Alan Andrews
Senior Member
I am looking forward to fishing some new rivers, more float fishing giving hemp and casters a go not worrying about PBs and enjoying my fishing
Alan
Alan
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What are you going to do differently for the coming season?
- Thread starter Simon Haggis
- Start date
Steve Sorrell
Senior Member
I'll be doing more float fishing for barbel.............inspired by Keith Speer's exploits!
I'm also in the process of buying a light lure set-up to target chub and Perch......something i've been meaning to try for a while.
I've never lure fished before and i'm pretty clueless so i reckon it will be good fun learning all about jig heads, rubber worms, etc. etc.....
Steve
I'm also in the process of buying a light lure set-up to target chub and Perch......something i've been meaning to try for a while.
I've never lure fished before and i'm pretty clueless so i reckon it will be good fun learning all about jig heads, rubber worms, etc. etc.....
Steve
Shaun Morris
Senior Member
Planning to fish a bigger, deeper part of the Sussex Ouse. Wonder if the slipping clutches on my reels still work after four years of being wound done tight. Hit and hold is exiting, but variety is the spice of life.
Planning to give fishy/meaty flavoured black eyed beans another go. Anyone caught with these?
Planning to give fishy/meaty flavoured black eyed beans another go. Anyone caught with these?
Dean Aston
Senior Member
I know one thing i wont be doing next year.Sitting on side of river when its -2 thinking i might do a barbel
R
Rich Frampton
Guest
Same here.
Craig Wood
Senior Member
back to basics
hi everyone
I find it amazing that everyone seems to be saying the same thing..Towards the end of last season i decided to change tactics instead of thinking heavy tackle = big barbel...and was proved to be right..i fished lighter lines and smaller hooks and my catch rate improved vastly..This coming season i will continue doing the same on the dorset stour and hampshire avon which im fortunate enough to live a stones throw from..If you balance your tackle properly you will be amazed as to how much lighter lines and smaller hooks you can get away with and still land big barbel...Back to basics on all fronts for me this coming season..
hi everyone
I find it amazing that everyone seems to be saying the same thing..Towards the end of last season i decided to change tactics instead of thinking heavy tackle = big barbel...and was proved to be right..i fished lighter lines and smaller hooks and my catch rate improved vastly..This coming season i will continue doing the same on the dorset stour and hampshire avon which im fortunate enough to live a stones throw from..If you balance your tackle properly you will be amazed as to how much lighter lines and smaller hooks you can get away with and still land big barbel...Back to basics on all fronts for me this coming season..
Richard Mawson
Active Member
Last season was my worst on record for the Hampshire Avon, so this year will see a little more time spent finding fish, prebaiting and getting my rig pinned to the bottom.
It seems the HA fish are wising up at a quicker rate than I am!!!
if the above fails I will try the Stour
It seems the HA fish are wising up at a quicker rate than I am!!!
if the above fails I will try the Stour
Colin Bridger
Senior Member
I also found the H.Avon very hard going last season. After the weed cutters had gone through some stretches were like a desert. On parts of the Severals it was gravel from bank to bank. Hopfully things will improve this season with a ban on weed cutting.
I dont know about trying the Stour, that was just as hard you only have to look at the river reports on this site with only 5 pages to the end of the season, and very little of that was about Barbel. Most of the posts were talking about Bream, Chub, & Carp.
The Upper Benyons also did not fish that well during the day, however the guys who night fish did very well which just goes to show that the fish are still there!
It is a matter of trying different tactics and baits, and getting back to basics.
I dont know about trying the Stour, that was just as hard you only have to look at the river reports on this site with only 5 pages to the end of the season, and very little of that was about Barbel. Most of the posts were talking about Bream, Chub, & Carp.
The Upper Benyons also did not fish that well during the day, however the guys who night fish did very well which just goes to show that the fish are still there!
It is a matter of trying different tactics and baits, and getting back to basics.
Craig Wood
Senior Member
I think youve hit the nail on the head as to why many struggled last season on the hamps avon..weed cutting..good to hear its banned this year..
Graham Billingham
Senior Member
Hi Craig,
With reference to you going lighter and smaller hooks ,i understand where your coming from as thats the first thing a matchman does to try to get a bite.And getting good fish out on such tackle i know iv'e had 7 to 8lb fish out on 22 hooks to 1lb line.I know your not talking of going to that sort of tackle but the small ammount of time i've been doing this fishing it seems anything less than 10lb line and you you find your playing fish quite a long time and putting too much stress on the fish. I started off fishing 6lb line which to me seemed very strong at the time as i hadn't fished with anything that thick in 50 years of fishing but was soon told to go to 10lb. I don't know but is it best to stick with 10lb and wait for a fish or go lighter and maybe get a fish on but have it on too long for the fishes welfare.
