A massively unused tactic in my approach. Some waters prohibit it which doesn't help. I'm looking at improving this area of my game. Any tips, advice on techniques, tackle, approach, etc?
In reply to Post #1
To be honest these days most venues be it day ticket, syndicate are pretty busy all the time so repeated casting effects all on the lake. So you can understand why some places don't want it as you have to remember your sharing a lake and we all want to get on & catch fish.
Though if you are looking for tips just do a search on google or YouTube loads of good videos to be found.
To be honest these days most venues be it day ticket, syndicate are pretty busy all the time so repeated casting effects all on the lake. So you can understand why some places don't want it as you have to remember your sharing a lake and we all want to get on & catch fish.
Though if you are looking for tips just do a search on google or YouTube loads of good videos to be found.
In reply to Post #1
I am by no stretch of the imagaination a good surface angler, but a few tips of what I've learned over the years.
As hookbait, I use a pop up chopped down to look like a mixer as they stay on the hook longer than a mixer. I usually use a bright coloured one so you can visually see it compared to a mixer hen it's on the surface.
Small hook, size 10, with the hookbait attached via a bait band (easier than faffing around with a hair rig).
5 foot long hooklink, I use Drennan double strength.
I use Fox bolt bubble floats which the hooklink swivel plugs into a rubber sleeve which fixes the float.
Make sure all your line floats.
If you're having difficulty with ducks and gulls nicking your mixers, try spombing them out instead of catapulting.
Find the fish and get em going first before you put your hookbait in.
Rod, reel and line - use the lowest test curve rod you have with a nice thru action (I use 2lb t.c.), 8 or 10lb line on whatever reel you normally use.
Strike when you see your bait taken, not too early!! Or if you're lucky enough, fish may hook themselves with the bolt bubble.
Basic stuff I know, but it's a start for you. Good luck and be prepared to be frustrated!!
I am by no stretch of the imagaination a good surface angler, but a few tips of what I've learned over the years.
As hookbait, I use a pop up chopped down to look like a mixer as they stay on the hook longer than a mixer. I usually use a bright coloured one so you can visually see it compared to a mixer hen it's on the surface.
Small hook, size 10, with the hookbait attached via a bait band (easier than faffing around with a hair rig).
5 foot long hooklink, I use Drennan double strength.
I use Fox bolt bubble floats which the hooklink swivel plugs into a rubber sleeve which fixes the float.
Make sure all your line floats.
If you're having difficulty with ducks and gulls nicking your mixers, try spombing them out instead of catapulting.
Find the fish and get em going first before you put your hookbait in.
Rod, reel and line - use the lowest test curve rod you have with a nice thru action (I use 2lb t.c.), 8 or 10lb line on whatever reel you normally use.
Strike when you see your bait taken, not too early!! Or if you're lucky enough, fish may hook themselves with the bolt bubble.
Basic stuff I know, but it's a start for you. Good luck and be prepared to be frustrated!!
In reply to Post #1
Perserverance, theres a reason not many floater fish, it takes a element of skill and crap anglers are lazy buggers at the best of times, your get strange looks funny comments just keep doing your thing
Perserverance, theres a reason not many floater fish, it takes a element of skill and crap anglers are lazy buggers at the best of times, your get strange looks funny comments just keep doing your thing
In reply to Post #2
Absolutely! Everything is on YouTube and it's a bit ironic given some of the conversation on another post, but this is why there's a forum, right! And one of the reasons I like this forum as there's a lot of knowledgeable, experienced anglers on here that help, share and impart with their wisdom.
Absolutely! Everything is on YouTube and it's a bit ironic given some of the conversation on another post, but this is why there's a forum, right!
And one of the reasons I like this forum as there's a lot of knowledgeable, experienced anglers on here that help, share and impart with their wisdom.
In reply to Post #3
I may have dreamt this but is Vaseline rubbed on the hook length good for keeping the line on the surface?
