I need a lot of help!

[gozzer]

oh and why am I on Mod preview?

 

You will be until after your 15th post, then you'll find everything open to you. It's not personal, it's just that the mods had to do this, because we sometimes get 'oddballs' trying to cause mischief. We have enough trouble with our resident 'oddballs' as it is.

 

Here's a few links that I think will make things a bit clearer.

 

http://pleasurefishing.com/html/wagglerrigs.htm

 

http://www.fishingmagic.com/rigs/float_fis...rigs/14455.html

 

http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/gettingsta...loatfishing.htm

 

 

Ah, I see, Grange Hills Roland.

 

We have a badger man, a few Bird men, and loads of dog and cat men, it would have made a change to have a 'rat man'.

 

John

[Roland]

You will be until after your 15th post, then you'll find everything open to you. It's not personal, it's just that the mods had to do this, because we sometimes get 'oddballs' trying to cause mischief. We have enough trouble with our resident 'oddballs' as it is.

 

Here's a few links that I think will make things a bit clearer.

 

http://pleasurefishing.com/html/wagglerrigs.htm

 

http://www.fishingmagic.com/rigs/float_fis...rigs/14455.html

 

http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/gettingsta...loatfishing.htm

 

 

Ah, I see, Grange Hills Roland.

 

We have a badger man, a few Bird men, and loads of dog and cat men, it would have made a change to have a 'rat man'.

 

John

 

 

Ah I see Im a Professional golfer on work days so could I be "Golf Man" I appreciate the links, some good stuff to read there. I didnt know I had to sink the line until a couple of hours ago, and that reels have a "clutch"

 

Much to learn I still have

[Newt]

"Much to learn I still have"

 

But learn it you can.

[poledark]

I would suggest that you "make friends" with one or two of the anglers on your lake. You will learn more in an hour with them, than many hours reading books. The fact that you now realise that your reel has a clutch means you need a lot of advice before you even think of casting a line out.

 

Good luck and heres to your steady progress

 

Den

[BoldBear]

Hi Roland,

I notice you live in Elstree, so why not try to join Tykes Water AC who fish Lord Aldenhams Estate Lake, the entrance of which is opposite Allum Lane. It is too late this year but if you email me I will give you the address of the membership secretary so that you can at least get on the waiting list.

 

Alternatively you could join Verulum AC which doesn't have a waiting list and has loads of waters in the area including Aldenham reservoir in Elstree, moor mill and frogmore further along watling street that you could fish and get free coaching; plus loads of other stillwaters and rivers. Verulum is a brilliant club with lots of different types of water, if you decide to specialise in any type of fishing it has a Match section a Specialist section and a Fly fishing section plus junior and ladies sections, plus some record nudging fish of most species in its various waters.

 

Welwyn Garden City lake is a good water but it gets crowded and can be a bit open especially in a wind.

The better spots on Welwyn for the beginner using a float rod are from the small wooded place on the grassy side around the far end and up to half way up the river side. that is possibly because the wind is usually blowing into that end of the lake.

Welwyn has some good fish in the lake plus some huge shoals of good Bream and has some good open matches, Ivan Marks used to fish the occasional open on the lake before his health deteriated and he sadly died.

There are also a lot of Carp in there and half of the swims are full of bed chairs and alarms.

 

I live in Borehamwood and belong to both Verulum AC and Tykes Water so if you join either of these we are bound to meet up.

 

Anyway good luck and tight lines

 

Keith (BoldBear)

Edited August 19, 2010 by BoldBear

[Roland]

Hi Roland,

I notice you live in Elstree, so why not try to join Tykes Water AC who fish Lord Aldenhams Estate Lake, the entrance of which is opposite Allum Lane. It is too late this year but if you email me I will give you the address of the membership secretary so that you can at least get on the waiting list.

 

Alternatively you could join Verulum AC which doesn't have a waiting list and has loads of waters in the area including Aldenham reservoir in Elstree, moor mill and frogmore further along watling street that you could fish and get free coaching; plus loads of other stillwaters and rivers. Verulum is a brilliant club with lots of different types of water, if you decide to specialise in any type of fishing it has a Match section a Specialist section and a Fly fishing section plus junior and ladies sections, plus some record nudging fish of most species in its various waters.

 

Welwyn Garden City lake is a good water but it gets crowded and can be a bit open especially in a wind.

The better spots on Welwyn for the beginner using a float rod are from the small wooded place on the grassy side around the far end and up to half way up the river side. that is possibly because the wind is usually blowing into that end of the lake.

Welwyn has some good fish in the lake plus some huge shoals of good Bream and has some good open matches, Ivan Marks used to fish the occasional open on the lake before his health deteriated and he sadly died.

There are also a lot of Carp in there and half of the swims are full of bed chairs and alarms.

 

I live in Borehamwood and belong to both Verulum AC and Tykes Water so if you join either of these we are bound to meet up.

 

Anyway good luck and tight lines

 

Keith (BoldBear)

 

 

Hi Keith, thanks for the advice I actually live just off Theobald street! I will check out Verulam Ac as it sounds quite local for me.

 

I had another go today at Gaywoods in Kings Langley. Was a lovely place, busy and lots of nice people around. Like Tuesday, It took me a good while to get a rig setup. However once I had I started to catch some fish!

 

Used spam for bait and a bit of corn here and there. I caught 7 bream over 6 hours which could have been a lot lot more bream if I wasn't so intent on checking the cricket score They cheeky buggers kept nicking my bait and by the 2 seconds after the float went down and I struck, they had buggered off with the lovely spam!.

