The late summer / early autumn sunshine meant I actually had my first (and maybe my last) floater session of the season yesterday . . .
Local club water - 5x fish in 4hrs the smallest circa 15lb and the biggest just nudging 20lbs . . .all on the beachcaster method, the lazy mans floater fishing method of choice . . .
Also 'adopted' my pike bungs to make them easier to set themselves at range so all in all a very smug session . . .
Definitely need to do this more often, recharges your soul compared to boring them out behind alarms for 48hrs . . !
Local club water - 5x fish in 4hrs the smallest circa 15lb and the biggest just nudging 20lbs . . .all on the beachcaster method, the lazy mans floater fishing method of choice . . .
Also 'adopted' my pike bungs to make them easier to set themselves at range so all in all a very smug session . . .
Definitely need to do this more often, recharges your soul compared to boring them out behind alarms for 48hrs . . !
In reply to Post #1
Method I have never tried but i do love a bit of floater fishing. Nice one
Method I have never tried but i do love a bit of floater fishing. Nice one
In reply to Post #2
Nothing beats flicking out a freelined bit of crust on a soft rod with braided mainline but this is arguably equally exciting. . . .
Being able to watch the fish circling the 'dangled' bait (with binos if necessary) in confusion and then simply lifting the floater out of the water (by using a bait runner and rotating the spool in your fingers a few mm / tightening the line) if its not the biggest fish in the pack is something you cannot do with the conventional method without recasting / a lot of disturbance. . . being able to literally 'hovver' a mixer that dapples the surface but with the exposed hook above the waterline is also a massive advantage . . .it's arguably lazy but mega effective and also great for those with acute presentation OCD like myself!
Nothing beats flicking out a freelined bit of crust on a soft rod with braided mainline but this is arguably equally exciting. . . .
Being able to watch the fish circling the 'dangled' bait (with binos if necessary) in confusion and then simply lifting the floater out of the water (by using a bait runner and rotating the spool in your fingers a few mm / tightening the line) if its not the biggest fish in the pack is something you cannot do with the conventional method without recasting / a lot of disturbance. . . being able to literally 'hovver' a mixer that dapples the surface but with the exposed hook above the waterline is also a massive advantage . . .it's arguably lazy but mega effective and also great for those with acute presentation OCD like myself!
In reply to Post #3
Havent used for 30 years, was weed in lake and didn't do the fish much good with a trailing lead, maybe should have used a drop off lead
Havent used for 30 years, was weed in lake and didn't do the fish much good with a trailing lead, maybe should have used a drop off lead
In reply to Post #3
hovver' a mixer that dapples the surface but with the exposed hook above the waterline is also a massive advantage
Exactly that
Exciting stuff watching a carp taking floaters and then the one with your hook in it. Hook exposed, the balance of the bait and the slightest bit of tow or unnatural movement, forget it. Then some days you just feel like you can catch them on anything
hovver' a mixer that dapples the surface but with the exposed hook above the waterline is also a massive advantage
Exactly that
Exciting stuff watching a carp taking floaters and then the one with your hook in it. Hook exposed, the balance of the bait and the slightest bit of tow or unnatural movement, forget it. Then some days you just feel like you can catch them on anything
In reply to Post #1
glad your enjoying your fishing mate and catching a few
your post reminded me fishing wraysbury lakes in the 70s and using decoy crust on this particular lake the fish used to hang around the far side of a up to the surface weed bed and so if you wanted to fish a free lined crust it needed to be big enough to cast well
the crafty carp soon learnt to keep smacking it and eating only the small bits even knocking the big free samples without hooks into smaller bits
so sounds crude I know but I threaded on a large cube of crust VERY large lol
stopped it with a ledger stop around 3 to 4 inches up from the size 6 hook then put a small bit covering the hook with a split shot very lightly on the hook shank below the eye so it sank and hung below the big bit
wow did that work instantly !! within mins of casting it out
glad your enjoying your fishing mate and catching a few
your post reminded me fishing wraysbury lakes in the 70s and using decoy crust on this particular lake the fish used to hang around the far side of a up to the surface weed bed and so if you wanted to fish a free lined crust it needed to be big enough to cast well
the crafty carp soon learnt to keep smacking it and eating only the small bits even knocking the big free samples without hooks into smaller bits
so sounds crude I know but I threaded on a large cube of crust VERY large lol
stopped it with a ledger stop around 3 to 4 inches up from the size 6 hook then put a small bit covering the hook with a split shot very lightly on the hook shank below the eye so it sank and hung below the big bit
wow did that work instantly !! within mins of casting it out
In reply to Post #6
Problem is a lot of waters ban the beachcaster for reasons unbeknown . . .to be fair it can 'ruin' traditional floater fishing methods if hammered by all however most can't be arsed / don't know how to fish it safely and effectively . . .
