FOXY GETS TECHNICAL

UPTIDING ORIGINS

 
What we now term Uptiding was initially called “Boat casting” and was used in the Thames estuary by people such as Bob Cox and John Rawle while bait fishing at anchor. The theory was that the tide pushing against the anchor rope created a vibration that put fish downtide on the alert. Casting to the side and uptide of the boat put a bait out of this “scare zone” and was seen to be more productive. Weather it was the fact of the bait actually being out of this “scare zone” or the fact that fish were being hooked against a fixed lead rig is open to debate but the technique certainly catches a lot of fish.

The method was actually first developed by Dutch and Belgian inshore anglers who wanted to anchor a bait out in the tidal flow thus allowing fish such as Plaice, Dabs and Flounders to follow the scent trail up the tide to the bait. The Thames anglers took the method and made it work in our waters mainly for winter species such as cod. The basic mechanics are the same but the end rigs evolved down very different paths, but more of that later.

Originally the rods used were cut down beachcasters of 10 or 11 feet and as the bait needed to be anchored away from the boat a variety of grip leads were developed to hold it there.  As time passed the technique became more and more sophisticated and a whole range of specialist tackle was developed by a variety of manufacturers. The average uptide rod is now around 9′ 6″ to 10′ and we’ll go into what’s available later on.

Uptiding, as it was now generally termed, became popular in most of the large estuaries such as the Thames, Humber and Mersey and indeed the technique is now employed on a lot of shallower inshore marks around the coast when bait fishing at anchor. By shallow I mean up to around fifty or sixty feet with the average being nearer thirty.

Mechanics

The basic technique is to cast the bait uptide and away from the boat and as soon as the lead has touched down a large bow of line is let out. The power of the tide pushing against this bow of line has the effect of pulling the wires on the lead into the sea bed and anchoring the bait in place. The rod is then placed in a holder and the line is tightened until a steady bend is acheived. Too much and the action of the boat could break the lead out and too little and bites could be missed. It is quite strange, at first ,to see the line from the rod tip appear to be pointing further down from where you have cast the bait and sometimes it looks like your bait is actually downtide. However this is nothing to worry about and is just the downtide bow in the line.

When a bite occurs do nothing immediately as a strike is not actually required. In fact if you do strike at the first indication of a bite you will probably miss the fish. Because you are employing a heavy fixed lead the fish actually hook themsleves against the combination of the lead and a needle sharp hook. Much as the “Bolt rigs” employed in Carp fishing.

The initial bites will often tell you from what fish you have had an enquiry from. A vigorous rattling is generally a sign that a Whiting has hooked itself, whilst a serious thumping is unmistakeably a Cod. In fact when the sprats are in a good technique to employ is to actually leave a hooked Whiting rattling away for a while as a Cod will take a surprisingly large Whiting!!

When you have established that a fish is on, from the persistant rattling or the line going slack and moving off downtide, now is the time to pick the rod up and wind into it. Initially you may think you have missed the fish but that is just the slack line in the tide. Keep winding and you will eventually “catch up” with the fish. What at first may appear to be a small one can soon develop into a serious head thumper as you get a direct line to the fish and the speed of the tide takes affect!

Tackle

I mentioned earlier the average Uptider is around 9′ 6″ – 10′ and generally comes in two unequal pieces with the tip section being longer than the butt section.  The tip needs to have a responsive action so it can bend into the tide as the boat swings, but not so stiiff as to pull the lead out. The butt section is much stiffer to aid casting and give power when bringing a fish back up against the tide. The reel seat is also further up the blank than the average downtide rod to allow for ease of casting. This is not always comfortable when fighting fish and recent innovations have seen rods with  pull out butt extensions to aid casting when extended and for ease of fighting a fish when pushed back in.

Rods are available for a variety of casting weights and can vary from light 2-6oz models up to heavy 8-10oz models. The average rod is usually rated 4-8oz and will cover most situations you will encounter. Some of the more specialist models come with two tips sections of different weight ratings and also have the extending butt section.