Hope your enjoying life as a southerner mate.
With reference to you going lighter and smaller hooks ,i understand where your coming from as thats the first thing a matchman does to try to get a bite.And getting good fish out on such tackle i know iv'e had 7 to 8lb fish out on 22 hooks to 1lb line.I know your not talking of going to that sort of tackle but the small ammount of time i've been doing this fishing it seems anything less than 10lb line and you you find your playing fish quite a long time and putting too much stress on the fish. I started off fishing 6lb line which to me seemed very strong at the time as i hadn't fished with anything that thick in 50 years of fishing but was soon told to go to 10lb. I don't know but is it best to stick with 10lb and wait for a fish or go lighter and maybe get a fish on but have it on too long for the fishes welfare.
Hope your enjoying life as a southerner mate.
Just to get out more often and not be entrenched in a single or couple of methods approach. adopting a flexible approach worked for me many years ago and I probably enjoyed things more and was more successful.
Revisit float fishing - in the old days found some very good barbel swims and features using this method.
Cheers
Bob
Revisit float fishing - in the old days found some very good barbel swims and features using this method.
Cheers
Bob
Craig Wood
Senior Member
hi gra
Nice to hear off you mate..I wouldent use lighter than 8lb in most situations i mainly use 10lb and some times 12lb depending where im fishing..If you use lighter test curve rods with say 10lb or 8lb you can still apply good pressure without taking ages to land the fish..It really does depend on the swims you intend to fish..I have found gra that if your using smaller hooks you really do need lighter test curve rods otherwise your prone to hook pulls..Ive been using a particular line now for a season or so and since using it ive had more fish..You have a pm gra..
Nice to hear off you mate..I wouldent use lighter than 8lb in most situations i mainly use 10lb and some times 12lb depending where im fishing..If you use lighter test curve rods with say 10lb or 8lb you can still apply good pressure without taking ages to land the fish..It really does depend on the swims you intend to fish..I have found gra that if your using smaller hooks you really do need lighter test curve rods otherwise your prone to hook pulls..Ive been using a particular line now for a season or so and since using it ive had more fish..You have a pm gra..
Brian Willson
Senior Member & Supporter
Hi Craig,
i have decided to get up earlier this coming season,i hope to see you on the banks,i will have a word with Chris with your desire to help out.
Brian.
i have decided to get up earlier this coming season,i hope to see you on the banks,i will have a word with Chris with your desire to help out.
Brian.
Tony Byrne
Senior Member & Supporter
going to fish a lot more night sessions this season and day sessions i will fish with smaller baits like caster and hemp or smaller pellets
Graham Tremble
Senior Member
Line strength
Hi Guys,
It depends on the swim I am fishing and the size of the fish I expect to catch but my own experience ( after being a match fisherman and changing to barbel fishing ) went something like this....
Tried 4lb hook-lenghts ....lost a couple of fish due to to breakages so....
Tried 6lb hook lengths.... lost a couple of fish due to breakages so....
Tried 8lb hook- lengths.... lost a couple of fish due to breakages so....
Tried 10lb hook-lengths....now your getting there!
10lb would be my absolute minimum if there is even a hint of a snag in the swim and this isn,t enough when night fishing on the Teme when fish need to be 'bullied' into the net.
Tight Lines,
Graham.
Hi Guys,
It depends on the swim I am fishing and the size of the fish I expect to catch but my own experience ( after being a match fisherman and changing to barbel fishing ) went something like this....
Tried 4lb hook-lenghts ....lost a couple of fish due to to breakages so....
Tried 6lb hook lengths.... lost a couple of fish due to breakages so....
Tried 8lb hook- lengths.... lost a couple of fish due to breakages so....
Tried 10lb hook-lengths....now your getting there!
10lb would be my absolute minimum if there is even a hint of a snag in the swim and this isn,t enough when night fishing on the Teme when fish need to be 'bullied' into the net.
Tight Lines,
Graham.
Rick Carnell
Senior Member
I only fish the Trent and have my rigs pretty much sorted. I have to be more accurate in casting, thats down to me being a bit lazy.
My main problem is I think I am never getting enough bait out. I'm ditching the pva and going back to the feeder, possibly the method ones. I've never tried the baitdropper but I guess its pretty much the same as spodding. Might invest in one for the new season.
My main problem is I think I am never getting enough bait out. I'm ditching the pva and going back to the feeder, possibly the method ones. I've never tried the baitdropper but I guess its pretty much the same as spodding. Might invest in one for the new season.