Dace

[PDS]

Im having trouble locating Dace on my local stretch of river. Could anyone give me advice on the type of swim they prefer?

[Chris Plumb]

What rivers you fishing? On Saturday I had a couple of dozen dace from a very fast gravelly run on the Kennet - just where I'd expect to find them at this time of year...

 

Chris

[Hereford_angler]

Hes got it in one! Shallow, fastish water with gravel under them will make happy dace. They adore the strong sun and you should be able to see them clearly if the water is clear. Also, may i sugest using pinkies on the hook and a good heavy, sinking groundbait!

[PDS]

Thanks Chris and Hereford_angler, the river im fishing is the Tyne. I can catch dace in the lower reaches no problem but in my local stretch at Hexham its so frustating as I was catching them a couple of years ago. But from what you say I may be fishing the wrong type of swims.

 

The Tyne at Hexham is a mixture of long slowish stretches and a few shallower glides with a rocky bottom. Do dace like rocky bottoms?

[Hereford_angler]

Yeh rocky will be fine for dace. As long as it aint muddy or silty bottom they will be ok. They arent fans of coloured water you see. Usually found in clear water where predators cant sneek up on them!

[PDS]

Gosh that was quick! thanks again. What kind of ground bait do you recommend?

 

paul

[Hereford_angler]

Usually if it says river on the front it will be fast sinking but i would go for a white mix. Black or dark groundbait mixes can make dace leave the area. Sensas do a few good ones like there roch mix.

[davidP]

PDS:

Gosh that was quick! thanks again. What kind of ground bait do you recommend?

 

paul

Personally (and it's been a few years) I've never caught dace with groundbait. Loose fed maggots and a float trotted through always worked best for me

[Chris Plumb]

Yup that's all I do. I got through half a gallon on Sat. but then I was trying to get the barbel going...(quite successfully I might add )

 

Chris

[PDS]

Do you think it would be worth throwing a bit of hemp in? And do Dace take tares? I ask this because theres so many minnows in the Hexham stretch.

 

paul