Traditionally the reel of choice for uptiding has been a 7000 size multiplier from either the Abu or Penn ranges, usually a levelwind model. This is because the distances required are not as great as normal beach casting and you don’t have to keep as close an eye on the line lay when retrieving.

 latterley the European influence has been seen with more anglers turning to “Big pit” style fixed spool reels. Models such as the Shimano Biomasters, Diawa Emcasts, or indeed the Stratos 12000E from my own company Fox, are all ideal for the job and will take plenty of abuse. The big advantage fixed spools have over multipliers (apart from ease of casting) is that as soon as the lead hits the water it goes straight down, as the line is coming off the spool much freeer and quicker. This in turn allows the lead to dig in before the tide can sweep it away.

Any worries you may have about fixed spools not being up to pulling large Cod back against a fierce tide can be allayed by logging onto the Fox web site where you can see Carp angler Ian Chillcott pull a fifty pound Conger eel from a wreck using the  Stratos 12000E pictured. Awesome!!

Lines

Mono or Braid? Both lines have their followers but having been out with a boat full of braid users when I was using mono myself  I can testify first hand that braid wins hands down. We were all on 30lb test but because my mono was thicker than their braid my lead was being broken out before the Cod had time to get to my bait.  I was comprehensively outfished ten to one! A hard lesson to learn but as soon as I got home I refilled all my spools with 30lb braid.

All braids are not the same however and you must get one that has a round profile. This is crucial when using a multiplier as the flat profile products have a tendency to dig in under pressure causing the reel to jam. Another lesson learnt the hard way with the loss of a decent Tope! Look for line that are made of Spectra fibres rather than Dyneema.

Some will tell you that you must use a mono leader with braid as the more direct contact to the lead, because of the lack of stretch, will cause the lead to break out in heavy waves. I have never found this to be so as most good rods have a flexible enough tip to cope with this and it’s a simple matter to adjust the tension by letting a bit more line out if required. A leader knot is just asking to pick up weed  and could lose you a fish as it jams in the tip ring.

Rigs

These can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make them and a couple of the ones in general use are listed here.

The Sliding Rig.

A basic rig that is employed by the vast majority of Uptiders is a simple flowing trace below a free running lead. Generally a couple of 3/0 to 6/0 Aberdeen type hooks are rigged pennell style on a length of a good quality  monofilament of a minimum of 30lb breaking strain.  The hook size is obviously dependant on the bait being used. At the other end is a strong swivel tied in turn to the braided reel line. Above the swivel on the main line is a large bead followed by a zip type slider to which the lead is attached.

Variations on this are to replace the zip slider with an uptide boom which keeps the line away from the lead and reduces tangles. Some anglers also prefer to add a short 6″ link of heavy 60lb mono between the slider and the lead again to reduce tangles.

With reference to the hooks being rigged pennell style I mean two hooks in tandem . The top hook is held in place by a few wraps of the leader or ,as I prefer with a soft rubber anti tangle sleeve (available from the carp section of most tackle shops).

The actual length of your leader depends upon the strength of tide but a good starting point is around three feet and experiment from there.

Flapper rigs

 As it says, very similar to a flapper rig used from the beach. fishing in this style a lead is attached to the end of a heavy mono leader (as in beach fishing) and braided reel line is attached  to the other end. “Flapper” snoods are crimped in place to suit on the leader.

An average two hook Flapper would have around four to five feet of 60lb rig body leader with a speed link attached at the lead end and two hook link snoods tied to swivels, held between beads and crimps. A strong swivel attached the top end completes the leader which is then attached to the main line via a lead clip.

Hook link lengths again depend upon tide strength but generally the bottom one is around 18 - 24 inches and attached around 6″ up from the speedlink with the top one around 12 – 15″ and attched around 6″ down from the swivel. A useful addition is the same rubber anti tangle sleeves as before added to the snood swivels as mini booms to  hold the hook links away from the leader.

Hooks on the snoods are generally a pennell set on the bottom for baits such as squid and a single hook on the top snood for worm etc.

