Hi all, currently fishing a extremely weedy lake where I have full access to a boat to drop hookbaits in clear spots,no chance whatsoever of getting a fish back to the bank.im a bit concerned whether I should fish it at all. Do I take unhooking mat out in the boat if I get a run or is it safe for the fish for me to row slowly with it in the net back to the bank with the extreme weed on top?
In reply to Post #1
You will probably get loads of different answers for this !
Think it depends on the individual, life jackets available, and it is easier if someone else is in the boat with you, your own boating/rowing skills and amount of weed ( heavily up to the surface of not ).
If it is possible to do so, take the unhooking mat, or two, after landing the fish, place on mat, and cover with the other mat, leaves both hands free to row back to the swim.
As trying to tow a big fish alongside or behind the boat can be a right pain, especially with weed in the net and a good 20/30lb plus fish, acts like a trout anglers Drogue, slows you down, or sends you if every direction except the way you want.
You will probably get loads of different answers for this !
Think it depends on the individual, life jackets available, and it is easier if someone else is in the boat with you, your own boating/rowing skills and amount of weed ( heavily up to the surface of not ).
If it is possible to do so, take the unhooking mat, or two, after landing the fish, place on mat, and cover with the other mat, leaves both hands free to row back to the swim.
As trying to tow a big fish alongside or behind the boat can be a right pain, especially with weed in the net and a good 20/30lb plus fish, acts like a trout anglers Drogue, slows you down, or sends you if every direction except the way you want.
In reply to Post #2
Great reply scaley, thanks.
Great reply scaley, thanks.
In reply to Post #2
A great reply. the only other thing i would say is take a XL sling out with you as well, makes it easier to lift and get in and another layer of wet material to protect the fish when transporting back
A great reply. the only other thing i would say is take a XL sling out with you as well, makes it easier to lift and get in and another layer of wet material to protect the fish when transporting back
In reply to Post #4
In reply to Post #1
Personally IMO it is trying to catch a fish at all costs by the sounds of it, priority should be health and safety of the fish.
From how you explain it I wouldn’t fish it as it is, even clearing some spots to get a pick up is going to be increasing the risk of mouth damage to the fish should you succeed.
You’re there, weighing the costs up of all circumstances is your responsibility.
Personally IMO it is trying to catch a fish at all costs by the sounds of it, priority should be health and safety of the fish.
From how you explain it I wouldn’t fish it as it is, even clearing some spots to get a pick up is going to be increasing the risk of mouth damage to the fish should you succeed.
You’re there, weighing the costs up of all circumstances is your responsibility.
In reply to Post #6
Maybe true another good point well put.
Maybe true another good point well put.
In reply to Post #7
Going in with a winch, rakes rope tomorrow see what I can get out.
Going in with a winch, rakes rope tomorrow see what I can get out.
when I fished a very weedy syndicate what I did was find the spot I wanted to fish and the kept baiting it from the boat with soaked pigeon conditioner. then once they had cleared a 15ft area I baited a long strip back to the swim for my line. then dropped the rigs from the boat. seemed to work very well but it all depends on what type of weed etc.
In reply to Post #9
Worked hard raking about 250kg of weed out,definitely ended up with fishable 25 yard spots,need to extend the area bit by bit then see if it gets visited eventually.
Worked hard raking about 250kg of weed out,definitely ended up with fishable 25 yard spots,need to extend the area bit by bit then see if it gets visited eventually.
In reply to Post #10
In my experience you want to keep the spots small. Once they're big they die a death bites wise.
In my experience you want to keep the spots small. Once they're big they die a death bites wise.
In reply to Post #11
I did think that tbf may do a big one then fine tune a few in that proximity
I did think that tbf may do a big one then fine tune a few in that proximity
In reply to Post #12
Anyone have any experience with the dye that reduces weed etc? Costing £££ Is it dangerous can it be done by non professional people?
Anyone have any experience with the dye that reduces weed etc? Costing £££ Is it dangerous can it be done by non professional people?
In reply to Post #13
one of my waters dyed a lake a few years back. wrecked the fishing. zero weed for about two full seasons. no reason for the fish to be out in the open water, so they just sat in the woodwork. castch rates were well down. finally now im told a bit of weed is returning. better option is barley straw to keep the risk of a bloom down and let the weed do its natural thing
one of my waters dyed a lake a few years back. wrecked the fishing. zero weed for about two full seasons. no reason for the fish to be out in the open water, so they just sat in the woodwork. castch rates were well down. finally now im told a bit of weed is returning. better option is barley straw to keep the risk of a bloom down and let the weed do its natural thing
In reply to Post #14
Thanks for that half a dozen bales applied around March would you think?
Thanks for that half a dozen bales applied around March would you think?