New fishery, where to start?

[RJ]

Ok, here is the problem...

 

Imagine a lake of about 15 acres, hand dug in the victorian times. It has a small dam, maximum depth of 11-13 feet, fairly rocky bottom but some areas of silt/weed growth, a few small beds of lillies, rushes, and a water ski course!!

 

Featurs include a large area of shallow water, bordered by reeds and trees, that looks a bit like a canal. Its shallow, maybe 18 inches to 3 feet with very deep silt. This opens into a weedy bay with a rocky bottom. In the North East corner there is a steep drop off some 3 rod lengths out, but little weed or cover. There is a dam wall in the North/North West corner with deep water close in, and a natural bank with reeds. Also there is a submerged wall about 3 feet high.

 

The water has always had Pike and Perch, but recently a stocking has taken place of Roach, Bream, Tench and Carp. The Bream were about 1-4 pounds, the Carp, biggest 6 pounds, the roach, 2-3 inches upto about 14oz, the tench, no information, but they did get stocked.

 

Now, I live in a desert when it comes to coarse fishing, and very few people fish for them. I have seen an 8 pound carp taken off the top, and seen roach topping. I have also heard of bream being taken on sweetcorn. Suprisingly, roach to about 12 oz have been taken by fly anglers fishing white mini lures for the Perch!!.

 

I cannot get maggots or groundbait locally and it is a 150 mile round trip to the nearest coarse tackle shop!!!!

 

What do I do??? How do I approach the fishing? With no others fishing it, I cannot ask people where they are catching etc. What baits do I use?

 

I was thinking of going in with feeders on 6 pound line with a 4 pound bottom, fishing sweetcorn or bread flake..watcha think?

 

Cheers in advance

[poledark]

Can you get vitalin locally? Sweet corn on the hook and vitalin in the feeder will get you off to a good start.

 

As to location, don't ask me right now I can't seem to get anything right!

 

good luck, Den

 

Should have added that vitalin does contain sweetcorn and plenty of other goodies.

 

[ 16. April 2004, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: poledark ]

[Newt]

I'm admittedly very biased but it sounds ideal for stalking with lures. Topwater offerings like buzz baits - especially in the shallow areas - and a variety of other designs should really produce.

 

As a nice side benefit, you could spot coarse fish activity and begin to figure out where the fish spend time.

[RJ]

Newt..I am fed up with stalking it with lures..LOL. Its stuffed with small pike, but I have had Perch to over 4 pounds...which is nice.

 

Truth is, i have lived in an area where the only fish you can catch are Pike and Perch for some 17 years and I am fed up with them! Having said that, I will be trying for the bigger Perch that I have seen..rumours of fish to 6 pounds ..and I believe them!!

 

 

Poledark,

Vitalin was an option too..forgot to mention that..just bough a pair of Prodigy 1.5 tc roads for the place so small method feeders will be the main attack..see whats what

[The Diamond Geezer]

Firstly, ye olde cyprinids prefer warmer climes than your neck of the woods, particularly for spawning, so the lower average monthly temperatures in your area mean that you're up-against it a tad for starters.

 

That said, to me this sounds like a case for some mega pre-baiting ... at some preferred secluded swims.

 

Secondly, ground-bait is very easily made at home from standard ingredients. If that's not convenient, wherever you are, you can always order stuff by mail-order

 

As for hook-baits, with the weather warming-up slowly (down south anyway!), I'd try lobbing-out a few whole slices of bread as part of your pre-baiting, assuming there aren't hundreds of ducks around,... and then use floating crust or bunched bread as your hook-bait. I'd use greased mono or floating braid to take advantage of any wind to drift your bait further afield (I assume boats are banned)

 

Floating breakfast cereals such as Sugar-puffs are also worth a bash, and they'll drift nicely in the breeze. Porridge isn't easy to keep on the hook

 

Worms abound in your area too, I'm sure, so that if you fancy some float or bottom fishing, try a nice bunch of worms ... a favourite of many species.

 

I think a lot of anglers would give their .... left arm, to be able to exclusively fish such a water ... nice challenge ... and where there are small pike there must be biggies too. As for 6 lb perch, don't hold your breath!

 

DG

 

[ 16. April 2004, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: The Diamond Geezer ]