Foreign rigs

As I mentioned earlier the Dutch and Belgians have taken their rig development down  different paths to our basic rigs . It is definately worth a bit of research online to check out what they are about. They seem to be particularly keen on boom type rigs

Leads / Hooks

 Leads must be wired to dig into the bottom and hold the bait in place. Generally around 8oz is an average uptide lead but in some very strong flows 120z is required. Gemini do excellent leads for this game but there are a few specialist moulds around that are the business also. One in particular is called the Ostend lead and if you can get hold of a mould they really are good.

With hooks generally a good strong Aberdeen pattern is all that is required the main criterea being a nice wide gape and a needle sharp point. You won’t go far wrong if you look at hooks from Sakuma and, dare I say, Fox.

 Baits

 Different areas favour different baits. In the   Humber, for instance, the bait “par excellance” is unwashed squid. Fished whole mounted on a pennell rig it will catch just about anything swimming. In other areas the best bait could be Black lug. It’s worth checking with the locals what the going bait is.

An excellent bait is crab cart (now avilable from Bait Box) encased in Armamesh which is available from most good tackle shops. Taken frozen in a cool box and mounted straight from the box it is a devastating bait for Cod and Bass. Well worth a try.

A few successes from the Humber aboard “Nemo” with thanks to skipper Tim Burgess

 Sorry about the “Big Bob” Billingsgate shot but it proves what an effective tactic uptiding really is.

 Conclusion

I hope you find this article of use and I apologise to Bassman for the time it’s taken to finish but my life tends to be a bit hectic at the best of times. I do like to get out as often as I can so whilst I like doing stuff like this the fishing always comes first!

If any one wants to take any of this further please start a thread on the forum or drop me a PM.

Cheers and Tight Lines

Foxy

Foxys Gallery

If anybody wants info on shore fishing here you can download our broucher at www.skarnsundet.com and we still have places available for this season and next!!

Thanks for looking

Cheers

Phill

Phils Norway Gallery

Phils Norway Slideshow

A COUPLE OF FRIENDS, JOHN PINCHON AND MIKE BEESLEY AND MYSELF HAD A TRIP UP TO LUCE BAY IN SCOTLAND EARLIER THIS YEAR IN SEARCH OF THE TOPE THAT THE BAY IS FAMOUS FOR. HERE’S HOW WE GOT ON.

DAY ONE

OUR TRIP TO DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY HAD BEEN MONTHS IN THE PLANNING. ORIGINALLY WE HAD BOOKED JUST THE ONE DAY AT SEA WITH THE OTHER FOUR DAYS ASHORE. AS OUR DEPARTURE DATE APPROACHED I MANAGED TO SECURE A SECOND DAY AT SEA SO THINGS WERE LOOKING GOOD.

AS WE MADE OUR WAY UP THE M6 THE RAIN WAS BUCKETING DOWN, GETTING EVEN WORSE AT THE GRETNA TURN OFF. APPROACHING OUR FIRST STOP AT AUCHENLARIE IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF RAIN OVER THE PREVIOUS FEW DAYS. EACH RIVER WE CROSSED BEING IN FULL SPATE! THIS WOULD NOT HELP OUR CHANCES OF A SHORE CAUGHT TOPE AT ALL!  SURE ENOUGH AS WE TURNED INTO THE CARAVAN SITE AT AUCHENLARIE WE COULD SEE THAT THE WATER WAS A HORRIBLE DIRTY BROWN COLOUR.  THIS WAS NOT ENCOURAGEING AND AFTER A CHAT WITH A GROUP OF LADS WHO HAD BEEN THERE FOR EIGHT HOURS WITHOUT A SNIFF WE DEBATED WHETHER TO FISH OR CARRY ON TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION AT THE ISLE OF WHITHORN.

EVER THE OPTIMISTS WE DECIDED TO GIVE IT A WHIRL .GETTING SUITED UP DURING A SHORT BREAK IN THE DELUGE WE MADE OUR WAY DOWN A STEEP INCLINE TO A SMALL COVE. THREE JUICY BLUEY FILLETS FLEW INTO THE MIRK AND AS THE RAIN EASED A LITTLE OUR SPIRITS ROSE. AT LEAST WE WERE FISHING. IT SOON BECAME EVIDENT THAT WE WERE WASTING OUR TIME AND A DECISION WAS MADE TO CARRY ON TO THE ISLE OF WHITHORN, WHICH WAS TO BE OUR BASE FOR THE HOLIDAY.