Problem is a lot of waters ban the beachcaster for reasons unbeknown . . .to be fair it can 'ruin' traditional floater fishing methods if hammered by all however most can't be arsed / don't know how to fish it safely and effectively . . .
In reply to Post #8
Sounds like you are onto a winner at the moment
I guess you are keeping the bait just on the water. I remember those floats, not sure if they were Gardner? they were designed to do that, stick up off the surface like an Ariel, never looked right to me that lol. Once went to one popular deep water and everybody was using them, WTF
Sounds like you are onto a winner at the moment
I guess you are keeping the bait just on the water. I remember those floats, not sure if they were Gardner? they were designed to do that, stick up off the surface like an Ariel, never looked right to me that lol. Once went to one popular deep water and everybody was using them, WTF
In reply to Post #9
Have used the gardener suspender floats . . .they are less faff and do a similar job and can be fished running like a marker float with a lead. Fish do suss these eventually as they can nudge the float and the bait is only 6inches away - with the beachcaster if you set it up right the rig is suspended above the water on a washing line at least 6ft from the float . . .fish either swim around it in a confused stupor or charge straight towards it and gobble it up like pac man . . .
Have used the gardener suspender floats . . .they are less faff and do a similar job and can be fished running like a marker float with a lead. Fish do suss these eventually as they can nudge the float and the bait is only 6inches away - with the beachcaster if you set it up right the rig is suspended above the water on a washing line at least 6ft from the float . . .fish either swim around it in a confused stupor or charge straight towards it and gobble it up like pac man . . .
In reply to Post #8
I used to hammer a lake local to me on the beachcaster. Went to pay one week to be told it had been banned. Only people using it, me and the old man. Couldn't give a reason. Even better the person taking my money didn't know what it was.
I used to hammer a lake local to me on the beachcaster. Went to pay one week to be told it had been banned. Only people using it, me and the old man. Couldn't give a reason. Even better the person taking my money didn't know what it was.
In reply to Post #11
. . .has happened to me before. Was hammering another local dayticket a few years back and had the lake to myself - no rules saying you can't however I'd had at least 6/7 fish in a couple of hours when the owner (who I know well and get on with) came to say hello, saw me hauling and then basically banned it on the spot, saying he was happy for me to continue fishing it (as he trusted my rigs / ability) but only as the lake was empty . . .he didn't want 'others' using it for fear of them damaging fish etc and therefore told me I'd be temporarily banned if he caught me using it again . . .miserable killjoy!
Well that was his excuse anyway - to be honest I can only think that fishery owners ban it because its so effective and they don't want it to dominate surface fishing (which it can do) . . .I actually think its somewhat 'safer' than traditional floater fishing as the fish hook themselves and the rig components (effectively a helicopter rig with a large float) can all drop off in the event of a mainline break leaving a short 12" trailing hooklink only. . .the number of numpties (on day tickets particularly) I see striking hard when floater fishing direct and missing / pulling the hook across and out of the fishes mouth . . .
. . .has happened to me before. Was hammering another local dayticket a few years back and had the lake to myself - no rules saying you can't however I'd had at least 6/7 fish in a couple of hours when the owner (who I know well and get on with) came to say hello, saw me hauling and then basically banned it on the spot, saying he was happy for me to continue fishing it (as he trusted my rigs / ability) but only as the lake was empty . . .he didn't want 'others' using it for fear of them damaging fish etc and therefore told me I'd be temporarily banned if he caught me using it again . . .miserable killjoy!
Well that was his excuse anyway - to be honest I can only think that fishery owners ban it because its so effective and they don't want it to dominate surface fishing (which it can do) . . .I actually think its somewhat 'safer' than traditional floater fishing as the fish hook themselves and the rig components (effectively a helicopter rig with a large float) can all drop off in the event of a mainline break leaving a short 12" trailing hooklink only. . .the number of numpties (on day tickets particularly) I see striking hard when floater fishing direct and missing / pulling the hook across and out of the fishes mouth . . .
In reply to Post #12
The old argument of no surface fishing because it harms the wildlife is also null and void as the ducks won't go near it as they can see the line
The old argument of no surface fishing because it harms the wildlife is also null and void as the ducks won't go near it as they can see the line
In reply to Post #13
. . .another good reason for it! Even the seagulls bugger off . . .
. . .another good reason for it! Even the seagulls bugger off . . .
