

 

 

 

 

 

I've been looking for a rig that avoids carp for a while

 

Rich

Edited May 22, 2008 by Richard Capper

[Dick Dastardly]

Rich dont know if I can explain this.I will try but if not let me know and I will post a diagram.

 

Maggots/casters are definately a top big fish bait....especially on waters which have no/very few small fish. Liking them as I do I tried the Korda maggot clips a load of times and decided I didnt like them.Yes they were conveniant but as Den says they do tangle/mask the hook if fished on a standard hair.

 

I like the "maggot ball" best if fished on a hair. The maggot ball is different to the "Medusa" in that it isnt based on a cork/poly ball. I get a fine sewing needle and some fine mono (better than cotton/braid etc as its not absorbant) I tie the mono on to the needle then carefully thread my live maggots on to the line.Sticking the needle in through the small flap of skin at the breathing (blunt) hole end of the maggot (like you are meant to do with a hook) causes much less damage than a big hook,and in my opinion less fiddly.I then tie this ball to the loop of the hair (or more often these days to a small loop whipped/glued/shrink tubed to the back of the hook shank.Making a granny knot with the two ends forms a ball of bait once pulled tight. The second method has never tangled/masked the hook when Ive used it.

 

When Ive wanted to use a big hook (+ size 4) I use two balls.For this I use a "looped eye" hair rig with a standard hair attached as well.

 

That said normally I use a size of hook suited to the size of bait.Ive caught some big fish on size 12 and 10 Drennan Specialists. Another dodge is to slide a rubber maggot over the hook shank then just put 4 or 5 real maggots on. The "Mag aligner" rig designed by Rob Maylin and often held up as the ultimate specimen fish rig is ok and Ive caught on it...but just cant see any advantage and certainly dont use the heavy combi links sugested for it.

 

You might be interested to know a lot of the big fish from Collinbrook in the 90's were caught on maggots/casters despite what the bait sponsored anglers may have reported!

[Newt]

Budgie - if you can source the sort of needle/mono thread rig the eye surgeons use to repair areas of the eye, it should be perfect and save you trying to thread smallish line into a smallish needle. They are pre-rigged.

 

Not sure where you would source them - nursejudy should know - but they aren't expensive in the quantities you would use.

[Dick Dastardly]

Cheers Newt.Anyone know of a supply?