I may have dreamt this but is Vaseline rubbed on the hook length good for keeping the line on the surface?
In reply to Post #6
Yes, vaseline would work as would the greases sold for fly fishing, but it's usually better to have the last 12" sinking. Perseverance is the key, I spend a lot more time watching and feeding than actual fishing.
Yes, vaseline would work as would the greases sold for fly fishing, but it's usually better to have the last 12" sinking. Perseverance is the key, I spend a lot more time watching and feeding than actual fishing.
In reply to Post #2
I'm no expert, but take a range of different hooklink diameters, hook sizes, float sizes and bait sizes. Various things work on one day and don't the next, get them feeding with some degree of confidence before you put a rig in will make life a bit easier.
I'm no expert, but take a range of different hooklink diameters, hook sizes, float sizes and bait sizes. Various things work on one day and don't the next, get them feeding with some degree of confidence before you put a rig in will make life a bit easier.
In reply to Post #8
I think he's saying it's banned on some places, and explaining why that maybe.
I think he's saying it's banned on some places, and explaining why that maybe.
In reply to Post #1
Braided mainline . . .if you can use it. Floats without constant management, better hooking ratio on takes = more fun!
Braided mainline . . .if you can use it. Floats without constant management, better hooking ratio on takes = more fun!
In reply to Post #1
Vaseline or similar rubbed on the line Ive always found attracts debris from water surface.
Prefer to use a decent floating line and keep it clean.
I've had some fish take hookbait floater as soon as its hit the water, so the saying build their confidence first didn't apply, as was cast to where I thought fish were, didn't actually see fish first.
As mentioned, just keep going and practice.
Getting the hookbait balance, how it appears to the carp in my opinion is paramount.
I've blanked for hours lots of times until I've made a change that was acceptable to the carp.
They ate freebies, ignored hookbait sort of thing.
Vaseline or similar rubbed on the line Ive always found attracts debris from water surface.
Prefer to use a decent floating line and keep it clean.
I've had some fish take hookbait floater as soon as its hit the water, so the saying build their confidence first didn't apply, as was cast to where I thought fish were, didn't actually see fish first.
As mentioned, just keep going and practice.
Getting the hookbait balance, how it appears to the carp in my opinion is paramount.
I've blanked for hours lots of times until I've made a change that was acceptable to the carp.
They ate freebies, ignored hookbait sort of thing.
If there's room for a cast, you can't beat the presentation with a fly rod.
Not many fish ignore simple free lined bread, it'll even catch fish in the sea ffs
Not many fish ignore simple free lined bread, it'll even catch fish in the sea ffs
In reply to Post #12
Absolutely
The one single bait that will catch anything anytime. Tricky with the ducks but worth the nuisance.
A quid for lovely afternoon fishing. Can't go wrong
Lots of good advice here. Don't overthink things. You'll have a great time if the fish are up in the water.
Absolutely
The one single bait that will catch anything anytime. Tricky with the ducks but worth the nuisance.
A quid for lovely afternoon fishing. Can't go wrong
Lots of good advice here. Don't overthink things. You'll have a great time if the fish are up in the water.
In reply to Post #10
1OO% Braid mainline , cut down cell popups are good 2
1OO% Braid mainline , cut down cell popups are good 2
I love floater fishing, very exciting, perhaps my favourite tactic. I use a hooklink about 5-6', just pull the line off strecthing my arms outwide. Until a few years ago I'd never used a dedicated hooklink, just mainline, but these days I'm using 15lb Fox Zig/Float line, I did try the 12lb but it snapped on me a couple of times and that was that. As for making it float a quick rub of the finger behind the ear or on the nose usually does the trick. Never used small hooks for FF still using some of the original Fox Series hooks from the 90's, size 6 or 8, nice finer wire hook.