In reply to Post #11
Like lots of things , catch a few and w%%%%%s moan
Like lots of things , catch a few and w%%%%%s moan
In reply to Post #1
This takes me back.
Summer of 1983 at Llyswen, my mate John Williams "invented" the beachcaster rig.( Someone had probably tried it before, but must've kept it quiet). Anyway, we hammered Llyswen with it and then tried it on Llandrindod Wells and hammered that too. Whilst there, we showed it to some lads from Brum and they used it at Cuttle Mill. We also told Terry Eustace about it. From there it took off. I did very well with it at Linear Guys Lakes.
The problem was, and still, is fishing at longer range.We tried using a roach pole as an outrigger, (as used on a big-game boat), but it wasn't practical. John modified the handle of an 18ft salmon fly rod, which worked really well and was fine for playing fish on.
I don't see it as a lazy way to fish as it needs constant attention. You'll hook more fish if you give line as they suck the bait in, so you have to be watchful and be ready for it. Also, fishing it in a breeze requires constant adjustments. I experimented with a hooklink of nylon that had been wrapped around a pencil to make it like a spring. This would enable the bait to ride the waves and give when the fish took. It worked, but the nylon would lose its coils after a while.
My only regret is the effect it had on the fish once they'd wised up to it. After that, it was impossible to catch them on any floater method, as they'd suck at the bait from further away and many just wouldn't eat them, showing interest but turning away and even bolting.
I haven't used it for over 20 years.
This takes me back.
Summer of 1983 at Llyswen, my mate John Williams "invented" the beachcaster rig.( Someone had probably tried it before, but must've kept it quiet). Anyway, we hammered Llyswen with it and then tried it on Llandrindod Wells and hammered that too. Whilst there, we showed it to some lads from Brum and they used it at Cuttle Mill. We also told Terry Eustace about it. From there it took off. I did very well with it at Linear Guys Lakes.
The problem was, and still, is fishing at longer range.We tried using a roach pole as an outrigger, (as used on a big-game boat), but it wasn't practical. John modified the handle of an 18ft salmon fly rod, which worked really well and was fine for playing fish on.
I don't see it as a lazy way to fish as it needs constant attention. You'll hook more fish if you give line as they suck the bait in, so you have to be watchful and be ready for it. Also, fishing it in a breeze requires constant adjustments. I experimented with a hooklink of nylon that had been wrapped around a pencil to make it like a spring. This would enable the bait to ride the waves and give when the fish took. It worked, but the nylon would lose its coils after a while.
My only regret is the effect it had on the fish once they'd wised up to it. After that, it was impossible to catch them on any floater method, as they'd suck at the bait from further away and many just wouldn't eat them, showing interest but turning away and even bolting.
I haven't used it for over 20 years.
In reply to Post #16
. . nice post!
You learn something new every day - I thought it was invented at Cuttle Mill . . !
Would still argue its lazier than the traditional methods, having to constantly mend the line and trying to move the bait 'across' the feeding fish is a hands on affair - with the beachcaster its hands free so you can watch patterns / concentrate on getting the feeding right! Range wise with my set up I can fish comfortably at 50-60yds and in depths up to 12-15ft. . .
Know what you mean about fine adjustments etc - some like a dappled bait, others one thats semi sunken / below the surface. Re fishing in the breeze and hooklinks in general I like your coiled idea - I tend to use 20lb rigmarole fluro (about 12-20") as it stays stiff and is easier to cast / present the hookbait . . the added weight also helps to negate cross winds etc. Maybe I'll try it with a small section of power gum at the swivel end (I do this on my standard floater gear when fishing braided mainline) . . .
Can def 'ruin' floater fishing if hammered by all . . .most still don't know about it / cant be arsed to set it up and use it!
. . nice post!
You learn something new every day - I thought it was invented at Cuttle Mill . . !
Would still argue its lazier than the traditional methods, having to constantly mend the line and trying to move the bait 'across' the feeding fish is a hands on affair - with the beachcaster its hands free so you can watch patterns / concentrate on getting the feeding right! Range wise with my set up I can fish comfortably at 50-60yds and in depths up to 12-15ft. . .
Know what you mean about fine adjustments etc - some like a dappled bait, others one thats semi sunken / below the surface. Re fishing in the breeze and hooklinks in general I like your coiled idea - I tend to use 20lb rigmarole fluro (about 12-20") as it stays stiff and is easier to cast / present the hookbait . . the added weight also helps to negate cross winds etc. Maybe I'll try it with a small section of power gum at the swivel end (I do this on my standard floater gear when fishing braided mainline) . . .
Can def 'ruin' floater fishing if hammered by all . . .most still don't know about it / cant be arsed to set it up and use it!
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