In reply to Post #29
50/50.
Before the swap to barbless things were fine, and a couple of years after barbless were scrapped most of the fish had healed.
Barbless created a situation due to the weed and anglers frustrations at losing 4 out of 5 fish.
50/50.
Before the swap to barbless things were fine, and a couple of years after barbless were scrapped most of the fish had healed.
Barbless created a situation due to the weed and anglers frustrations at losing 4 out of 5 fish.
As already mentioned. Bow string tight lines, rod pointed directly at spot, light bobbins, reel locked up. Don't give them any line or they will just tear through more weed beds. Don't fish at range. Use as lighter lead as possible. No more knots than are a absolutely necessary.
If it gets really snagged just put the rod down on the rests, slacken a little and see if the fish moves on it's own.
Here's a thing to try the next time you are leading about in weed, it still fries my brain. Chuck a lead into weed on your marker and when you they to retrieve it, it will lock up and you'll drag a big ball of weed in with the rod hooped over, pumping it in. Now chuck the same lead back into the same weed, but instead, keep the line bow string tight, rod flat and gently walk backwards as if pulling for a break and the lead will pull through much easier. Sometimess coming in with hardly any weed on it compared to the first method. Gets you wondering just how thick the weed actually is and whether line angle and the power of the rod have a lot to do with it.
If it gets really snagged just put the rod down on the rests, slacken a little and see if the fish moves on it's own.
Here's a thing to try the next time you are leading about in weed, it still fries my brain. Chuck a lead into weed on your marker and when you they to retrieve it, it will lock up and you'll drag a big ball of weed in with the rod hooped over, pumping it in. Now chuck the same lead back into the same weed, but instead, keep the line bow string tight, rod flat and gently walk backwards as if pulling for a break and the lead will pull through much easier. Sometimess coming in with hardly any weed on it compared to the first method. Gets you wondering just how thick the weed actually is and whether line angle and the power of the rod have a lot to do with it.
Been a few years since I fished a really weedy water.
The first rule was always if the weed is so thick you can't safely land a fish, don't fish there.
The strange thing is that some swims with lilies covering much of the surface were actually ok to fish. The leaf stalks are fragile, break away if the line cuts through them, and the surface covering was more than what was underwater. Don't fish over them, but up to them.
Assess every swim. If in doubt, then no.
I found inline leads the best answer, a distance shape, no shouldered leads, and a neoprene sleeve or rubber tulip bead over the mainline to hooklink swivel.
Weed does not jam up on that as much as on lead clips or run rings.
Don't use leaders in weed, if there is ever a break-off, pulling for a break, the knot closest to the rod tip is usually the one that breaks. With a leader that leaves the fish pulling lead, leader and rig.
Tying direct to the hooklink, if you pull for a break, going at that knot, the rig is the only thing that the carp is trailing.
Keep pressure on the fish, don't give them slack, keep them fighting, that alone will often prevent them getting weeded up.
If they do get weeded, put the rod back on the rests, put the indicator back on. Many fish after some time will quite happily swim out again and you can play it normally.
If they don't or a boat is handy, (as long as someone else is on the water), get above the fish in the boat. You can often remove weed stalks that the line is going through, gradually freeing the fish.
I hate to say it, at some point, a fish is going to get you so weeded up you are likely to have to handline line or pull for a break. Do NOT pull through with the rod. Tighten up, wrap a towel or use gardening gloves over your hands. Then wrap the line from hand to elbow. Sometimes the fish will suddenly come free, other times the fish has already managed to transfer the hook into lily roots, so you will be pulling for a break.
The barbed vs barbless debate:
Barbed hooks can get weed strands preventing good hooking. Strands get caught on the barb, the hook does not get taken in properly.
Barbless hooks hook better, but may wobble in the mouth during the fight, cutting from the point.
The first rule was always if the weed is so thick you can't safely land a fish, don't fish there.
The strange thing is that some swims with lilies covering much of the surface were actually ok to fish. The leaf stalks are fragile, break away if the line cuts through them, and the surface covering was more than what was underwater. Don't fish over them, but up to them.
Assess every swim. If in doubt, then no.
I found inline leads the best answer, a distance shape, no shouldered leads, and a neoprene sleeve or rubber tulip bead over the mainline to hooklink swivel.
Weed does not jam up on that as much as on lead clips or run rings.
Don't use leaders in weed, if there is ever a break-off, pulling for a break, the knot closest to the rod tip is usually the one that breaks. With a leader that leaves the fish pulling lead, leader and rig.
Tying direct to the hooklink, if you pull for a break, going at that knot, the rig is the only thing that the carp is trailing.
Keep pressure on the fish, don't give them slack, keep them fighting, that alone will often prevent them getting weeded up.
If they do get weeded, put the rod back on the rests, put the indicator back on. Many fish after some time will quite happily swim out again and you can play it normally.
If they don't or a boat is handy, (as long as someone else is on the water), get above the fish in the boat. You can often remove weed stalks that the line is going through, gradually freeing the fish.
I hate to say it, at some point, a fish is going to get you so weeded up you are likely to have to handline line or pull for a break. Do NOT pull through with the rod. Tighten up, wrap a towel or use gardening gloves over your hands. Then wrap the line from hand to elbow. Sometimes the fish will suddenly come free, other times the fish has already managed to transfer the hook into lily roots, so you will be pulling for a break.
The barbed vs barbless debate:
Barbed hooks can get weed strands preventing good hooking. Strands get caught on the barb, the hook does not get taken in properly.
