Just been watching a few carp videos on YouTube. And also see a lot of people using distance sticks on my lakes. I've got distance sticks. But I don't like using them. I'd rather still use my marker rod / float for distance and baiting up and so on when fishing bigger lakes. But I get criticism for this. I don't use the marker rod on the small lake I fish as there is no need for it. But on the bigger lakes I like to use the marker rod as I seem to be more accurate in everyday. Do any of you guys still use a marker rod ? What's your thorts on them
I still fish to a float regular. Specially fishing 3 on a spot. Drop it left and right of the float then move the float and drop it on top.
In reply to Post #1
I still find spots but I just use a lead on my normal rod ( always carry a spare spool that has braid on it) as I don't want to carry the extra rod
If I find something I find interesting I will put a float on it
I store it in an old esp pva tube along with a braided marker float set up kit in case it's weedy
I like to find other uses for those tubes it makes me feel I'm doing my bit...
Made up pva mesh bags, you can get over 30 small ones in a 25mm tube lol perfect for a days fishing rather than a bucket of pellet especially this time of year
I still find spots but I just use a lead on my normal rod ( always carry a spare spool that has braid on it) as I don't want to carry the extra rod
If I find something I find interesting I will put a float on it
I store it in an old esp pva tube along with a braided marker float set up kit in case it's weedy
I like to find other uses for those tubes it makes me feel I'm doing my bit...
Made up pva mesh bags, you can get over 30 small ones in a 25mm tube lol perfect for a days fishing rather than a bucket of pellet especially this time of year
In reply to Post #2
Sounds a bit like my fishing
Sounds a bit like my fishing
In reply to Post #4
I still think it's a far more accurate way to fish. I've seen first hand how far a cast or spomb can be off by people not judging wind or bows in the line.
On My old syndicate there was a really good angler caught more than most and knew the lake well on one occasion he had to cast 3 wraps more to hit his marker float. This was in a bar cross wind and I was side on to the angler to to be able to see his accuracy. Was brilliant to watch. And Not that people wouldn't have allowed for this but water and distance can be deceiving and without the float many might have been off there spot.
I still think it's a far more accurate way to fish. I've seen first hand how far a cast or spomb can be off by people not judging wind or bows in the line.
On My old syndicate there was a really good angler caught more than most and knew the lake well on one occasion he had to cast 3 wraps more to hit his marker float. This was in a bar cross wind and I was side on to the angler to to be able to see his accuracy. Was brilliant to watch. And Not that people wouldn't have allowed for this but water and distance can be deceiving and without the float many might have been off there spot.
In reply to Post #1
Essential kit . . .don't care how good your Raymarine / GPS is . . .you can never fully understand the bottom makeup without a little lead around . . .
Essential kit . . .don't care how good your Raymarine / GPS is . . .you can never fully understand the bottom makeup without a little lead around . . .
In reply to Post #6
Wouldn't be without them.
Wouldn't be without them.
In reply to Post #7
Me neither.
Me neither.
In reply to Post #1
More accurate I think than distance sticks.
You can't always gauge the wind bow or distance out with sticks, whereas with a marker float you can.
Spots may 'move', weed grow onto your clear spot or spots enlarge. A marker lead and float may show up natural food areas
More accurate I think than distance sticks.
You can't always gauge the wind bow or distance out with sticks, whereas with a marker float you can.
Spots may 'move', weed grow onto your clear spot or spots enlarge. A marker lead and float may show up natural food areas
I use my deeper to find a rough spot don't care what anyone says it's way quicker and better than thrashing the lake to a foam with a float and a lead, once I've found my rough spots then I swap over to a lead to feel the bottom and see what I'm really fishing on.
In reply to Post #1
Always get the marker out
Always get the marker out
In reply to Post #1
ive never used distance sticks, nor will i.
marker floats all day long
ive never used distance sticks, nor will i.
marker floats all day long
Distance sticks are still a handy bit of kit. Specially snag fishing or to get back onto a baited spot.
In reply to Post #13
Marker floats, Deepers and sticks. All have their place and all really complement each other imo.
