More fish on the float.

[Richard Barrett]

Guys.

Since my last post, more fish have come my way trotting, boy is it fun. I'll pass on something that really helped me, given by other anglers on this forum.

If the swim is slightly out from the bank, making a stick float difficult to control. I'm using a Harrell speci waggler, 2 swan mostly. If the wind is troublesome it's the same, greeseing up the line behind the float. The sticks give slightly better control, but the wagglers are so easy to get on with, and see in failing light.

Lastly my Stanton pin has a line guard, but the new one doesn't. So I've changed to line coming off the top, really makes life so easy, with no tangles.

I've gone onto a 4.4lb bottom and have taken several doubles now on this fine hook link, just taking my time.

Give trotting a try.

 

[Iain Tutt]

I always find trotting is more productive in the spring and the start of the summer down here. Once there has been a chill the fish seem to prefer a lump of meat on the deck. I also start the session trotting which i enjoy using the light kit

 

[Steve Walker]

I wouldn't like to fish so light for barbel preferring heavy tackle to get them in as quickly as possible,I don't subscribe to the give them a sporting chance theory.That way they aren't exhausted when in the net and recovery time is quicker.

 

[Richard Barrett]

Steve.

So no such thing as a sporting chance in your book, everything is guaranteed?

If a fish happens to slip the current size 18 hook I'm using, it should not cause it too much problem.

I've found to date the fish come in quite easy if you keep a steady pressure on the float rod I'm currently using. Clearly I'm not fishing near any known snags. I've fishing for barbel for years with 12lb line and the fish seem to fight much harder when you really bend into them. Maybe you should give it a try, you may just like it.

I'm a firm believer fishing is a sport, and while I do everything I can to mitigate fish loses it is part of my sport. If chance was taken away I'd rather take up another hobby.
All my fish are rested before hook removal, but mostly it comes out in the net. And I don't even weigh them unless I think they deserve a picture. So fish safety is not an issue in my book. I've also noticed that large red/blue bruise that can appear on the bottom lip when using a big hook never occurs with such small ones. Food for thought?

I'm not against heavy tackle, but only use it now if really necessary.

Regards.

Richard.

 

[Anthony Pearson]

The late Keith Speer wrote an article about float fishing for barbel and I've just lifted a few words from it regarding breaking strains:

As I am going for Barbel my main line on my Centre pin is 0.17 (6.7lb BS), the rod is a 13ft Drennan Stick Float Rod with a through action and my hook length is 0.13 to 0.15 (4lb 12 oz to 5lb 14oz , I use Preston Innovations Power line as a hook length material), the hooks I use are Drennan Super Specialist and the size I usually start with is a 16, which is ideal for both a single Caster or double Maggot.

..and he landed numerous doubles on this set-up.

As Richard said, sometimes easing the fish towards you results in less fight from the fish, so although it may take a little longer to land, they may actually recover quicker.

I really need to do more float fishing myself, but am aware of many who catch well using this method.

 

[Richard Longmuir]

They don't pull back nearly so hard when you are not trying to pull their heads off,it's almost like a dog on the lead and by keeping the rod low(they really don't like being pulled up in the water)you can guide them.I realise this isn't always possible due to underwater snags and bankside vegetation etc

 

[Steve Walker]

Steve.

So no such thing as a sporting chance in your book, everything is guaranteed?

If a fish happens to slip the current size 18 hook I'm using, it should not cause it too much problem.

I've found to date the fish come in quite easy if you keep a steady pressure on the float rod I'm currently using. Clearly I'm not fishing near any known snags. I've fishing for barbel for years with 12lb line and the fish seem to fight much harder when you really bend into them. Maybe you should give it a try, you may just like it.

I'm a firm believer fishing is a sport, and while I do everything I can to mitigate fish loses it is part of my sport. If chance was taken away I'd rather take up another hobby.
All my fish are rested before hook removal, but mostly it comes out in the net. And I don't even weigh them unless I think they deserve a picture. So fish safety is not an issue in my book. I've also noticed that large red/blue bruise that can appear on the bottom lip when using a big hook never occurs with such small ones. Food for thought?