AN HORRIBLY COLOURED AUCHENLARIE

AFTER CHECKING IN AT THE STEAM PACKET INN A COUPLE OF HOURS WERE LEFT UNTIL HIGH TIDE. WITH THE ROCK MARKS LOOKING DECIDEDLY TREACHEROUS WE SET UP ON THE PIER AT THE HARBOUR ENTRANCE. JOHN HAD DONE WELL HERE IN PREVIOUS YEARS SO WE EXPECTED SOMETHING AT LEAST. WRONG! APART FROM BEING CRABBED OUT A TOTAL BLANK WAS SCORED. SO, AFTER A DECENT MEAL AND A FEW PINTS OF GUINESS, AN EARLY NIGHT WAS CALLED. HOPEFULLY OUR LUCK WOULD IMPROVE TOMORROW. WOULDN’T IT!?

STEAM PACKET INN

DAY TWO

UP BRIGHT AND EARLY WE MET IAN BURRETT AT EAST TARBET ON THE MULL OF GALLOWAY, WAITING WITH HIS ORKNEY FASTLINER “ON YER MARKS”. ALSO PREPARING TO LAUNCH WERE TWO OF THE OTHER BOATS IN HIS FLEET, “ON YER MARKS TOO” AND “GO WEST”. IAN RUNS HIS BUSINESS FROM DRUMMORE ON THE MULL OF GALLOWAY AND OFFERS BESPOKE TRIPS FOR TOPE AND POLLACK. DEPENDING WHICH DIRECTION THE WIND IS COMING FROM HE CAN LAUNCH EITHER ONTO LUCE BAY OR THE IRISH SEA.

PREPARING TO LAUNCH

TODAY THE PLAN WAS TO FISH FOR TOPE OUT IN THE BAY EARLY ON THEN MOVE IN CLOSE LATER FOR POLLACK AND WRASSE. FIRST WE HAD TO CATCH FRESH MACKEREL FOR BAIT AND “RUBBY DUBBY” SO IT WAS ON WITH THE FEATHERS AND OVER THE SIDE.

ON OUR FIRST DROP DOWN I HOOKED A TINY CODLING THEN A SMALL GURNARD. NOT WHAT WAS REQUIRED! AFTER A BIT OF MOTORING ABOUT WE EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO FIND A FEW SHOALS OF “LUCE BAY TUNA” AND THERE WERE FISH BEING SWUNG IN LEFT AND RIGHT.  SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM IN A 19’ ORKNEY SO YOU HAVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE EVERYONE IS AS YOU SWING THE FISH ABOARD. AT ONE POINT I ALMOST ENDED UP WEARING A MACKEREL NECKLACE AS MIKE GOT A LITTLE OVER ENTHUSIASTIC!!

EVENTUALLY IAN DECIDED WE HAD PLENTY AND BEGAN CHOPPING UP ENOUGH TO FILL A MESH SACK. THIS WAS THE ATTACHED TO THE ANCHOR ROPE TO SEND AN ENTICING TRAIL OF BLOOD AND GUTS DOWN THE TIDE AND, HOPEFULLY, LEAD THE TOPE TO OUR BAITS. THREE MACKEREL HEADS AND GUTS WERE DROPPED OVER THE SIDE, REEL CLUTCHES WERE CAREFULLY SET AND WE SAT BACK TO AWAIT DEVELOPMENTS.

WHILE WE WAITED IAN WAS FISHING WITH A STRING OF BAITED FEATHERS TO PICK UP ANYTHING THAT CAME ALONG. AFTER A WHILE MIKE BORROWED THIS ROD AND BEGAN CATCHING THE ODD GURNARD AND MORE MACKEREL. AS HE WAS BRINGING IN HIS THIRD OR FOURTH FISH EVERYTHING WENT SOLID AND LINE BEGAN TO PEEL OF THE REEL! “TAKE IT STEADY YOU’VE GOT A TOPE ON THERE” CALLED IAN! INITIALLY MIKE BEGAN TO MAKE A LITTLE HEADWAY ON THE FISH BUT AFTER A FRAUGHT FEW MINUTES THE INEVITABLE HAPPENED AND HE WAS BITTEN OFF, REELING IN TO FIND A STRING OF FEATHERS MINUS THE TOP SNOOD, OH DEAR!

