Carp on top

[Apache]

Then only problem with a bubble flaot is when you strike, much of the force is spent dragging the float through the water.

[poledark]

Rogerb, I have used it very recently in 3 feet of water and with a 30 inch braid hooklingth that just floats IN the surface film.

 

The deepest I have used it was in 28 ft of water and had one fish after an hour.

 

I don't seem to recall any problems with any depth, what I do like about it is that you can get the bait downwind of the controller and not rising vertically in the water. And it's Very easy to cast out to a considerable distance.

Den

 

[ 22. August 2003, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: poledark ]

[The Flying Tench]

Rogerb - thanks, you've answered my main query by saying that you strike against the weight of the leger rather than pulling up line and making direct contact.

 

With regard to the legered controller, is bite indication still through a quiver tip, or do you have to watch the bait?

[Nugg]

Apache:

Then only problem with a bubble flaot is when you strike, much of the force is spent dragging the float through the water.

How come? If I use one, I use it free running, with a stop above.

[Ed Matysiak]

I find the below rig works when the fish are 'spooky' of controllers and line on the surface. Keep you rod tip up high enough so the bait is just on the surface.

Try it!

[Rogerb]

johnclarke:

With regard to the legered controller, is bite indication still through a quiver tip, or do you have to watch the bait?

John,

 

Ok, glad it was of use.

 

To date I have not used the ledgered controller – that item was by Den. I would guess that you would have to watch the bait, but in my experience the Carp are so crafty that you will be striking at nothing most of the time. If you put a stop each side of the controller I guess you could watch the float.

 

Regarding bite detection for general Zigging with a quiver, for me it is definitely through the quiver tip. Mind you have to sit on your hands sometimes with all the knocks the bait gets. Sometimes the rod just lurches round – you would probably get these whatever method of bite detection you use. Other times detection is far more subtle with the tip just going a couple of inches but holding. My father in law uses the same method as me but uses a stiffer rod pointing at the bait. He relies on “catching the rod before it goes in” for bite detection and I nearly always double the number of fish he gets! Not bragging – just a fact!

 

Cheers.

Roger.

[poledark]

For what it is worth, I never "strike" at surface takes. Always wait for the line to start moving before pulling into the fish.

I was brought up on surface fishing for carp, often only a handful of them in each lake and they were very very crafty, and no way could you strike at them.

My advice is to wait until the fish actually takes the bait and turns with it, causing the line to move. Striking at the fish will simply spook most of them.....and carp learn to avoid dodgy surface baits VERY quickly.

 

Very often a carp will make several false passes at a bait before finally eating it. Definitely a case of "sitting on your hands"

 

Den

[The Flying Tench]

Thanks, Rogerb. Also Koi Carp for your rig which looks a bit technical, but I can entirely see the point after tonight's session! In the end i got one on a hair rig, but before that it was fascinating to watch the way they inspected the bait right under my rod tip, and I couldn't see how I'd beat them! I even tried dapping, which I guess has the same principle as your rig. It didn't work, but I suspect that was because I had a couple of inches of line coiled round the bait, so guess I'd need to use your rig fairly close in so I could see it was set just right?

[The Flying Tench]

Poledark, I hadn't seen your last post when i wrote mine at about the same time. Very interesting, but I'll need a lot of will-power not to strike after 20 carp have approached my bait and turned awaay, and then one finally takes it! Still, it casts a whole new complexion on the problem of not seeing the floater clearly, so I'll try it. Thanks!

[Rogerb]

When fishing once I remember looking down to see a double figure Carp sizing up a lovely lump of bread that I had accidentally dropped in by my peg. The bread had drifted to about 6’ away from me. The Carp was about 6” below the bread and over the space of about 5 minutes it got to about 2”. Next time I looked the Carp had gone and the bread was still there - and it was a freebie!!

 

I guess it could see me and instinct (or do Carp think???) said the risk wasn’t worth it!

 

Cheers.

Roger.