Marker floats, Deepers and sticks. All have their place and all really complement each other imo.
In reply to Post #1
Still use a float every year even on lakes I know well. Generally once I'm happy with areas come spring I'll note it all down and then the wraps with a spod aswell as sometimes it can vary a tad. Never hindered my results, if your going to lead it and fish precise spots you may aswell put the float up and be deadly accurate. or on the flips side not use one at all and fish for drops with a throwing stick and minimal disturbance. in which case it'll stay in the van.
Still use a float every year even on lakes I know well. Generally once I'm happy with areas come spring I'll note it all down and then the wraps with a spod aswell as sometimes it can vary a tad. Never hindered my results, if your going to lead it and fish precise spots you may aswell put the float up and be deadly accurate. or on the flips side not use one at all and fish for drops with a throwing stick and minimal disturbance. in which case it'll stay in the van.
In reply to Post #14
do a bit of everything, depending on whats needed, maker sticks are f in brilliant
do a bit of everything, depending on whats needed, maker sticks are f in brilliant
In reply to Post #12
Do you use a line clip with the marker rod?
Do you use a line clip with the marker rod?
In reply to Post #12
So how do you mark the exact distance? You could be casting anywhere, i always use distance sticks with a line clip to land on the exact spot if it's important
So how do you mark the exact distance? You could be casting anywhere, i always use distance sticks with a line clip to land on the exact spot if it's important
never use or will use dinstance sticks either .... such a fad and faff and one of those "problems" that never needed fixing ..... What does make me laugh is watching someone go to great lengths with distance sticks and then casts 20feet or so either side to where they should be .... If im looking to fish accurate then marker float all the way
Id never dream of going to a lake without my marker rod.
If im fishing to a feature, visable or underwater, i will always mark my line so i can easily clip up to recast.
If im fishing to a feature, visable or underwater, i will always mark my line so i can easily clip up to recast.
In reply to Post #18
find spot, mark up with power gum, clip up and cast out!
ive also used a lazer distance finder once ive found the spot i want to fish at.
find spot, mark up with power gum, clip up and cast out!
ive also used a lazer distance finder once ive found the spot i want to fish at.
In reply to Post #21
What he said! I can sortof see the point of sticks if you keep a log of distances for all the swims/spots you fish and turn up after dark, but once you've marked the spots with powergum you can put them away.....
How did we all cope lol!
What he said! I can sortof see the point of sticks if you keep a log of distances for all the swims/spots you fish and turn up after dark, but once you've marked the spots with powergum you can put them away.....
How did we all cope lol!
In reply to Post #22
I always use my distance sticks so I no I'm 100% on the same spot every time, I do however always use my marker rod to make sure the spot is clean each time I go. I did use marker elastic, cast past the spot reel in so it hits the right mark in the rod then clip up but a lot of lakes I fish you can't do that at all.
For me only way to be 100% accurate each time is distance stick and clip up, even before they came out I used two bank sticks. I have never used anything else to make distance
I always use my distance sticks so I no I'm 100% on the same spot every time, I do however always use my marker rod to make sure the spot is clean each time I go. I did use marker elastic, cast past the spot reel in so it hits the right mark in the rod then clip up but a lot of lakes I fish you can't do that at all.
For me only way to be 100% accurate each time is distance stick and clip up, even before they came out I used two bank sticks. I have never used anything else to make distance
No need for any of that stuff up north
Aim for the shopping trolley / half a shed/ partly submerged dead body and Bob's your uncle
Aim for the shopping trolley / half a shed/ partly submerged dead body and Bob's your uncle
In reply to Post #24
In reply to Post #22
how did we cope....
we were just better anglers
how did we cope....
we were just better anglers
In reply to Post #23
Why cant you?
Why cant you?
In reply to Post #27
a fine question
a fine question
In reply to Post #23
Back in the dim and distant past, we used to just walk down the bank to a tree or whatever. Some people tried using bivvy pegs to mark it, but we had great fun moving them
Back in the dim and distant past, we used to just walk down the bank to a tree or whatever. Some people tried using bivvy pegs to mark it, but we had great fun moving them
In reply to Post #29
hence the lazer distance gizmo and a bucket
hence the lazer distance gizmo and a bucket
In reply to Post #22
I can't understand the logic not using the sticks?
