In reply to Post #15
Everyone always blames bait when the bites dry up. It's not the bait at fault. I'm fishing a lake where everyone says it's got no form and they don't eat boilies etc. I'm having a great winter on fishmeal boilies so far and nobody else is doing it! As for Rockford Matt.......going back a few years it was a great boilie water for those who could get them out the distance they needed to be! We all need to admit that it's our angling or other factors that stop us catching.
Everyone always blames bait when the bites dry up. It's not the bait at fault. I'm fishing a lake where everyone says it's got no form and they don't eat boilies etc. I'm having a great winter on fishmeal boilies so far and nobody else is doing it! As for Rockford Matt.......going back a few years it was a great boilie water for those who could get them out the distance they needed to be! We all need to admit that it's our angling or other factors that stop us catching.
In reply to Post #16
Firstly I will say I'm not questioning the boilies I'm using at all, compared to other boilies I'm as confident I've ever been in the bait. When I referred to rotting bait I should have put into context, there are a couple swims that are always occupied which are generally the most productive on the lake (i have been fishing these swims) and every night some drops in them and does the usual few spods over each rod. Based on no fish being caught from the lake by anyone I just must assume there is bait rotting on the bottom.
You can see the birds out there having a good feed on bait constantly... so I guess they will be helping clear it as well..
The naturals have been that way since I started on there, crazy amounts! and i know i have been on fish and not caught.
I am not saying I'm the best angler and there are areas further that I cant get bait to. I'm sure if i could put bait out 180 - 200 yards and fish over it effectively i would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
I may well take a break soon and try somewhere else for a bend, but I just have a sneaky suspicion that adding maggots to the mix will give them something different which might just be enough.. My plan is to crumb some Blake's boilies and mix with maggot and chopped worm... worth a go anyhow
Firstly I will say I'm not questioning the boilies I'm using at all, compared to other boilies I'm as confident I've ever been in the bait. When I referred to rotting bait I should have put into context, there are a couple swims that are always occupied which are generally the most productive on the lake (i have been fishing these swims) and every night some drops in them and does the usual few spods over each rod. Based on no fish being caught from the lake by anyone I just must assume there is bait rotting on the bottom.
You can see the birds out there having a good feed on bait constantly... so I guess they will be helping clear it as well..
The naturals have been that way since I started on there, crazy amounts! and i know i have been on fish and not caught.
I am not saying I'm the best angler and there are areas further that I cant get bait to. I'm sure if i could put bait out 180 - 200 yards and fish over it effectively i would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
I may well take a break soon and try somewhere else for a bend, but I just have a sneaky suspicion that adding maggots to the mix will give them something different which might just be enough.. My plan is to crumb some Blake's boilies and mix with maggot and chopped worm... worth a go anyhow
In reply to Post #17
Sounds like a good plan mate. Let us know how you get on
Sounds like a good plan mate. Let us know how you get on
In reply to Post #17
I think you've hit the nail on the head about Rockford. Even when I stopped there about 9 years ago, people were piling in stupid amounts of bait, and spots were souring all over the place. The nature of the lake, being basically a big square hole in the ground (the two bays excepted) I think just encourages people to fish at range and fill it in. A single worm might be an option.
I think you've hit the nail on the head about Rockford. Even when I stopped there about 9 years ago, people were piling in stupid amounts of bait, and spots were souring all over the place. The nature of the lake, being basically a big square hole in the ground (the two bays excepted) I think just encourages people to fish at range and fill it in. A single worm might be an option.
In reply to Post #17
I'm sure if i could put bait out 180 - 200 yards and fish over it effectively i would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
I would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
Plenty of decent, clear, non mouldly bait spots probably from rod tip to catapult range too. Surely the fish must venture in close with all that noise, pressure, manky bait at extreme range.
I'm sure if i could put bait out 180 - 200 yards and fish over it effectively i would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
I would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
Plenty of decent, clear, non mouldly bait spots probably from rod tip to catapult range too. Surely the fish must venture in close with all that noise, pressure, manky bait at extreme range.
In reply to Post #20
Where I have been fishing there is a lovely spot at 14 wraps and I always have a rod positioned there, i have seen fish there too.
What I mean by the range thing is fish will naturally feed without caution in areas they know anglers do not fish, they are not stupid.. I have seen it on every lake I've ever fished, if you can place a bait somewhere they are not used to being fished for they will be easier to catch. For instance where I was last fishing the water levels were up and down and a bar at 50 yards sticking out the water for several months due to low water levels meant the area past it was unfisheable. The fish loved this area and got accustomed to it being a safe zone. As soon as the levels were high enough to fish over it, the fish were almost easy to catch!
