Struggle to hook the fish

[gozzer]

Ive only started fishing the canal in the past 12 months, and have gone from one side to the other (that my canal fishing liscence covers). Not really focusing on one specific area untill recently. Most recent places are near bridge 142, 147 + 149 heading out of devizes towards woodbrough.

 

I useualy set up float fishing 1-2" off the bottom. Shot near the hook, I have caught 50% of my fish on the canal with the float "raising" bite. Notably decent sized roach.

 

I will try a bigger sized hook. 18-14 and see what happens. Thanks

 

TJ

 

I'd like to see your shotting pattern Jas. You say "shot near the hook", how many shot, what size, and how big?

When I fish my local canal, I usually start off with a No8 (sometimes No10), as my 'tell tale' shot, about 6"-8" from the hook. I then adjust to suit the bites. The old rule is, "if getting bites and they don't register, gradually move the tell tale closer to the hook, if getting bites and missing, do the opposite".

As others have said, sharp hooks, and, if fishing near in, no need to strike hard.

 

How do you space the shot on your line, and what sizes?

 

John.

[Jason]

Generaly I use either no8 or no10 shots like you, if the float requires alot of shot a no6. And anything between 4-8 inches to the hook.

 

I forgot to mention that ive been using Mustad hook to Nylon - 2lb on size 22 hook or drennan hook to nylon - 2lb size 18 hook.

 

I will use all info from this topic this weekend and hopefuly The bites will lead to hooking the fish. I will report on this later.

 

TJ

 

 

Generaly I use either no8 or no10 shots like you, if the float requires alot of shot a no6. And anything between 4-8 inches to the hook.

 

I forgot to mention that ive been using Mustad hook to Nylon - 2lb on size 22 hook or drennan hook to nylon - 2lb size 18 hook.

 

I will use all info from this topic this weekend and hopefuly The bites will lead to hooking the fish. I will report on this later.

 

TJ

[RUDD]

I am surprised that you are having trouble with mustad hooks - I pressume they are long point patterns, I use these (maggot, wide gape, wide gape power, canal seed, wide gape match and feeder patterns and have not had any problems.

 

You say you are fishing off the bottom, With any type of up in the water fishing you will miss bites as alot are liners where fish are brushing the line.

The float you are using is a sensitve pattern and I presume you have it dotted right down which will show line bites.

Another possibility is that you are getting lightening fast roach bites - a problem that most general coarse anglers would have faced at some point.

I would suggest fishing at dead depth (just tripping bottom) and altering your feeding so you are trying to get the fish feeding on the bottom - feeding hemp is good for this and will attract a few bigger fish.

[Jason]

Thanks for the info.

 

Out of all the hooks I use the Mustad, I think their shape and many different hook types are great. I could have just bought a dodgy pack.

Ill try fishing dead on the bottom or just abit over depth and see what that will do. As for the sensitive float, ive found the drennan stillwater blues to be good for shy biting fish, and when shot down the line it is very good at sitting still despite the slight canal lock current.

I have used the Stillwater blue the past fue sesions, but generaly speaking I like to use any insert float. Mostly either Drennan peacock / mirage or Middy floats.

 

Ill have to see what happens over the 4 day weekend, and hopefuly catch a specimin Roach, Perch or Rudd.

 

 

TJ

[Jason]

UPDATE

 

Over the bank holiday I have had better sucess hooking and catching the fish. I think it is down to 2 things.

1. I bought a new packet of Drennan hook to nylon size 18 on 2lb 10oz line.

2. I was fishing In the middle of the canal and not in close in the margins.

 

Im putting my previous miss hooks down to blunt hooks (like recommended) and not enough line between rod tip and float. I fished friday, saterday and monday will great sucess.

Netting in total 17lbs of fish from roach, dace, perch, bream, hybrids, 2x tench (3&3.5lb) and 1 carp (6lb) over 3 days of fishing. Useing Caster & Maggot.

 

Thumbs up, hopefully it won't happen too much in the future. Thanks for help.

 

TJ

Edited April 25, 2011 by Terracan Jas

[Dales]

Sounds like a good week ends fishing

[Anderoo]

A good tip for telling if your hooks are blunt when using maggots is that they burst when you hook them. When your hooks are really sharp, they just glide through the maggot easily. With the bigger hooks you can test the sharpness on your fingernail by resting the point on it and pulling gently along. If it's really sharp it'll dig in straight away. If it's not it'll scrape along the nail.

 

Most hooks don't stay sharp for very long, and blunt hooks (and by that I mean a hook that isn't super-sharp) do cause fish to drop off. With the little hooks you have to just throw them away and put a new one on (possibly several times a session), with the bigger hooks you can touch up the point with one of these: http://www.leslies-luton.co.uk/store/produ...HOOK-SHARPENER/