AT LEAST IT SHOWED US THE TOPE WERE ABOUT AND THE RUBBY DUBBY WAS WORKING. WHAT SEEMED LIKE ONLY MINUTES LATER A CALL CAME OVER THE RADIO THAT AN ANGLER ON ONE OF THE OTHER BOATS HAD A FISH ON. ALL HEADS TURNED TO WATCH THE FIGHT GOING ON A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY AND EVENTUALLY A LONG GREY SHAPE WAS LIFTED OVER THE GUNWALE. “SIXTY FIVE” CAME OVER THE AIRWAVES! A FEW PROFOUND EXPLETIVES WERE UTTERED BY OUR TEAM AND FRESH BAITS WERE SOON DROPPED OVER THE SIDE AND WE BEGAN TO WILL THE TOPE TO CARRY ON FEEDING.

JUST AS HOPES WERE FADING ONE OF THE RODS BOUNCED OVER AND LINE WAS TAKEN. IAN WAS ON IT IN A FLASH. THRUSTING IT INTO MY HANDS HE SAID “IT’S YOURS”. AS I TOOK THE ROD THE LINE BEGAN TO MELT FROM THE SPOOL AT AN ALARMING RATE OF KNOTS AND I BEGAN TO WONDER IF IT WAS EVER GOING TO STOP! THE LADS WERE FRANTICALLY WINDING IN THE OTHER RODS BUT IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THE TOPE HAD MANAGED TO PICK UP ANOTHER SET OF GEAR WHICH I WAS NOW ALSO ATTACHED TO.

AT FIRST THINGS WENT WELL WITH ME GAINING LINE AND IAN TAKING UP THE SLACK ON THE OTHER ROD. HOWEVER AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF GIVING AND TAKING LINE SUDDENLY ALL WENT SLACK AND THE FISH WAS GONE. FURTHER EXPLETIVES RENT THE AIR. I WAS GUTTED!!

THAT WAS OUR FINAL OFFER AND SOON THE TIDE BEGAN TO EBB AND WITH IT THE CHANCE OF FURTHER TOPE. OH WELL WE STILL HAD THE NEXT DAY TO GET ONE, SO IT WAS TIME TO HEAD IN UNDER THE BULK OF THE MULL FOR A SPECIES HUNT.

WE HAD ALREADY SET UP 9’ 6” FOX TREK SPINNING RODS AND FIXED SPOOLS SO THIS WAS GOING TO BE FUN! IAN AND I WERE FISHING WITH SHRIMP RIGS BAITED WITH FRAGMENTS OF RAGWORM, MIKE AND JOHN WERE FISHING WITH SINGLE SNOOD PATERNOSTERS BAITED WITH MACKEREL STRIP.  IMMEDIATELY WE ALL BEGAN TO GET RATTLING BITES AND A STRING OF FISH STARTED TO COME OVER THE SIDE. IT WAS LIKE A LUCKY DIP WITH BALLAN WRASSE, CUCKOO WRASSE AND PLUCKY LITTLE CORKWINGS COMING EVERY DROP DOWN. EVERY FISH WAS A DIFFERENT COLOUR AND THEN THE POLLACK ARRIVED FOLLOWED BY BOTH GREY AND TUB GURNARDS. I WAS GIGGLING LIKE JOHN WILSON AND IAN REMARKED THAT HE LOVED TO SEE A MAN HAPPY IN HIS WORK. IF THAT’S WORK SIGN ME UP FULL TIME!!

ALL TOO SOON IT WAS TIME TO RETURN TO SHORE AND WE WOUND IN HAVING BOATED DOZENS OF SCRAPPY LITTLE FIGHTERS WHICH ALSO INCLUDED WHITING, POUTING AND COALFISH.  WE CONSIDERED THE DAY A GREAT SUCCESS DESPITE THE LOSS OF TWO OF OUR TARGET SPECIES FOR THE TRIP. THERE WAS ALWAYS TOMORROW.