Surely if your fishing the same lake week in week out even just for reference for the trip your on, it's the easiest and most effective way to at least be in the right ball park features wise. I guess you could go back to counting reel handle turns walking them out but that's a pain in the arse on lakes with any degree of foliage or without straight banks.
Power gum slips all the time no matter what knot you use and I do use it myself every time I put more than one rod on a particular spot.
There was a few blokes over frogmore that used to put electrical tape tags on the barbed wire fence and walk there rods out, seemed a good idea, untill people starting moving them about.
I can't understand the logic not using the sticks?
Surely if your fishing the same lake week in week out even just for reference for the trip your on, it's the easiest and most effective way to at least be in the right ball park features wise. I guess you could go back to counting reel handle turns walking them out but that's a pain in the arse on lakes with any degree of foliage or without straight banks.
Power gum slips all the time no matter what knot you use and I do use it myself every time I put more than one rod on a particular spot.
There was a few blokes over frogmore that used to put electrical tape tags on the barbed wire fence and walk there rods out, seemed a good idea, untill people starting moving them about.
In reply to Post #27
Because fishing up against an island or something might be the furthest point in my water so can't cast past that, yeah I get walking it down the bank but unless you fish a featureless hole in the ground the banks are pretty full up with bushes/ trees and tbh that's much more hassle than going round distance sticks, it's takes 20/30 seconds to sort it out.
I get that's how you do it but like mentioned before me the peg way of doing it you get idiots moving them and the power gum moves, if you can't be bothered to use sticks then fine but don't put down people who do use the tools available to them just be use you don't want to, I have a friend who still does the peg way but we both fish waters without straight banks and lots of stuff in the way so he struggles to find a place to do it
Because fishing up against an island or something might be the furthest point in my water so can't cast past that, yeah I get walking it down the bank but unless you fish a featureless hole in the ground the banks are pretty full up with bushes/ trees and tbh that's much more hassle than going round distance sticks, it's takes 20/30 seconds to sort it out.
I get that's how you do it but like mentioned before me the peg way of doing it you get idiots moving them and the power gum moves, if you can't be bothered to use sticks then fine but don't put down people who do use the tools available to them just be use you don't want to, I have a friend who still does the peg way but we both fish waters without straight banks and lots of stuff in the way so he struggles to find a place to do it
In reply to Post #19
This is a very odd thing to be so passionately against. Why do you hate them so much? What do you use instead?
This is a very odd thing to be so passionately against. Why do you hate them so much? What do you use instead?
In reply to Post #1
Haven't used distance sticks, marker floats, stop knots, spombs, deepers, or in fact anything at all of that nature this year. In fact it's pretty rare that I will use any of them, and still manage to catch my share...
Haven't used distance sticks, marker floats, stop knots, spombs, deepers, or in fact anything at all of that nature this year. In fact it's pretty rare that I will use any of them, and still manage to catch my share...
In reply to Post #34
when someone says...
"you wanna be at 12 wraps"
i just cringe
when someone says...
"you wanna be at 12 wraps"
i just cringe
In reply to Post #35
I also set my distance sticks not at 12ft. So my wraps never correspond with anyone else. Never know who has the binoculars out
I also set my distance sticks not at 12ft. So my wraps never correspond with anyone else. Never know who has the binoculars out
In reply to Post #36
i watch some of the numpties angling, they crack me up....i then do the total opposite
i watch some of the numpties angling, they crack me up....i then do the total opposite
In reply to Post #1
I hardly ever use distance sticks, they have their uses, but if you watch others using them... they're not casting along the same line and often don't adjust for depth. Always amusing when they start baiting up with a catty or throwing stick - bait goes all over the show in most cases. Using a marker float, I can accurately put my rig and bait in the same place - with added bonus of knowing the depth and contours. Most of the chaps these days are like sheep, they all do the same thing and get the same results. Count me out of that.
