Fishing World

Archive for June, 2010

Fishing with a waggler float is a favourite method for many anglers and is commonly used on many stillwaters when fishing for roach, tench, carp and other species. The waggler is cast in an overhead manner, after which the line between the rod and the waggler is sunk beneath the surface of the water. This eliminates any drag on the float and enables it to hold its position. Once the float has settled in the water, the angler places the rod in the rod rest. When a fish bites and the float is drawn under, the angler picks up the rod and is into the fish. The tip of the waggler can be used as a marker at which to fire groundbait.

This photographic sequence shows the angler making the cast, after which the rod is placed in the rod rest and groundbaiting can begin.

1. The bale arm of the reel is opened I to allow the line to run free. The line is trapped under a finger.

2. The rod is swept back over the head of the angler and then forward in one movement.

3. The float flies out towards the water and as it hits the water the angler slows down the line by cushioning the spool of the reel with his finger to act as a brake.

4. The bale arm of the reel is now engaged and the tip of the rod dipped under the surface. Two or three turns are wound on to the reel making the line sink under the water.

5. The rod is placed on the rod rest with the tip just under the surface. Should the angler have to react to a bite all he has to do is pick up the rod and connect with the fish.

6. Once the rod is safely in the rod rest the angler can start to catapult feed out towards the float. The tip of the float acts as a marker for the angler to aim at.

The tough crust on the outside of a farmhouse loaf is one of the best bread baits. Buy a fresh loaf from a bakery and if the crust is initially too brittle, seal it in a polythene bag. A few hours later the brittleness will have been replaced by crust so tough you will have trouble tearing it off the loaf. For hookbaits, tear off a piece of this crust, with a good chunk of flake attached, and fold it in half with the crust itself on the outside. Pass the hook through one side of the crust and out the other. When the bread is then released, it springs open on the hook. Thus mounted, you will find that the bait withstands any amount of twitching through the swim.

As well as mashed bread for loose feeding, you can also use handfuls of fresh, squeezed breadcrumbs to keep a swim primed; they disperse rapidly into attractive clouds as soon as they hit the water. For an even finer cloud, with minimal food value, liquidized bread is excellent. Remove the crusts from fresh, sliced bread and liquidize it in a blender. Liquidized bread is good for fishing in conjunction with a feeder, using bread flake hookbaits.

For fishing bread flake, use fresh, medium-sliced white bread. Tear off a strip approximately 1/2 in (1 cm) wide by 1 1/2 in (4 cm) long and fold it round the hook shank, pinching it in place but leaving the point exposed. Fresh, sliced bread is also useful if you require a bread flake offering on a very small hook, where bread punches come into their own.

Bread is the most versatile bait. A loaf can provide a buoyant, sinking or neutral bait. Alteration of bait size enables the angler to change his presentation in an instant. With crust, increasing the bait size can provide a slow sinking offering, where previously the bait was nailed down to the river bed. With flake, a buoyant offering can be created by squeezing a disc flat on the hook shank. Where conditions are suitable for bread for winter chub, in all but very heavily coloured water, there is no situation where a bread bait can’t be adapted to provide the ideal presentation.

Mounting Bread Crust on a Hook

1. Fold a piece, of crust in half and pass the hook through both sides.

2. Allow the crust to spring open on the hook.

Mounting Bread Flake on a Hook

1. Fold a strip of flake from a sliced white loaf around the shank of your hook.

2. Squeeze the flake tight, squashing it on the hook, leaving only the point exposed.