DAY THREE    Launching at Port Logan

AFTER ANOTHER GREAT MEAL IN THE STEAM PACKET AND THE OBLIGATORY GUINESS WE SLEPT LIKE THE DEAD. NON THE LESS WE WERE ALL DOWN IN THE KITCHEN BRIGHT AND EARLY MAKING OUR OWN BREAKFAST AS THE KITCHEN STAFF WEREN’T IN YET.

 AFTER CALLING IAN TO CHECK THE WEATHER WE WERE SOON ON THE ROAD BACK TOWARDS THE MULL, THIS TIME HEADING FOR PORT LOGAN.  THE WEATHER WAS LOOKING GOOD FOR THE IRISH SEA SIDE AND IAN WAS KEEN TO GET OUT THERE AS CONDITIONS HAD KEPT THE FLEET IN LUCE BAY FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

OUR SECOND DAY AFLOAT WAS IN THE CAPABLE HANDS OF ANDY ON HIS BOAT “RIPTIDE”. WE NEW WE WERE IN FOR A FUN DAY AS HE IS ANOTHER EX PAT YORKSHIREMAN, LIKE IAN. IT’S A FUNNY THING ABOUT THE MULL OF GALLOWAY IN THAT VIRTUALLY ALL THE LOCALS YOU MEET ARE EITHER YORKSHIREMEN OR GEORDIES! IT’S AS IF THEY’VE TAKEN OVER THE PLACE!!

WE WERE SOON ABOARD WITH THE RODS SECURED AND ROARING OUT INTO THE IRISH SEA TO CATCH OUR MACKEREL BAIT AGAIN. HAVING HAD A DAYS EXPERIENCE ALL WERE SOON SWINGING FULL HOUSES WITH PRACTISED EASE AND NO NEAR MISSES! BAIT CAUGHT AND RUBBY DUBBY CHOPPED, ANDY POSITIONED US ON A FAVOURED MARK. ONCE AGAIN THREE JUICY BAITS WENT OVER THE SIDE. AS WE SAT EXCITEDLY AWAITING A SLOW CLICKING FOLLOWED BY A SCREAMING REEL WE ALL WONDERED IF IT WOULD BE OUR TURN TODAY?

AS THE TIDE BEGAN TO RUN THE ANTICIPATION HEIGHTENED WITH A FEW FALSE ALARMS CAUSED BY THE DREADED DOGGIES. ONCE AGAIN A CALL CAME OVER THE RADIO “TOPE ON”! IT WAS ONLY THE SAME BOAT AS THE DAY BEFORE AND THE SAME ANGLER! THIS TIME THE LONG GREY SHAPE THAT WAS LIFTED OVER THE SIDE OF “ON YER MARKS TOO” WENT SIXTY TWO POUNDS!!! FURTHER EXPLETIVES WERE HURLED INTO THE AIR AND THE LUCKY ANGLERS PARENTAGE CAME INTO QUESTION. SURELY IT MUST BE OUR TURN NEXT? UNFORTUNATEL NOT AND AS THE TIDE EBBED JUST ONE OTHER TOPE WAS REPORTED A MALE OF THIRTY FIVE POUNDS.

OH WELL WE’LL JUST HAVE TO COME BACK FOR THE TOPE NEXT YEAR. HOWEVER THE POLLACK WERE WAITING UNDER THE CLIFFS AND WE WERE SOON DRIFTING ALONG EACH CLUTCHING A SPINNING ROD, FLOATFISHING MACKEREL STRIPS TWENTY FEET DOWN. IMMEDIATELY WE WERE INTO HOARDS OF POLLACK BETWEEN THREE AND SEVEN POUNDS THAT PUNCHED WAY ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT. JOHN AND I HAD HAD SOME OF THIS ON OUR LAST TRIP AND THE SHEER POWER IS AMAZING AS THEY PLUNGE STRAIGHT DOWN HEADING FOR THE KELP. NO LINE CAN BE GIVEN OR IT’S “GOODNIGHT VIENNA” AND THE TREK RODS WERE SOON BENT RIGHT ROUND TO THE CORKS! MORE WILSON LIKE GIGGLING!!