I hardly ever use distance sticks, they have their uses, but if you watch others using them... they're not casting along the same line and often don't adjust for depth. Always amusing when they start baiting up with a catty or throwing stick - bait goes all over the show in most cases. Using a marker float, I can accurately put my rig and bait in the same place - with added bonus of knowing the depth and contours. Most of the chaps these days are like sheep, they all do the same thing and get the same results. Count me out of that.
In reply to Post #38
Honestly i dont understand this opinion at all. Surely the marker sticks play a part for everyone who uses a marker float?
How do you find your spot again with the marker float? It's fine if all 3 rods are at the same distance. But if not, how do you recast your marker float to the same spot to recast, or how do you find that spot again on a different session?
Honestly i dont understand this opinion at all. Surely the marker sticks play a part for everyone who uses a marker float?
How do you find your spot again with the marker float? It's fine if all 3 rods are at the same distance. But if not, how do you recast your marker float to the same spot to recast, or how do you find that spot again on a different session?
In reply to Post #38
i have a reservoir at the bottom of my field.
On the far side of the reservoir, cattle come down to drink freely.
there was some numpty with his distance sticks at the side of his bivvy proudly set up.....mid morning, said numpty fast asleep, been drinking stella all night no doubt, and the cattle came wandering down.
after they had their water fill, they calmly wandered back past the "crap anglers" bivvy, only to stop and investigate his stupid sticks...one the cattle got its foot tangled up in the cord, started bucking and weaving, pulled noddy sticks out of the ground and went legging up the bank with legs and noddy sticks flying around everywhere.
the noddy woke up....and started to swear and shout at the cattle...
so funny...
cattle all fine, noddy's pride and joy bent
i have a reservoir at the bottom of my field.
On the far side of the reservoir, cattle come down to drink freely.
there was some numpty with his distance sticks at the side of his bivvy proudly set up.....mid morning, said numpty fast asleep, been drinking stella all night no doubt, and the cattle came wandering down.
after they had their water fill, they calmly wandered back past the "crap anglers" bivvy, only to stop and investigate his stupid sticks...one the cattle got its foot tangled up in the cord, started bucking and weaving, pulled noddy sticks out of the ground and went legging up the bank with legs and noddy sticks flying around everywhere.
the noddy woke up....and started to swear and shout at the cattle...
so funny...
cattle all fine, noddy's pride and joy bent
In reply to Post #39
You can take a horse to water but you cant make it drink, I'm a sheep , ill take that
You can take a horse to water but you cant make it drink, I'm a sheep , ill take that
The reality is that walking out lines and clipping is the same as wrapping around sticks, but with more disadvantages. It takes longer, your line is on the floor, you have to find somewhere straight and clear enough to do it etc etc etc. If you're still walking out lines in the view that the old methods are still the best then more fool you.
You can't flick out a marker in the dark and cast and clip up to it with any accuracy, so that method is no good for anyone who can't arrive in daylight.
As for firing a laser gadget across the pond
Some people take great pride in the fact that they were around before things like distance sticks were released. They will take every opportunity to tell everyone with hilarious sarcastic quips like ‘how did we ever cope'
It takes no skill or aptitude to do something for a large number of years, it just happens. If you're doing something for a long time and not using newer and more sensible methods out of pride and to not look like a ‘noddy' you're a bit dim.
You can't flick out a marker in the dark and cast and clip up to it with any accuracy, so that method is no good for anyone who can't arrive in daylight.
As for firing a laser gadget across the pond
Some people take great pride in the fact that they were around before things like distance sticks were released. They will take every opportunity to tell everyone with hilarious sarcastic quips like ‘how did we ever cope'
It takes no skill or aptitude to do something for a large number of years, it just happens. If you're doing something for a long time and not using newer and more sensible methods out of pride and to not look like a ‘noddy' you're a bit dim.
In reply to Post #42
tell you what though, those golf lazer distance finders are really good
Im happy being dim or stuck in the days of non noddies
please take the humour side of my words, its only a bit of fun
tell you what though, those golf lazer distance finders are really good
Im happy being dim or stuck in the days of non noddies
please take the humour side of my words, its only a bit of fun
In reply to Post #43
I saw one used ages ago. Pointed at a far margin, then distance sticks to clip up to the right distance and clipped the leaves first cast. I completely forgot about them untill you mentioned them.
