Darren Rosie
Senior Member
Got a ticket for a new club,so will be fishing alot of new stretches and was wondering if these are any good. I would also like to know how you all go about targeting a new stretch. :confused:
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Hummingbird smartcast
- Thread starter Darren Rosie
- Start date
David Tainton
Senior Member
New Stretch
Hi Darren,
The rod held smartcasts are good for finding the depth on new stretches, and give a good indication of drop offs/holes and depth changes-worth the money if you are fishing large rivers with lower densities of Barbel and you need to find features.
Leading around is also as good as anything-looking for gravel patches etc. If its a new stretch go through threads on websites/match reports, walk the stretch as often as you can-if its a clear river (like the Teme) you can bait a few spots and look for fish, if not ask around (without asking where the flyers are)-most people are happy to confirm there are fish on the stretch, and often will give you the heads up on areas.
Starting on a new stretch is always good, though depending where you fish can be tough going with a lot of pain to go through! Will start on a new stretch on the Thames around Reading this season, and as soon as my membership comes through will take a leading rod and smartcast down and spend a day or two sussing the depths out-monotonous work but worth it.
Hope you have a good start to your campaign.
Cheers Dave
Hi Darren,
The rod held smartcasts are good for finding the depth on new stretches, and give a good indication of drop offs/holes and depth changes-worth the money if you are fishing large rivers with lower densities of Barbel and you need to find features.
Leading around is also as good as anything-looking for gravel patches etc. If its a new stretch go through threads on websites/match reports, walk the stretch as often as you can-if its a clear river (like the Teme) you can bait a few spots and look for fish, if not ask around (without asking where the flyers are)-most people are happy to confirm there are fish on the stretch, and often will give you the heads up on areas.
Starting on a new stretch is always good, though depending where you fish can be tough going with a lot of pain to go through! Will start on a new stretch on the Thames around Reading this season, and as soon as my membership comes through will take a leading rod and smartcast down and spend a day or two sussing the depths out-monotonous work but worth it.
Hope you have a good start to your campaign.
Cheers Dave
Darren Rosie
Senior Member
You too dave,tight lines
T
Tom Herbert
Guest
Be careful mate, they are very delicate and don't take too much throwing around!
I used one and drifted it down the river, no casting just dropping it gently onto the surface and letting the current take it. I learned a hell of a lot from a river i have fished for years!
I used one and drifted it down the river, no casting just dropping it gently onto the surface and letting the current take it. I learned a hell of a lot from a river i have fished for years!
Peter Littleworth
Senior Member
Definately an excellent tool for feature finding, a word of warning though, attach a heavy leader(100lb mono or wire), pike do like to chew them up especially when retrieved!
peter
peter
Jim Foxall
Senior Member
There was a really good thread on Smartcasts a few months ago, might be worth a trawl around to see if you can find it. The thread was all about reliability issues.
Dave Durrant
Senior Member
I concur with Tom and Peter.
Use a wire trace because pike love them.
I think they are primarily designed for trolling from a boat, because when I've given them an almighty chuck from the bank, on contact with the water they stop working.
And don't cast them into a tree trunk.
Use a wire trace because pike love them.
I think they are primarily designed for trolling from a boat, because when I've given them an almighty chuck from the bank, on contact with the water they stop working.
And don't cast them into a tree trunk.
Jim Foxall
Senior Member
I concur with Tom and Peter.
Use a wire trace because pike love them.
I think they are primarily designed for trolling from a boat, because when I've given them an almighty chuck from the bank, on contact with the water they stop working.
And don't cast them into a tree trunk.
Sounds a bit like a water tap manufacturer that I had dealings with some years ago. I was told that water could damage their taps. Maybe the Smartcast should have a similar warning. Reliability does seem an issue and the old thread on this topic made the point that their is no service point of contact in this country. Postage and repairs are prohibitive although the thread suggested that the Chinese copies on EBay were pretty good and a fraction of the price of the original equipment.