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Clipped up?

Stephen Bond

Stephen Bond

Senior Member
On my last two outings to the Thames I decided to "carp out" and try this approach along with my usual swim feeder setups. I can't say results were conclusive, one 6lb bream in two nights :(

On the plus side I was surely getting my feeders in a tighter position than normal. However, I had a nagging feeling than maybe the positions I selected maybe weren't the best after all and being clipped up was restricting my freedom to try other spots and search around the swim for fish?

So any thoughts from those who fish the larger rivers? Do you clip up and keep it tight or just cast to one spot as tight as you can without distance aid? Otherwise, do you just cast around the swim searching out the fish?

I am thinking that maybe I need to return to a roving approach as I used to fish the Thames sometimes back in my youth, fishing only a large hook bait and no loose offerings. Try a spot for half and hour or maybe an hour and if no signs of fish then move on.

Stephen
 
Stephen Bond said:
On my last two outings to the Thames I decided to "carp out" and try this approach along with my usual swim feeder setups. I can't say results were conclusive, one 6lb bream in two nights :(

On the plus side I was surely getting my feeders in a tighter position than normal. However, I had a nagging feeling than maybe the positions I selected maybe weren't the best after all and being clipped up was restricting my freedom to try other spots and search around the swim for fish?

So any thoughts from those who fish the larger rivers? Do you clip up and keep it tight or just cast to one spot as tight as you can without distance aid? Otherwise, do you just cast around the swim searching out the fish?

I am thinking that maybe I need to return to a roving approach as I used to fish the Thames sometimes back in my youth, fishing only a large hook bait and no loose offerings. Try a spot for half and hour or maybe an hour and if no signs of fish then move on.

Stephen
Click to expand...

Hi Stephen,

I am trying to understand why you are having a problem with this method mate, so tell me....what exactly do you do when you are fishing 'clipped up', in other words, what is your interpretation of this method?

Cheers, Dave.
 
Well I am fishing a fixed distance rather than a somewhat more variable one. That overcast or undercast might actually put me on to a fish where as the fixed distance might leave me constantly in an unfavourable spot?

As it was, toward the end of the sessions I decided to cast more freely to other spots around the swim to see if I could find a fish.

I was fishing clipped at 90' from the bank but who know if I was casting to 110' or 70' when I caught before? There is quite a lot of weed in this swim, some areas more than other. Maybe 20' makes little difference or else it is the difference between finding fish and finding none?

What are your thoughts?

Stephen
 
While I can see the merits in clipping up, I hate doing it. I'm quite sure that will mean that I don't feed as tight an area as could be possible but I don't mind that much. I just look upon the odd miscast, as long as I'm not miles out, as searching the swim.
 
I am so naturally talented that I can hit a dustbin lid sized area from 40 yards day or night. Clipping up is not for me and coulc be a world of pain, with a decent sized Barbel going full speed downstream.
 
Clipping up

I use the clipping up method as it helps me feed tight to my favoured spot....plus it helps with accurate casting during the hours of darkness,as you say John,it could be the kiss of death when a good fish powers off,however,if you ignore the spool clip,and instead use a rubber band looped around the spool a couple of times ,I have had double figure fish take several yards of line from under the band with no problems at all,to return to the original distance you need to mark the line somehow against the spool when you first 'band' up,I usually just stick a bit of insulation tape around the line.
Dave
 
I'm the same as Mr Frisby on this. I normally just whack it out to anywhere between 140 and 140.5 yards - with a centrepin :D:D:D
 
Good advice David !
I would be loathe to judge anyone here, but I feel that actual 'Clipping Up' has no real place in Barbel fishing ! That's just my opinion and each to their own. If done safely as described by David, then I think it has some legs........
Myself, I just wang it out there............:D
 
I've thought about this before for the very same reasons that Stephen mentioned but decided against due to the worry of a big fish on a powerful run as the others have mentioned.
I also think that if you really are fishing a big river then the chances of really keeping a tight feeding line or spot is slim at best. 45 mins or so then cast elsewhere is my motto but interested in how others fish. I tend to fish smaller rivers so always adopt a roving mobile approach.
 