Are they affordable now? Back then it wasn't cheap. And do they work against water. I.e can you point it at fizzing and get an accurate ish distance?
I saw one used ages ago. Pointed at a far margin, then distance sticks to clip up to the right distance and clipped the leaves first cast. I completely forgot about them untill you mentioned them.
Are they affordable now? Back then it wasn't cheap. And do they work against water. I.e can you point it at fizzing and get an accurate ish distance?
In reply to Post #39
Surely the marker sticks play a part for everyone who uses a marker float?
How do you find your spot again with the marker float? It's fine if all 3 rods are at the same distance. But if not, how do you recast your marker float to the same spot to recast, or how do you find that spot again on a different session?
Quite easily!
I clip up the marker float, and have a far bank marker. If I need to recast the marker float, I cast and take the line out of the clip, pull an additional rod length of line out, and reclip. I can then pull back to the feature, allow the float back up, and recast to it.
If I fish the same swim again next session, I'm in the same ballpark with the line in clip already. As I also use a spod rod I often have as many as 3 marks in the clip on that rod as well for the same or different swims.
Easy enough to walk out or distance stick to those points, although I do prefer walking the line out, and I do use 'secret' marks, something like the end of the reedbed to the 2nd post on the sheep fence or from a particular tree to 'the dip' in the bank.
I have even been known to walk and wade baits out
Something else I do I learnt from Jim Gibbinson, for the same swim on another session, knowing how many baits on a stringer I can cast to that spot. So for example, the spot on one swim is 70metres, I can cast that far with a 3oz lead and a 7boilie stringer. If I use 5 I go past it, if I use 10 I am short.
Surely the marker sticks play a part for everyone who uses a marker float?
How do you find your spot again with the marker float? It's fine if all 3 rods are at the same distance. But if not, how do you recast your marker float to the same spot to recast, or how do you find that spot again on a different session?
Quite easily!
I clip up the marker float, and have a far bank marker. If I need to recast the marker float, I cast and take the line out of the clip, pull an additional rod length of line out, and reclip. I can then pull back to the feature, allow the float back up, and recast to it.
If I fish the same swim again next session, I'm in the same ballpark with the line in clip already. As I also use a spod rod I often have as many as 3 marks in the clip on that rod as well for the same or different swims.
Easy enough to walk out or distance stick to those points, although I do prefer walking the line out, and I do use 'secret' marks, something like the end of the reedbed to the 2nd post on the sheep fence or from a particular tree to 'the dip' in the bank.
I have even been known to walk and wade baits out
Something else I do I learnt from Jim Gibbinson, for the same swim on another session, knowing how many baits on a stringer I can cast to that spot. So for example, the spot on one swim is 70metres, I can cast that far with a 3oz lead and a 7boilie stringer. If I use 5 I go past it, if I use 10 I am short.
In reply to Post #45
someone mention sheep
someone mention sheep
In reply to Post #46
another little true story
Lad, small estate lake, its probably 35 yrds across at one part (dont ask me how many poxy wraps that is
)
noddy with sticks, casts to far margin, clips up, reels in then starts waving his rod around his new shinny sticks with some lovely green tops on them
he then casts back to said spot, walks round and chucks some bait in
wouldnt it have been easier to just cast on far margin and drop said rig in
another little true story
Lad, small estate lake, its probably 35 yrds across at one part (dont ask me how many poxy wraps that is
)noddy with sticks, casts to far margin, clips up, reels in then starts waving his rod around his new shinny sticks with some lovely green tops on them
he then casts back to said spot, walks round and chucks some bait in
wouldnt it have been easier to just cast on far margin and drop said rig in
In reply to Post #43
Don't forget that humour's not allowed any more Joss as someone always gets offended. Ask Maureen Lipman
Don't forget that humour's not allowed any more Joss as someone always gets offended. Ask Maureen Lipman
Rod yes but purely for leading about, actual marker float?? Almost never in actual sessions but when I start fishing a new lake I tend to go down for a day and thouroughly plumb depths etc for future reference but after that no almost never
In reply to Post #48
this is fact
this is fact
In reply to Post #45
Like I said, distance sticks play a role for people who use a marker float.