Barbless hooks hook better, but may wobble in the mouth during the fight, cutting from the point.
In reply to Post #33
If they do get weeded, put the rod back on the rests, put the indicator back on. Many fish after some time will quite happily swim out again and you can play it normally.
That is an absolute last resort for me. They then have free rain to dig themselves even deeper. On a number of occasions I've had them swim out and you just pull them back into the weed bed as the line is pinned wherever they were sulking. Even if they do swim out I'd hardly say you can play it normally. It's critical to keep them moving or you'll be back to square one before you know it.
Best bet if they're weeded up is to keep steady pressure on imo. It can take a while, but they normally come eventually. You'll feel the fronds giving way, then you'll gain an inch or two, then it's game on.
If they do get weeded, put the rod back on the rests, put the indicator back on. Many fish after some time will quite happily swim out again and you can play it normally.
That is an absolute last resort for me. They then have free rain to dig themselves even deeper. On a number of occasions I've had them swim out and you just pull them back into the weed bed as the line is pinned wherever they were sulking. Even if they do swim out I'd hardly say you can play it normally. It's critical to keep them moving or you'll be back to square one before you know it.
Best bet if they're weeded up is to keep steady pressure on imo. It can take a while, but they normally come eventually. You'll feel the fronds giving way, then you'll gain an inch or two, then it's game on.
In reply to Post #34
That's never worked for me either.
If it's gone solid I keep pressure on for half hour or so, if there's still no movement I'm reaching for the spod rod and weed rake.
Can be chaos if the fish is still on but I'd rather try and get the rig back than pull for a break. If the fish is still on its better to have some help
That's never worked for me either.
If it's gone solid I keep pressure on for half hour or so, if there's still no movement I'm reaching for the spod rod and weed rake.
Can be chaos if the fish is still on but I'd rather try and get the rig back than pull for a break. If the fish is still on its better to have some help
In reply to Post #35
Totally agree with the two posts below re putting the rod down.
Keep a bend in the rod and be patient. It can take a long old time but they almost always decide to move. The second you feel movement keep the pressure on and keep them moving..
I'd also argue that you should always avoid pulling for a break in weed. If I even had 0.1% hope that a fish was still on I'd never even consider it... Do absolutely anything other than that - rake as Duggs suggested, go out on a mat, wade out if possible, get up as high as possible (stand on a vehicle, climb a tree etc).
I'd say that in weed, there's almost always a fish still on the end if it's stuck. In my experience, the second the fish is off, the rig will suddenly come free fairly easily. Snags and lilies are a bit different.
Totally agree with the two posts below re putting the rod down.
Keep a bend in the rod and be patient. It can take a long old time but they almost always decide to move. The second you feel movement keep the pressure on and keep them moving..
I'd also argue that you should always avoid pulling for a break in weed. If I even had 0.1% hope that a fish was still on I'd never even consider it... Do absolutely anything other than that - rake as Duggs suggested, go out on a mat, wade out if possible, get up as high as possible (stand on a vehicle, climb a tree etc).
I'd say that in weed, there's almost always a fish still on the end if it's stuck. In my experience, the second the fish is off, the rig will suddenly come free fairly easily. Snags and lilies are a bit different.
In reply to Post #36
I'd also argue that you should always avoid pulling for a break in weed. If I even had 0.1% hope that a fish was still on I'd never even consider it...
Snap
When the rod is solid it means the fish is still on 99% of the time imo. Once it's off the rig will pull straight through any weed. It's very, very rarely a bare rig will have snagged on something (other than a full on snag) that badly that it cannot be retrieved. Therefore 99% of the time when guys pull for a break they are pulling at that kipper imo.
I'd also argue that you should always avoid pulling for a break in weed. If I even had 0.1% hope that a fish was still on I'd never even consider it...
Snap
When the rod is solid it means the fish is still on 99% of the time imo. Once it's off the rig will pull straight through any weed. It's very, very rarely a bare rig will have snagged on something (other than a full on snag) that badly that it cannot be retrieved. Therefore 99% of the time when guys pull for a break they are pulling at that kipper imo.
In reply to Post #36
I've had a cat that took me two hours to land. Weeded me up solid. Put the rod on rests. Twenty mins later off it went again. Into another weed bed a bit closer in. Solid again. Back on rests etc etc until eventually it was in close enough to play it normally in the margin.
Luck of the draw I guess
I've had a cat that took me two hours to land. Weeded me up solid. Put the rod on rests. Twenty mins later off it went again. Into another weed bed a bit closer in. Solid again. Back on rests etc etc until eventually it was in close enough to play it normally in the margin.
Luck of the draw I guess
In reply to Post #38
**** that mate, I've had to get the boat out for 12 lbers before lol, wouldn't fancy doing it with a cat.
**** that mate, I've had to get the boat out for 12 lbers before lol, wouldn't fancy doing it with a cat.
In reply to Post #39
What made it worse was I got the run at 2am. I was knackered by the time I landed the poxy thing.
What made it worse was I got the run at 2am. I was knackered by the time I landed the poxy thing.
In reply to Post #39
Try waking a bailiff, getting a boat and finding a 5lb eel at 3 am
I thought I was going to have swim back to shore
Try waking a bailiff, getting a boat and finding a 5lb eel at 3 am
I thought I was going to have swim back to shore
In reply to Post #40
In reply to Post #42
And after all that it bit me when I was taking the hook out.
And after all that it bit me when I was taking the hook out.
In reply to Post #44
That sounds so nuts it's got to work
That sounds so nuts it's got to work