Really can't see the point. I'm confident that my casts are going to land with a sqaure metre or so. I don't think it does any harm for the fish to be searching out a bait in an area of a metre rather than a square foot.
 
I usually fish one rod to a fixed position(well a far bank marker) casting on the same line ,but distance will vary slightly, the other rod fished in a search pattern, starting downstream of the "fixed "rod, then moved every half hour or so, no need for clips, they just add an unnecarsary potential problem, just learn to cast accurately!!!!
peter
 
David Craine said:
I use the clipping up method as it helps me feed tight to my favoured spot....plus it helps with accurate casting during the hours of darkness,as you say John,it could be the kiss of death when a good fish powers off,however,if you ignore the spool clip,and instead use a rubber band looped around the spool a couple of times ,I have had double figure fish take several yards of line from under the band with no problems at all,to return to the original distance you need to mark the line somehow against the spool when you first 'band' up,I usually just stick a bit of insulation tape around the line.
Dave
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As above. Clipping up to hit a pre-determined distance is fine. Fishing with the line still in the clip isn't.

I also wrap a touch of insulation tape for the mark, if you catch and then need to find your mark again in the dark, cast away from your spot and you can hear the tape rattle against the rings and re-set very easily.
I generally don't fish big enough rivers to need to do this, although there is one large weirpool I do, but it's standard fare on the lakes.

Stephen, maybe you should cast around a bit more to see if there are any clearer patches? Even so, there's still a good chance you're casting over fish rather than not far enough.
 
You can spread bait over a large area by fishing clipped up. As the feeder reaches its limit and the line hits the clip the bait can simply leave the feeder and travel several more yards. To make things worse the feeder can then spring back a couple of yards before hitting the water leaving your hook bait yards away from the baited area.
The trick is to feather the cast to slow it down and prevent it stopping with a bang and as has been mentioned unclip the line as the bait hits the water.
 
stephen, in reguards to casting on same line %wise a simple method to ensure this is to shove a thick bankstick in front of you and then look to the other bank for an aiming line ie: a particular bush or branch ect ect also in the dark look to the top of any trees opposite, its surprisingly visible even in the dark, once you have these two lines of direction lined up bring your rod up so its right in front of your nose, tilt it back a bit over your head and you,ll hit the spot continously if your spools lightly banded or you have put a stop knot on your line made from coloured power gum, you,ll feel it click your rings as it goes through them, also this method allows you to move the marker easily by firmly pushing it up or down your line, but the the casting
markers, b/stick and tree/bush or anything opposite will guarantee your accuracy in keeping the same line:)
 
Simon King said:
Stephen, maybe you should cast around a bit more to see if there are any clearer patches? Even so, there's still a good chance you're casting over fish rather than not far enough.
Click to expand...

This particular weir pool seems weedy pretty much everywhere I have cast. I first fishing it with a rod in close, a rod length or two out and one about half way across. That night I caught one fish close in.

On a subsequent session I had a look at the flow and decided to fish just off the main flow two thirds of the way across. I caught more there so have been concentrating my efforts in that spot. However, third session was clipped up at the distance I thought was on the hot spot I blanked! Who know's, that was a cold night so maybe it was just the weather?

Stephen
 
John Walker said:
the casting markers, b/stick and tree/bush or anything opposite will guarantee your accuracy in keeping the same line:)
Click to expand...

Thanks John (and for all the posts). Indeed I have been using a large tree on the skyline that I can pick out day or night for each rod. Can't say my casting is perfectly though! Also at the distance I am fishing a few degrees out could mean the difference of maybe several yards up or downstream. Either way at least it is on the same line :)

Stephen
 
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