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Shooting stick seat

T

Tim Lennon

Senior Member
I fished a roving session on the river yesterday, moving every 10 mins or so if no bites were forthcoming. It was a right pain folding up the chair for every move, and it struck me that a shooting stick seat might be the answer. Anyone use one? or have any other CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions?
 
You might be on to something there Tim.
Never owned one, but seems like a good idea for the rover that likes to travel light.
I was thinking the same the other evening. I did contemplate leaving the chair in the car and just sitting on my unhooking mat, but thought better of it because of the cold weather.
I see they make a stick for the wider bums too, ;). I'll be getting one of these the way my lack of gym visits is going.
DELUXE WIDE LEATHER SHOOTING STICK SEAT Walking Stool on eBay!
:D
 
The small 3 legged stools from outdoors / decalthlon are ideal for roving.Cut 2 inches off one leg and fit some mud feet onto all the legs.the shorter leg allows for sloping banks and with the small shoulder strap fitted when ready to move just pick the strap up and it instently folds down to put on your shoulder.With 3 legs it never wobbles about on uneaven ground
 
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Lightweight seat

Here is the one I use....very light, and straps to the side of my small army rucksac.

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Dave
 
some great replies, thanks, but I'm wondering if the single leg shooting seat would be better suited to sloping banks? my only concern is how it would perform on soft ground. that's why I was hoping someone might have had experience of using one...
 
Tim...those things you suggest rely on you staying unmoving, using you sense of balance to stay upright. Can you not imagine what will happen if/when you get a bite and lean back into a strike? Using a shooting stick for the application you intend will get you on 'You have been framed' for sure...it may even get you in the river....but I don't see how it's use for fishing can possibly result in anything you would actually wan't to happen.

I could be wrong of course, and look forward to being proven so. In the meantime, I will continue to watch YBF....just in case.

In case you are wondering, I haven't written this to be sarcastic or a smart-arse....I am just convinced you are not thinking clearly on this one.

Cheers, Dave.
 
David Gauntlett said:
Tim...those things you suggest rely on you staying unmoving, using you sense of balance to stay upright.
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Dave, I was imagining having my feet on the ground whilst in the seated position rather than attempting to perform some kind of balancing act! Have you actually used one? If so, I'll take your point on board.

My main concerns are that the thing would sink into soft ground, or fall into the mud as soon as I stood up...
 
Tim, I have used one and it was fine. Unless you are in very soft swampy mud it won't sink past the collar. At fairs and fetes I have seen rather portly gentlemen sitting on them, and I'm guessing you are svelte enough not to worry.

However, DG has hit the nail on the head. I only used it the once because it was so unerving balancing your bum on a stick, and usually at an angle, I gave up on the idea.
Also when you get up, to cast, to play a fish, to reach for something, it does indeed fall over in the mud.:(

I have even tried the three legged stool as previously mentioned, and I went to the trouble of changing the steel legs to aliminium but I still didn't like that.

Hope this helps a bit.


Trouble is as you get older you need a smidgeon of comfort.
Now...how do I get that reclining armchair to the river bank. :)
 
I used one as well on a barbel society Junior day on the Severn where I was doing a bit of roving with a lad who was fairly experienced but had not done any roving, to cut a long story short it worked well, You are two legs of a tripod and the stick is the third so stability is not an issue, they do have a tendency to fall over but if you are roving you are only seated for 15 mins or so before you are playing a fish or moving on.
These days due to illness I don't rove and tend to use a walking stick stool when I'm out and about at shows etc.
 
Tim Lennon said:
Dave, I was imagining having my feet on the ground whilst in the seated position rather than attempting to perform some kind of balancing act! Have you actually used one? If so, I'll take your point on board.

