Conditions are vital
I
am often asked by junior anglers why it is sometimes very difficult to
catch fish on local waters at this time of year especially on ponds or
lakes – and my simple answer is water temperature and the prevailing
conditions.
At the start of spring the rivers are still cold, but on the other hand
still waters heat up more quickly in the occasional sunlight.
For success, you have to find a good place to fish, have the right ground
bait, the right hook bait and the right technique.
Local waters can prove to be very fickle during the early months of the
year and you may have a good catch one day then go back to the same peg
the next day, use exactly the same tactics and catch nothing.
In ponds and lakes, fish become active as soon as the sun begins to heat
the water, but rivers do not heat up so quickly.
Places exposed to the sun and sheltered from cold winds are preferable
locations. Fishing is more difficult with winds from the east and north
whatever the season, and winds from the west and south are more favourable,
the lighter the wind the better the fishing.
In summer conditions when there is a breeze crossing over the water it
is preferable to fish into the wind as the fish tend to follow the natural
surface food that is being created by the elements, and fishing in a corner
of a lake with the wind full in your face can prove very productive.
However in cold, windy conditions (winter to spring) the angler should
position himself with his back to the wind and fish where the surface
is smooth.
South facing spots are the best but at this time of the year it is more
a question of the most sheltered spot.
The use of a large umbrella which helps to reduce the effects of the wind
(if positioned properly) will make life more comfortable for the angler,
and appropriate clothing which gives protection from the wind is necessary.
The peg location should be checked carefully (for safety reasons) and
there should not be too many reeds (avoid tangles).
Coloured ground bait should be used (special mixtures for ponds and lakes
are excellent).
As these mixtures are rich in breadcrumbs, they should be moistened and
left to rest for 20 or 30 minutes or so.
The breadcrumbs will have expanded and further moistening can be applied
if necessary. The ground bait should be passed through a sieve and then
be formed into balls the size of an orange with a smattering of pinkie
or squat mixed in.
You should always plumb the depth of your peg to try and obtain a mental
picture of the undulations of the bed of the lake or pond so that you
can locate deep or shallow holes where fish may congregate.
Once this has been established, five or six balls of ground bait should
be thrown or cupped in wherever the hook bait is to be presented.
The wind can be a problem, but with the angler’s back to the wind
the surface current direction is towards the centre of the pond or lake
and the current on the bottom will be in the opposite direction.
Consequently, you will need to fish further in from where the ground bait
is located as the current will move it slightly towards the bank.
The initial balls of ground bait should be nice and firm so as to reach
the bottom before breaking up. Afterwards, walnut-sized pieces should
be thrown in between bites. Loose feed can be applied on the basis of
little but often once the fish have moved over the ground bait.
As long as the wind is not too strong, a whip or pole is the preferred
method and these should be between five and 11.5 metres in length, according
to the preferred choice of the angler and the location.
Pole elastic is a real advantage as large fish can turn up during the
session once they home in on the pre-baited swim, pushing the smaller
fish away.
The float should be selected carefully to combat the elements just in
case the wind gets stronger (0.75 to 1.5g) and the float tip must be easily
visible (several colours should be available).
If the sun is low, watching the float can become quite difficult so sun
glasses can prevent excessive glare and fatigue.
A 0.10 to 0.12 main line should be sufficient at this time of year, the
hook length should be 0.05 to 0.08. The hook should be 20 to 24 with a
pinkie, maggot or squatt for bait.
It may be worth having a separate rig set up with a larger hook size to
enable other baits such as worms, sweetcorn, luncheon meat or bread to
be used.
Another important factor is the depths being fished, which will affect
the type of weights to be used. Deeper water may require a rig comprising
of an olivette or even better several soft weights which can be spread
out if necessary.
A small weight (number 12 or 13) can be placed on the hook length (tell
tale shot) and another shot can be placed above the float (back shot)
which will sink the line to help overcome windy conditions and assist
with bait presentation.
This shot should be around 25mm (one inch) above the body eye of the pole
float making it level with the tip of the thistle of the float but if
the wind gets stronger it may be necessary to increase the distance of
the back shot further away from the float. The angler should start by
fishing about 10 cms (four ins) off the bottom.
After that it is a question of tactics. If the fish take the bait as it
sinks – i.e the float does not immediately take on a vertical position
or comes up in the water – the float and the weights should be repositioned,
to lift the hook bait further away from the bottom but still around or
over the area of the pre-baiting.
On the other hand, from time to time, it may be necessary for the angler
to return to the bottom and, if the fish are there, group the weights
together (bulk shooting) just below the mid distance of the depth being
fished (this avoids wrap arounds) and then place a selection of number
10 to 12 shots in a shirt button style below the bulk.
It is very important for you to keep working your peg until you find the
depth at which the fish are feeding and be prepared to keep altering the
tell tale shot on the hook length.
If all else fails set your feeder rod up (ground bait or maggot) with
a selection of pinkie, squatt, maggot or worm as hook bait, cast your
line out over the groundbait and just wait for the tip to go round. Tight
lines.
Angling Course
Due to
popular demand, local angling coach Ken Stevenson is schedule to start
another free, 10-week course at Jay’s nightclub at Langold.
The course starts on the 12th May and runs through to the 21st July. It
is open to anyone over 18 and all you have to do is turn up on the night
ready for a 7pm start.
Round-up
Shireoaks
Herons – the name of the junior section of the Station Hotel AC –
are now beginning their second successive year as a junior club.
It is managed by Dave Marsh assisted by John Pickering, John Dickenson,
Richard Phillips and Nigel Barnard.
It was formed to accommodate the children of members of the senior section
of the club and any other child between the ages of nine to 16 years who
live in the village of Shireoaks.
The club consists of 12 boys and girls who are very keen to learn the
finer techniques of angling.
The first session took place on Sunday 13th April where all the children
managed to catch fish on the rigs they had made.
Ricky Barnard tempted a nice perch of 4oz with Liam Seeley, Steven Whiteley,
Jamie Owen, Ryan Hancock and Lindey Marsh all getting a mixed net of carp,
gudgeon and roach.
The club would like to thank sponsors Dean Precision Engineering and Geoff
Mawby at Gateford Angling Supplies for their support.
Notice Board
Woodhouse
Inn members should note that the next meeting is scheduled to take place
on Sunday 27th April starting at 7.45pm.
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Yours in Sport Glyn |