As for bait, I have found that particularly cagey fish will struggle with a very buoyant bait due to the way they try and mouth it 1st, top lip very low on the water so in general I prefer a lower sitting bait whatever that may be. I have tried cut down cell pop ups, very effective, Enterprise artificial dog biscuits (which I now don't use as I don't like to lose artificials) and mostly Tesco Dry Dog mixer food, lots of different shapes to keep the fish guessing that bit longer.
As for bait, I have found that particularly cagey fish will struggle with a very buoyant bait due to the way they try and mouth it 1st, top lip very low on the water so in general I prefer a lower sitting bait whatever that may be. I have tried cut down cell pop ups, very effective, Enterprise artificial dog biscuits (which I now don't use as I don't like to lose artificials) and mostly Tesco Dry Dog mixer food, lots of different shapes to keep the fish guessing that bit longer.
In reply to Post #14
Better still (again if not banned ridiculously) - beachcaster method for ultra lazy mofo floater fishing . . .two rods on storm poles with gardner rests and a decent stiff material on the suspended hooklink- fools them everytime, guaranteed. Shimano TX2 12ft 3.25 and some 8000/10000 size baitrunners are perfect for this method . . .
Better still (again if not banned ridiculously) - beachcaster method for ultra lazy mofo floater fishing . . .two rods on storm poles with gardner rests and a decent stiff material on the suspended hooklink- fools them everytime, guaranteed. Shimano TX2 12ft 3.25 and some 8000/10000 size baitrunners are perfect for this method . . .
In reply to Post #8
Totally agree with you. Can't understand you wouldn't fish for them if they are in front of you or somewhere no one else is fishing. And as for someone saying your casting too much is ridiculous!
Don't be a sheep and do what everyone else is doing just crack on.
Totally agree with you. Can't understand you wouldn't fish for them if they are in front of you or somewhere no one else is fishing. And as for someone saying your casting too much is ridiculous!
Don't be a sheep and do what everyone else is doing just crack on.
In reply to Post #1
Tackle wise then a nice light rod 2.0 - 2.25 tc and a small baitrunner.
Braid for mainline is ideal but if your new to it then mono is fine, there is some dedicated floater mono's out there but it all sinks after it's been in the water for a while, I use Gardner Pro Light Blend in 10lb.
Hook links is Stroft GTM, diameter depends on whether there's any weed, snags etc, I treat it with Gink floatant but leave the last 6 inches untreated.
I use the smallest hooks I can get away with and a small cut down pop-up held tight to the shank with a piece of silicone, small 5g controller for the most part.
Bog standard mixers still work for me as does cat biscuits, I treat them with Salmon oil mixed with Marmite.
As always the biggest factor will be finding them and deciding your plan, sometimes a single hook bait flicked out is all that's required, other times it's a constant trickle or thrashing it to a foam with an Sbomb.
I always seem to do better when I think through just before I cast as to the direction of the line lay and where exactly I want the hook bait as for sure my best action has come when the bait is only in the water for the minimal time, the longer it is out there the less bites I get.
Good luck with it, it's truly exciting fishing.
Tackle wise then a nice light rod 2.0 - 2.25 tc and a small baitrunner.
Braid for mainline is ideal but if your new to it then mono is fine, there is some dedicated floater mono's out there but it all sinks after it's been in the water for a while, I use Gardner Pro Light Blend in 10lb.
Hook links is Stroft GTM, diameter depends on whether there's any weed, snags etc, I treat it with Gink floatant but leave the last 6 inches untreated.
I use the smallest hooks I can get away with and a small cut down pop-up held tight to the shank with a piece of silicone, small 5g controller for the most part.
Bog standard mixers still work for me as does cat biscuits, I treat them with Salmon oil mixed with Marmite.
As always the biggest factor will be finding them and deciding your plan, sometimes a single hook bait flicked out is all that's required, other times it's a constant trickle or thrashing it to a foam with an Sbomb.