ALL TOO SOON IT WAS TIME TO HEAD BACK IN AND AFTER A QUICK TOT UP WE REALISED WE HAD JUST RETURNED AT LEAST A HUNDRED POLLACK BETWEEN THE THREE OF US! THAT IS INCREDIBLE SPORT BY ANY STANDARDS. IAN INSISTS THAT ALL THE POLLACK ARE RETURNED TO THE INSHORE MARKS TO PRESERVE A TRULY AWE INSPIRING SPORT FISHERY. THIS IS HIS OFFICE, WHAT A LUCKY MAN!

OK WE’D NOT HAD THE LONG ANTICIPATED TOPE BUT THE LIGHT LINE SPORT WITH THE OTHER SPECIES WAS A BRILLIANT CONSOLATION AND THERE’S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR.

DAY FOUR

WE HAD PLANNED A FURTHER COUPLE OF DAYS ROCK FISHING FOR THE POLLACK AND WRASSE HOWEVER THE WORSENING WEATHER HAD OTHER IDEAS. CLAMBERING AROUND ON TREACHEROUS ROCK LEDGES SLICK WITH RAIN IS NOT A GOOD MOVE SO WE OPTED FOR A DAY ON THE BEACH AT NEARBY MONREATH. IN THE EVENT WE MANAGED AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE THE HEAVY SURF DROVE US OFF BUT NOT BEFORE MIKE MANAGED TO BAG A NICE BASS OF AROUND TWO AND A HALF POUNDS.

A FINAL NIGHT ON THE GUINESS, WITH A LEISURELY DRIVE BACK ROUNDED OF A GREAT FEW DAYS. WE’LL BE BACK WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS………………………..

IAN BURRETT CAN BE CONTACTED AT WWW.ONYERMARKS.CO.UK HIS SITE GIVES FULL INFORMATION OF THE SERVICES HE OFFERS AND THERE ARE ALSO VERY USEFULL LINKS FOR ACCOMODATION AND LOCAL WEATHER REPORTS.

Always use a shock leader. 10lb breaking strain per ounce of lead is the minimum required to keep other beach users safe. With this in mind the rig body you choose should be at least the same breaking strain of your shock leader.

Component quality

Using quality rig building components is essential. Search the Internet and you’ll find no end of stories where someone has lost a good fish due to a cheap Aberdeen hook snapping or a dodgy swivel giving way. We spend fortunes on gear and bait, so why skimp on the bits that directly connect you to the fish?

Hook Clipping Systems

In the diagrams below I’ve shown 3 different systems for clipping down the hooks. These are the Breakaway Impact Shield, Breakaway Imp and Breakaway Impact Lead – and before you even think it…I don’t work for them! All 3 will give a 100% release rate if used correctly. My preference is the Breakaway Impact Lead purely because I like to keep things simple, but you could use any of these systems on any of the rigs.

2 Hook Cascade Rig

This is a long range scratching rig that will deliver 2 worm baits in perfect condition as far as you can cast them. The rig can be made without the use of the Gemini SRT Spring, but this helps to tension the whole rig and prevents snood stretch.

Tip – On the bottom snood leave about 10mm between the top and bottom crimp. This allows the required ‘slack’ for the SRT Spring to also tension the lower snood correctly.
Tip – Making the top snood slightly longer than the bottom one will ensure that both baits are fishing tight on the sea bed.

Components:

1 x size 1 rolling swivel
2 x size 6 rolling swivel
4 x crimp
5 x bead
1 x Gemini SRT Spring
1 x Breakaway Cascade Swivel
1 x Breakaway Fast Link/Gemini Rig Clip etc.
2 x size 2 – 2/0 hooks

2 Hook Wessex Rig

A close to mid range rig which offers superb bite detection. The lower snood is fished hard on the bottom and the top snood just off the bottom. Because the lower snood is a running leger the fish feel very little resistance and the bite is transmitted straight to the rod tip, which isn’t always the case on rigs such as a one up one down rig.