My main concerns are that the thing would sink into soft ground, or fall into the mud as soon as I stood up...
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Hi Tim,

I never imagined for one moment that you would be attempting to balance on this thing without using your legs for support...if you did give that a go, I would pay to watch the attempt :D As Adrian so rightly said, the stem of the shooting stick forms the rear leg of a tripod, with your splayed legs being the other two. A triangle is the most stable construction there is, hence the use of tripods for photography...but it does rather depend on the rigidity of the sides.....bendy legs with a knee in the middle aint it :D

But yes, I have sat on one, and they are surprisingly comfortable for short periods (preferably very short) However, I still maintain that they are not designed for fishing, and that an energetic strike will see you flat on your back at the very least. Also, sitting still is pretty well it I would think. Certainly the one I used would not easily allow bending over to rebait, pick up a drink or whatever. They are just not designed for the job, as compared to the multitude of VERY light fishing chairs that are.

Your choice though mate, it may work if you concentrate on restricting your movements (like not striking :D).....but I would rather sit back, relax...and concentrate on my fishing. Of course, should you be fishing after a hard day and happen to nod off....well, we had better not go there, as the infallible perfectionists will be on my back (just as you would be if you did nod off :p)

Cheers, Dave.
 
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I think he was talking about roving David so all the points you made are not relevant, as I said before, when you are roving it's a case of cast, feed (lightly), wait 15/20 minutes, if no bite stand up, wind in and move to next swim. For that a shooting stick is perfect, as is my favourite, the old bum buddy, which also doubles as a tackle bag.

When I took the lad on the junior day he fished with my roving kit which was bum buddy, bin bag (unhooking mat), rod reel and net, extending 2' bank stick, a small box of terminal tackle, and in summer a bottle of water. I also carried a poncho and a thin pair of cheap plastic over-trousers.
I had the stick because it was when my arthritis was just starting to bite hard and clambering down banks was a bit of a problem, with the stick I could stay at the top and direct operations.
 
Oh dear, the replies seem inconclusive! I guess I'm just going to have to get one and find out for myself.
I'm fairly confident that on the nice grassy, firm bits I'll be ok, because it won't matter too much if it topples over when I get up. Not so sure about the muddy swims though.
Surely if the thing is fit for purpose, i.e. sitting around in the countryside shooting things, it can also be used to sit around in the countryside fishing?
Dave, I do wonder about your striking technique if it's such a violent movement that you're liable to do a backflip!
 
Tim Lennon said:
Oh dear, the replies seem inconclusive! I guess I'm just going to have to get one and find out for myself.
I'm fairly confident that on the nice grassy, firm bits I'll be ok, because it won't matter too much if it topples over when I get up. Not so sure about the muddy swims though.
Surely if the thing is fit for purpose, i.e. sitting around in the countryside shooting things, it can also be used to sit around in the countryside fishing?
Dave, I do wonder about your striking technique if it's such a violent movement that you're liable to do a backflip!
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Love it :D:D....But, in my defence, my striking technique has never yet had me on my back....but that may only be because I am sitting comfortably in a sensible chair :p you on the other hand.....

In truth, while experiencing the usual '3'twitch' bites, you barely need to strike at all do you? Sadly, barbel are not always that accommodating in my experience, and It has been known for my responses to get a little ragged around the edges after a series of those infuriating lightning fast 'chub bites' (that are sometimes barbel) :D

Go ahead and buy one Tim, you are going to anyway...and certainly Adrian was pleased with his. But do let us know a few months into the new season whether you are still using it regularly....and be honest with your reply :p

Cheers, Dave
 
Dave, I only do this amount of roving in the winter months, so it will be some time before I can report back. In the meantime I'll look out for a second-hand bargain, so that if the thing proves unsuitable it will be no great loss. If and when I do try one out I will report back honestly. honest!

thanks everyone for the replies, and I'm still interested in any alternative suggestions...
 
Tim, Have a look at this. They are very light weight and sturdy enough to take a man sized man.

I use one for my pigeon shooting and it does the job, if you have an uneven bank i still think it will be better than a single stick and or a tripod type as it wont sink in.

Hope this helps

Pat

P.s there is one on ebay at the moment for 13 quid

armysales (5474) is the seller
 

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