Out of interest What do you do at night to get your rod back on the spot? I have seen some people put a marker out at night then cast too it, always seemed a bit of a faf to me.
Before using sticks I used to use a line marker, which I still do from time to time. But I will still wrap it round the sticks untill the marker to clip it up, where as I used to cast out untill the marker, then clip up, and recast.
Like I said, distance sticks play a role for people who use a marker float.
Out of interest What do you do at night to get your rod back on the spot? I have seen some people put a marker out at night then cast too it, always seemed a bit of a faf to me.
Before using sticks I used to use a line marker, which I still do from time to time. But I will still wrap it round the sticks untill the marker to clip it up, where as I used to cast out untill the marker, then clip up, and recast.
In reply to Post #51
Of all the so called ‘modern' inventions I think distance sticks are one of the most useful to be honest
No faffing about with line markers or walking lines out, and they're so small and lightweight it's no bother having them in the rod bag. I rarely fish without them
Of all the so called ‘modern' inventions I think distance sticks are one of the most useful to be honest
No faffing about with line markers or walking lines out, and they're so small and lightweight it's no bother having them in the rod bag. I rarely fish without them
In reply to Post #48
Don't think anyones offended, but if there is a better alternative I'm sure there's plenty of people interested to know. 😂
Don't think anyones offended, but if there is a better alternative I'm sure there's plenty of people interested to know. 😂
My marker rod gets more use for mackerel
What with everyone fishing clear patches with distance stick accuracy I pub chuck the rods in the dark and hope for the worst, it's my edge
What with everyone fishing clear patches with distance stick accuracy I pub chuck the rods in the dark and hope for the worst, it's my edge
In reply to Post #54
That's the way I do it pub chuck works for me 
That's the way I do it pub chuck
works for me
In reply to Post #55
Well I put my sticks out and don't use them, big edge
Well I put my sticks out and don't use them, big edge
In reply to Post #51
Out of interest What do you do at night to get your rod back on the spot? I have seen some people put a marker out at night then cast too it, always seemed a bit of a faf to me.
Before using sticks I used to use a line marker, which I still do from time to time. But I will still wrap it round the sticks untill the marker to clip it up, where as I used to cast out untill the marker, then clip up, and recast.
Power gum stop knot on the line, cast it out, (not aiming anywhere near the spot) and get the knot to the rod tip, clip up and cast back to spot, or walk it out to my bankside markers, clip and recast.
Out of interest What do you do at night to get your rod back on the spot? I have seen some people put a marker out at night then cast too it, always seemed a bit of a faf to me.
Before using sticks I used to use a line marker, which I still do from time to time. But I will still wrap it round the sticks untill the marker to clip it up, where as I used to cast out untill the marker, then clip up, and recast.
Power gum stop knot on the line, cast it out, (not aiming anywhere near the spot) and get the knot to the rod tip, clip up and cast back to spot, or walk it out to my bankside markers, clip and recast.
In reply to Post #1
I use a marker rod all the time.....with a float fished pout for bass 😂
I tend to have my spod rod with me, braid, leader, big loop then I can choose between leading around, using a float, and spomb as well as weed rake, I also have a 12/0 treble hook that's had the points snipped off and a broken float added to the shank, works for clearing floating weed quite well
I use a marker rod all the time.....with a float fished pout for bass 😂
I tend to have my spod rod with me, braid, leader, big loop then I can choose between leading around, using a float, and spomb as well as weed rake, I also have a 12/0 treble hook that's had the points snipped off and a broken float added to the shank, works for clearing floating weed quite well
I always use a marker rod. Over the years I've learned what "feels best" and what kind of feeling I get through the marker judged against results. That feeling you get when it goes from a gluey type feeling to just a bit smoother that wasn't there last week, priceless to get an idea whether a spot has been fed on
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