I always seem to do better when I think through just before I cast as to the direction of the line lay and where exactly I want the hook bait as for sure my best action has come when the bait is only in the water for the minimal time, the longer it is out there the less bites I get.
Good luck with it, it's truly exciting fishing.
In reply to Post #18
. . .turned up at a local dayticket last summer for the last few hours of the evening to a lake that was black with fish on the top . . .the locals were trying to tempt them with freelined bread due to the ridiculous 'no freebie floating baits' rule . . .(why commercial fisheries are so anti floater fishing I've no idea but that's a different subject) so muggins here decides to pull a major stroke that worked ridiculously well . . .
Standard large Fox Exocet controller with a 2ft length of double strength and a small 8mm oily floater on a very short hair - golf ball sized mesh PVA bag of Nash riser pellets nicked on the hook (for every cast) and lobbed out 80yds plus into the middle of the lake.
The 'freebies' were invisible at this range but sent the fish potty . . .the shorter hooklink worked like a bolt rig and I started hauling within 10mins much to the disappointment of the locals who had been at it for most of the day . . .
Only got a bit dodge when the wind picked up and some of the previously un-munched riser pellets has started to stray into the margins / elsewhere . . .by that time however I'd had my fill of fish and buggered smuggly off . . .
Def will be using the riser pellets more this summer . . .expensive but very effective
. . .turned up at a local dayticket last summer for the last few hours of the evening to a lake that was black with fish on the top . . .the locals were trying to tempt them with freelined bread due to the ridiculous 'no freebie floating baits' rule . . .(why commercial fisheries are so anti floater fishing I've no idea but that's a different subject) so muggins here decides to pull a major stroke that worked ridiculously well . . .
Standard large Fox Exocet controller with a 2ft length of double strength and a small 8mm oily floater on a very short hair - golf ball sized mesh PVA bag of Nash riser pellets nicked on the hook (for every cast) and lobbed out 80yds plus into the middle of the lake.
The 'freebies' were invisible at this range but sent the fish potty . . .the shorter hooklink worked like a bolt rig and I started hauling within 10mins much to the disappointment of the locals who had been at it for most of the day . . .
Only got a bit dodge when the wind picked up and some of the previously un-munched riser pellets has started to stray into the margins / elsewhere . . .by that time however I'd had my fill of fish and buggered smuggly off . . .
Def will be using the riser pellets more this summer . . .expensive but very effective
Fly rod with high density black foam on a very short hair cut to resemble the silhouette of dog biscuits. It's a great way to spend the couple of hours before dark in summer.
In reply to Post #1
My best piece of advice is always be patient, observe how they react to the introduction of floaters, don't be afraid of coating the mixers in fish hydro or liver hydro, use a multitude of varying sizes and shapes which gives you options with hook baits.
Brian Skoyles has done two or three really informative floater fishing YouTube vids in the last couple of years, a very good watch.
Stroft GTM hook length material is fantastic and better than double strength.
Choose an appropriate type of controller depending on given conditions! Also don't be afraid to use super short hook lengths especially with a heavy candle type controller, sometimes it can be devastating when they're being finicky and snatching at the baits as they hit the resistance very quickly.
Always use Mucilin or Gink to keep the line buoyant and I use Xink for the last 3-6” of hook length to sink below the surface film.
My best piece of advice is always be patient, observe how they react to the introduction of floaters, don't be afraid of coating the mixers in fish hydro or liver hydro, use a multitude of varying sizes and shapes which gives you options with hook baits.
Brian Skoyles has done two or three really informative floater fishing YouTube vids in the last couple of years, a very good watch.
Stroft GTM hook length material is fantastic and better than double strength.
Choose an appropriate type of controller depending on given conditions! Also don't be afraid to use super short hook lengths especially with a heavy candle type controller, sometimes it can be devastating when they're being finicky and snatching at the baits as they hit the resistance very quickly.
Always use Mucilin or Gink to keep the line buoyant and I use Xink for the last 3-6” of hook length to sink below the surface film.