Where I have been fishing there is a lovely spot at 14 wraps and I always have a rod positioned there, i have seen fish there too.
What I mean by the range thing is fish will naturally feed without caution in areas they know anglers do not fish, they are not stupid.. I have seen it on every lake I've ever fished, if you can place a bait somewhere they are not used to being fished for they will be easier to catch. For instance where I was last fishing the water levels were up and down and a bar at 50 yards sticking out the water for several months due to low water levels meant the area past it was unfisheable. The fish loved this area and got accustomed to it being a safe zone. As soon as the levels were high enough to fish over it, the fish were almost easy to catch!
In reply to Post #19
I will report back let you know how I get on
I will report back let you know how I get on
In reply to Post #17
Matt Rockford isn't an easy venue at any time of year but winter can be hard anywhere. Most lakes will see an increase in bird activity due to the clear water and them seeing the bait easily. They are a pain for me too so I tend to bait up at dusk as bite time is early morning at the mo. Maggots can bring bites for sure if the roach and bream are not a problem. I was getting at the fact that I would doubt a certain fishmeal is the reason for not getting bites at any time of the year and that other factors are probably the reason. Me and my close mates have been using good fishmeal/milk protein mixes all year round and it's worked everywhere but we know how and when to apply them to suit. One little tip, use crumb and hemp in the spod and some matching liquids so that even when all the birds turn up they cannot pick it all up and buy yourself time. I watched a coot take all of my 30 odd 12mm boilies recently in 15 feet of water, but I didn't panic as I had hemp crumb and tiny flavoured pellets on the spot and he could not pick all of them up!! The bite came about half hour after mr coot was sat in the reeds burping!!
Matt Rockford isn't an easy venue at any time of year but winter can be hard anywhere. Most lakes will see an increase in bird activity due to the clear water and them seeing the bait easily. They are a pain for me too so I tend to bait up at dusk as bite time is early morning at the mo. Maggots can bring bites for sure if the roach and bream are not a problem. I was getting at the fact that I would doubt a certain fishmeal is the reason for not getting bites at any time of the year and that other factors are probably the reason. Me and my close mates have been using good fishmeal/milk protein mixes all year round and it's worked everywhere but we know how and when to apply them to suit. One little tip, use crumb and hemp in the spod and some matching liquids so that even when all the birds turn up they cannot pick it all up and buy yourself time. I watched a coot take all of my 30 odd 12mm boilies recently in 15 feet of water, but I didn't panic as I had hemp crumb and tiny flavoured pellets on the spot and he could not pick all of them up!! The bite came about half hour after mr coot was sat in the reeds burping!!
In reply to Post #23
Good advice sir.
Good advice sir.
In reply to Post #23
I use fishmeal all year round too seems to always work!
I intend to do the same as what you describe only with maggots instead of hemp. If I get casters at least they wont wriggle away.
I use fishmeal all year round too seems to always work!
I intend to do the same as what you describe only with maggots instead of hemp. If I get casters at least they wont wriggle away.
In reply to Post #23
Oh I forgot to say I am in it for the long haul.. I was fishing next to a regular who has been fishing it for 15+ years, he has had a few but he is currently on 60 nights without a fish, I started in July and only heard of 1 fish being caught since then, even through the autumn which is the best time of year.
Oh I forgot to say I am in it for the long haul.. I was fishing next to a regular who has been fishing it for 15+ years, he has had a few but he is currently on 60 nights without a fish, I started in July and only heard of 1 fish being caught since then, even through the autumn which is the best time of year.
In reply to Post #26
Wow Matt I knew it was tough but didn't realise it was that sparse!! I love them places and the feeling when you get the reward is worth every night you spend there. Never count Blanks tho as it adds to frustration. Each night is a step closer on the learning scale
Wow Matt I knew it was tough but didn't realise it was that sparse!! I love them places and the feeling when you get the reward is worth every night you spend there. Never count Blanks tho as it adds to frustration. Each night is a step closer on the learning scale
In reply to Post #27
I count because I take notes of the conditions and swims I fished on those nights, I record all fish too with rigs conditions bait used etc.. so far that page is empty on this lake lol
I count because I take notes of the conditions and swims I fished on those nights, I record all fish too with rigs conditions bait used etc.. so far that page is empty on this lake lol
In reply to Post #28
Ah but one day it will have an epic entry!!!
Ah but one day it will have an epic entry!!!
In reply to Post #29
Effort = reward
Effort = reward