Any good tips for fishing in the pads? I landed 3 from 7 bites last week using helisafe drop off leads in fairly deep silt
In reply to Post #1
Can't see the the need to drop the lead,when I fished a lake infested with pads patience was the name of the game if they lock you up give some slack and when it starts moving apply reasonable pressure don't try to pull their heads off that usually worked if not gentle handlining can work.
Can't see the the need to drop the lead,when I fished a lake infested with pads patience was the name of the game if they lock you up give some slack and when it starts moving apply reasonable pressure don't try to pull their heads off that usually worked if not gentle handlining can work.
ok thanks - i did try that and it seems to be a good tactic, its just a bit counterintuitive to let the line go slack but it definitely seemed to help a couple of times. drop off leads are a lake rule.. i lost loads of leads in the silt and the pads !
In reply to Post #3
By virtue of the fact you are fishing to/in pads you should treat it like snag fishing, stay locked up, strong gear and never leave rods unattended you will land a good percentage of fish. Having to bully fish away from pads/snags mean some fish will be lost to hook pulls, only you can decide whether where you place your baits is ethically sound and you are landing more than you lose and not leaving tackle in fish.
This is not a dig at you personally but outlining fact.
Good luck with your fishing.
Michael
By virtue of the fact you are fishing to/in pads you should treat it like snag fishing, stay locked up, strong gear and never leave rods unattended you will land a good percentage of fish. Having to bully fish away from pads/snags mean some fish will be lost to hook pulls, only you can decide whether where you place your baits is ethically sound and you are landing more than you lose and not leaving tackle in fish.
This is not a dig at you personally but outlining fact.
Good luck with your fishing.
Michael
In reply to Post #3
Maybe they should also have a rule for not fishing in the middle af pads...
Maybe they should also have a rule for not fishing in the middle af pads...
In reply to Post #2
echo this. I fished an estate lake with dense pads in the margins. I found this worked well to get them moving as they will free themselves. I did tend to get my waders on and wade out to this fish to land them if they got caught up. If it's safe to do so then this could be a good option.
echo this. I fished an estate lake with dense pads in the margins. I found this worked well to get them moving as they will free themselves. I did tend to get my waders on and wade out to this fish to land them if they got caught up. If it's safe to do so then this could be a good option.
In reply to Post #1
If your losing more than your landing. You probably need to have a rethink about where your putting your baits. Leaving fish trailing end tackle is not really the one.
If your losing more than your landing. You probably need to have a rethink about where your putting your baits. Leaving fish trailing end tackle is not really the one.
Any heavily padded lake should have a boat available. Even when they are deep into the pads they tend to pop up when you get above them. Also allows you to follow the line down and gently pull directly to the carp, rather than trying to pull the poor buggers through a bunch of lilly stems by the mouth.
It's incredible how adept they are at ditching the hook once they get into the pads, but then you are often hooked into the thick lower stems. Very hard to get that back without a boat.
It's incredible how adept they are at ditching the hook once they get into the pads, but then you are often hooked into the thick lower stems. Very hard to get that back without a boat.
If they are the big yellow brandy bottle (nuphar lutea) then don't think the pads will break off.
They are mega tough and the reason many fish have battered mouths
They are mega tough and the reason many fish have battered mouths
In reply to Post #7
no end tackle left behind.. they just ditch the hook sometimes
no end tackle left behind.. they just ditch the hook sometimes
In reply to Post #8
there are boats for that reason and its a very well run small private syndicate where fish safety is paramount...
there are boats for that reason and its a very well run small private syndicate where fish safety is paramount...
In reply to Post #4
yes you're right - you need to have the right gear and be sensible
yes you're right - you need to have the right gear and be sensible
In reply to Post #1
I fish a water that has a 20' fringe of Japanese Lillies and I'd be a bit disappointed with your drop rate, if you're having that much trouble, if it were me I'd be thinking should I be fishing there.
Just my experience, try not to let them run too deep into the pads by using steady pressure, pray they don't kite in them, if they do forget it. If they get stuck I've found using steady but reasonable pressure (no give, cup spool with hand) either helps them through the weed or they shake the hook (barbless). I've never found giving them slack in lillies to help. I've also never found strong tackle to be the answer, you're just asking to damage the fish if you use it that way.
I noticed you mention heli beads, I'm assuming that's helicopter style. If so I'd never use that personally in that situation, I'd want to be in direct contact with the fish.
I fish a water that has a 20' fringe of Japanese Lillies and I'd be a bit disappointed with your drop rate, if you're having that much trouble, if it were me I'd be thinking should I be fishing there.
Just my experience, try not to let them run too deep into the pads by using steady pressure, pray they don't kite in them, if they do forget it. If they get stuck I've found using steady but reasonable pressure (no give, cup spool with hand) either helps them through the weed or they shake the hook (barbless). I've never found giving them slack in lillies to help. I've also never found strong tackle to be the answer, you're just asking to damage the fish if you use it that way.
I noticed you mention heli beads, I'm assuming that's helicopter style. If so I'd never use that personally in that situation, I'd want to be in direct contact with the fish.
Just to add, getting their heads up as quick as possible really helps. Dropping a lead and getting them up in the water reduces the chances they'll wrap you round the stems.
In reply to Post #1
Taverham Mills used to have some swims that were thick with lily pads.
I found an inline distance lead the best setup to get fish through them. I rarely lost any fish using size 8 hooks 15mm pop-up and a braided hooklink.
If I did have problems I did have use of a boat, but on fish that had gotten in and I hadn't been able to get out, by the time I got out in the boat the hook was usually in a lily root.
Taverham Mills used to have some swims that were thick with lily pads.
I found an inline distance lead the best setup to get fish through them. I rarely lost any fish using size 8 hooks 15mm pop-up and a braided hooklink.
If I did have problems I did have use of a boat, but on fish that had gotten in and I hadn't been able to get out, by the time I got out in the boat the hook was usually in a lily root.