 

I only fished about 10 feet of so from the swim as Janet had suggested, which was nice as the line didnt blow around and I could relax a little bit. However that was difficult when every time I cast off within 30 seconds the float dived, bait gone and no fish. Ho hum live and learn. As for fish size I'm unsure on gauging weight by size etc. The last one of the day was the biiggest and a chap wandering past said it looked about 5lbs

 

Quick question, why do bream appear to be covered in goo? I got it everywhere and it now looks like I fell in a sperm bank

 

Really enjoyed today, what a thrill it is fighting a fish and then seeing the silver flash coming up towards the surface

[Peter M]

bream are very slimey and its this slime that protects the fish so always handle them with wet hands. i suggest accurate plumbing to get to know how deep you are fishing and how it varies around your swim. Janet is right most lakes in the UK and in the summer can be fished in the margins and i never cast far out when float fishing. the books that others have reccomended are a good idea and don't get sold the latest fad bait in the tackle shop. maggots worms meat sweetcorn bread is best with some feed pellets little and often as already said. if you want to know how heavy the fish is get a good set of scales and a weigh sling and learn to set the scales on zero with a wet net. most of all have fun tight lines.

[Janet]

I only fished about 10 feet of so from the swim as Janet had suggested, which was nice as the line didnt blow around and I could relax a little bit. However that was difficult when every time I cast off within 30 seconds the float dived, bait gone and no fish.

 

Ah! I have the same problem...still, it shows that the margins are very productive places, if you know how to fish them right!

 

My normal tactic in this situation is to keep feeding little and often, in the hope that the smaller bait nicking thieving tiddlers will get full up and then the larger fish move in...I usually spend a while using maggot and caster (all the while screaming in frustration at missed bites!) and then switch to pellets, luncheon meat, corn or lobs.

 

It usually works for me...I spend an hour or two in frustration at missed bites, then the bigger fish begin to muscle out the smaller ones. That's when the fun starts!

 

As for bream? Yuk! The lads on my club lake always laugh at me as I seem to be doomed to catch large bream, and I HATE handling them!

 

I used to religiously weigh all my fish, until I realised it was just a pointless exercise...I don't need to know how many pounds and ounces they are...I just KNOW when I've caught something special, and that's enough for me.

 

By the way, don't listen to anything I say! Be guided by those who know a lot more than me...I've not been at this fishing lark for long. What works for me may not work for you...I'm easily pleased, with no great aim for specimen fish...I just go and enjoy the day.

 

The advice you've been given about making friends with other anglers is as good as it gets. You can try and do it on your own, but you can't beat local knowledge. I haven't met an angler yet who wasn't prepared to give advice as to bait, tactics, swims etc.

 

Well, I did meet one, who was rather condescending when he realised that I was actually fishing, and not just accompanying my partner..I sooo enjoyed landing by far the best fish of the day and watching him squirm!

 

Your local tackle shop is also (or should be) a mine of information.

 

Glad to hear that you caught today...it’s a great feeling, isn’t it?

 

Janet

[Roland]

Thanks Janet, appreciate the advice.

 

Btw this book is fantastic for complete beginners like me: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coarse-Fishing-Bas...e/dp/0600614018

 

Really helpful stuff.

 

I do have a question though. I see there are various types of rod available (coarse, carp, match etc etc) and I know they help do certain things like quiver tips for ledgering for example.

 

Is there anything wrong with trying to ledger with a 12ft coarse rod? I have been talking to a friend of mine and he is showing me this week a float I can use while doing it also. I just wanted to know if my road will self destruct if I try it?

[Guest Chris Perch]

A great first post Ben, and welcome to AN!

 

 

 

I think there's a clue there, with the carp cruising in your swim...!

 

The big fish, or any fish, don't always sit 40 feet out waiting for you to ambush them...

 

I never fish much more than a rod's length from the bank, and consistently outfish the guys on our lake! They laugh at me, whilst they're casting out into the far distance and they see me fishing under my rod tip...I get lots of what they appear to think are very amusing comments when I cast out more than a few feet...

 

However, nine times out of ten I'll have the last laugh!

 

I find that particularly at the start and end of the day, the big fish tend to mooch around the margins...possibly mopping up left over bait, possibly just thinking it's safe? Who knows? However, that's where I've always had the most success.

 

 

 

The tackle shops would have us believe anything! Many of them aren't interesting in catching fish, just catching anglers, and we do appear to be easy to hook!

 

I can only speak from my own experience, but maggots, casters, worm and bread are always consistently good baits for most fish. Luncheon meat on occasions, but as for the fruity/spicy overpriced and overhyped stuff? Don't waste your money...

 

I stand by to be corrected!

 

Janet

 

I would definately fish the margins (close in) to start with.

Plumb the depth and fish on the bottom in about 4-8 ft (when its hot shallow swims can fish well)and feed little and often.

I like to fish on or just over the near shelf if there is one.

some groundbait may help to attract the fish into your swim (dont mix it too wet) it should make a nice cloud and attract fish. again feed Little and often.

The book you have ordered is a good one and you should learn quite a bit from it.

again i would always take some Maggotts and maybe casters(For all sizes of fish),sweetcorn and Meat (for the bigger fish) and pellets can be good.

Hope this helps and Tight Lines.

P.S. your rod will be ok for ledgering.

Edited August 23, 2010 by Chris Perch