In reply to Post #2
That's a ridiculous statement to make, obviously we should always consider others and be respectful but to not fish for obvious fish wanting a bait on the surface is ludicrous, repeated casting ? Just feather the cast and it'll be far less disturbance than zipping out a 3oz lead on the bottom.
That's a ridiculous statement to make, obviously we should always consider others and be respectful but to not fish for obvious fish wanting a bait on the surface is ludicrous, repeated casting ? Just feather the cast and it'll be far less disturbance than zipping out a 3oz lead on the bottom.
In reply to Post #8
Totally agree, no more casting than feature finding or spombing !
Totally agree, no more casting than feature finding or spombing !
In reply to Post #1
If you can tempt them close enough, a freelined mixer (or trimmed down brown pop-up) works a treat.
I have actually been able to get fish feeding under the rod tip, so close I can have the bait hanging down from the rod with no free line on the surface whatsoever. I have caught numbers of fish like this from various waters.
My usual surface fishing tackle is a Barbel Specialist rod, test curve around 1.5lb, 10 or 12lb Gardner Pro light mainline, treated with Kryston Greased Lightning to help it stay afloat. Hooklink is normally Preston Reflo in 0.21 or 0.26mm, (8lb 15oz or 12lb 5oz), or I do still have some Berkley XL in 8lb.
As much as I dislike putting money in Kevin Nash's pocket, the Nash Bolt machines are decent controllers at range above freeline distance.
The hooks I use are Drennan Specimen in clear waters, Super Specialists and Solar 101's in size 8, 10 and 12. 101's in 8 and 10 only, but good near hook and hold situations. I use the same hooks for chub fishing!
Get the fish feeding confidently, I like Bakers Complete Dog biscuits, various sizes and colours, and the big meaty chunks work as good hookbaits, but 11mm Riser pellets are also good freebies.
The hard part is working out when to cast in your hookbait. Sometimes it is instantly, other times sit and wait. Constant feeding with hookbait out, or let your hookbait be the last taken.
Overcast, then sneak your bait back slowly.
Try to work with the wind coming from behind you to put freebies out to see if they will come up, you have the baits going over most of the lake that way. It can be worth drifting your hookbait with the wind, but sometimes actually fishing into the wind, so it drifts back into you.
If you can tempt them close enough, a freelined mixer (or trimmed down brown pop-up) works a treat.
I have actually been able to get fish feeding under the rod tip, so close I can have the bait hanging down from the rod with no free line on the surface whatsoever. I have caught numbers of fish like this from various waters.
My usual surface fishing tackle is a Barbel Specialist rod, test curve around 1.5lb, 10 or 12lb Gardner Pro light mainline, treated with Kryston Greased Lightning to help it stay afloat. Hooklink is normally Preston Reflo in 0.21 or 0.26mm, (8lb 15oz or 12lb 5oz), or I do still have some Berkley XL in 8lb.
As much as I dislike putting money in Kevin Nash's pocket, the Nash Bolt machines are decent controllers at range above freeline distance.
The hooks I use are Drennan Specimen in clear waters, Super Specialists and Solar 101's in size 8, 10 and 12. 101's in 8 and 10 only, but good near hook and hold situations. I use the same hooks for chub fishing!
Get the fish feeding confidently, I like Bakers Complete Dog biscuits, various sizes and colours, and the big meaty chunks work as good hookbaits, but 11mm Riser pellets are also good freebies.
The hard part is working out when to cast in your hookbait. Sometimes it is instantly, other times sit and wait. Constant feeding with hookbait out, or let your hookbait be the last taken.
Overcast, then sneak your bait back slowly.
Try to work with the wind coming from behind you to put freebies out to see if they will come up, you have the baits going over most of the lake that way. It can be worth drifting your hookbait with the wind, but sometimes actually fishing into the wind, so it drifts back into you.
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