I'm not against heavy tackle, but only use it now if really necessary.

Regards.

Richard.

Nothing is guaranteed Richard where I am fishing.Even with the sea fishing set up I am currently using.I'm fishing the rocky middle trent which is full of big snags and big fish.I appreciate that catching big barbel on the float is rewarding and successful(I have done a lot of it btw)but not in this particular situation.
I wouldn't have a hope of landing a big double on an 18 hook in this area although I appreciate your situation may be different.I don't want to be leaving any hooks in fish.

 

[Iain Tutt]

It's not the strength of the line it's how you play the fish. I've caught a few high singles on 5 and 6lb straight though with a size 16 Drennan hook. Set your clutch right if using a free spool or i back wind using a ABU 505. With trotting i find the fight a lot gentler than ledgering.

 

[Richard Barrett]

Steve.

We seem to fish the same beats. I live in Grantham so around Newark are my home waters, less than 30 mins away. I agree much of the water is saggy, in fact many swims you cannot ledger, you would lose too much gear. But you can trot, an free line in them, it's a case of thinking outside normal barbel lore.

You don't have to fish the middle channel all the time with 3 ounces of weight or more? One of my friends from the barbel society only free lines on the Trent, and catches a lot of very big fish in the edges. He also fishes with one rod, and holds it feeling for bites.

Of my last dozen fish on the float, the smallest was 8lb the two best doubles!

Try it, you may like it.

Regards.

Richard

 

[Dave Quinn]

They don't pull back nearly so hard when you are not trying to pull their heads off,it's almost like a dog on the lead and by keeping the rod low(they really don't like being pulled up in the water)you can guide them.I realise this isn't always possible due to underwater snags and bankside vegetation etc

Another Keith Speer tip, I got it second hand from someone on Keiths beloved upper Lea - drop the rod tip, even under the water and the fish will swim up or downstream but away from reeds and snags. As soon as you try and drag the head up they'll pull back harder and head straight for trouble

It also doesn't work where there's gravel between the rod tip and the fish, as I found out recently.

 

[Dave Quinn]

Keith was obviously a master at catching with the stick, so I'm not sure using line up with low a diameter as he did is advisable. I've only been catching for a year on the stick but I've landed a fair few barbel in that time to 9lb and I wouldn't feel confident use by anything less than 6lb straight through. But that's just me and I guess as long as the fish are landed and handled properly, with a minimum of breakages (you can't avoid all) the breaking strain doesn't matter. I'm not sure Keith's set up is right for everyone in all circumstances, though

I'd add that I used to use the drennan hooks he recommended but I switched after I lost a good fish because one straightened. Drennan carp method are stronger and I'm trying out korum fleet specimen, kamasan animal and a guru hook at the moment

It's a great way of fishing, particularly in the colder months when sitting still becomes less attractive

 

[Steve Walker]

Steve.

We seem to fish the same beats. I live in Grantham so around Newark are my home waters, less than 30 mins away. I agree much of the water is saggy, in fact many swims you cannot ledger, you would lose too much gear. But you can trot, an free line in them, it's a case of thinking outside normal barbel lore.

You don't have to fish the middle channel all the time with 3 ounces of weight or more? One of my friends from the barbel society only free lines on the Trent, and catches a lot of very big fish in the edges. He also fishes with one rod, and holds it feeling for bites.

Of my last dozen fish on the float, the smallest was 8lb the two best doubles!

Try it, you may like it.

Regards.

Richard

Richard,I have fished for barbel on the float many times and have had a 13.2 on this method.It's just that I have to be selective over which swims I fish on the float,this was in a spot which was snag free and I used 8lbs line straight through to a 12.Using a 13' Shimano beastmaster power float rod it was an interesting fight.
I try to target the larger specimens which I find like to live near features and snags so have stepped up my tackle accordingly,I'm now using 15lbs main line.