Tip - Add sequins and coloured beads to attract flatties and whiting.
Tip – A plain lead of 3-4oz will allow the rig to slowly move around and find the fish.

Components:

2 x size 1 rolling swivel
1 x size 6 rolling swivel
1 x safety snap (or size 1 swivel with lead link)
2 x crimp
3 x bead
2 x size 4 – 2/0 hooks

Pulley Pennel

The pulley pennel is probably the most widely used big fish rig on the Holderness coast and has landed some very big cod, ray and bass. The pennel hook arrangement easily takes full squid or bulky cocktail baits, while the pulley system lifts the lead out of the way of the grabbing clay beds and rocks, that can be found anywhere from Aldbrough to Spurn, when retrieving a fish.

Tip - A Fox Pulley Bead distributes the load on the rig body during the cast far more effectively than a swivel can.
Tip – Instead of struggling to slide tubing over the top hook to old it in place simple wrap the snood 3 times around the shank of the hook. It’s just as secure and easier to adjust.

Components:

1 x size 1 rolling swivel
1 x Fox Pulley Bead
3 x bead
1 x crimp
1 x Breakaway Impact Shield
1 x Breakaway Fast Link/Gemini Rig Clip etc.
1 x size 1/0 – 3/0 hook
1 x size 2/0 – 4/0 hook

Single Hook Clipped Down

Deliver medium sized baits at extreme distance with the single hook clipped down rig. The Gemini SRT Spring keeps everything tight on the cast and prevents snood stretch. The Breakaway Imp keeps the bait tucked tight behind the lead to improve stability, and ultimately, distance.

Tip - Add a bait stop above the hook to stop the bait blowing up the snood during impact.

Components:

1 x size 1 rolling swivel
1x size 6 rolling swivel
3 x bead
2 x crimp
1 x Gemini SRT Spring
1 x Breakaway Imp
1 x size 2/0 – 4/0 hook

Long and Low

The long and low rig keeps a bait nailed to the sea bed during big tides and also allows the bait to move in a more natural way. A pennel setup can be used to accommodate the biggest baits.

Tip - Because of the design of this rig a fish must dislodge the lead for a strong bite to be registered. This could pull the tip over or cause a drop back bite. To spot drop back bites wind down the tip of the rod, then watch for it springing back.

Components:

1 x size 1 rolling swivel
1x size 6 rolling swivel
2 x bead
2 x crimp
1 x bait clip or Gemini Pulley Clip
1 x Breakaway Imp
1 x size 2/0 – 4/0 hook

I had decided on a few hours fishing after work this afternoon and Dave chose to change his plans to fish old hall and join me on the rock instead. Conditions looked good with no wind and a nice sea with good colour

About an hour into the session Dave got a cracking bite and set about cranking alfie ( his beloved alvey )  I was baiting up and shouted if he needed a hand ??  “Its only a mop he replied”  However looking at the bend in his rod I decided to shimmy down to pluck it out for him as there was a decent sea running. Looking for the fish in my headlight I shouted “its a bloody ling” !! then quickly realised my mistake and shouted ” its a F*****G conger

After a bit of a tussle I managed to pluck it from the surf for him

We estimated a good 7lb and it was returned to fight another day with Dave buzzing ! Eventually he manged to get baited up and fishing again !! within 2 minutes he struck into another solid bite on the braid and once again the rod hooped over and he was in. I asked if he needed a hand again and he said he might this time, judging by the bend and thumps on his rod and the slow, steady retrieve on the alvey I thought he might be into another !!

Unfortunatley it was not to be and turned out to be this nice mop of 11lb 8oz !!

Dave’s first double and well deserved. well done mate ! No more bites after that apart from a lobster for dave that ditched its hooked claw at the last second !! A blank for me but It was a pleasure to land a fish like that for a good mate

He caught the heaviest fish, a 7lb 12oz cod and recived a Humminbird 383 colour GPS fishfinder as his prize.

It was only the second time in the festival’s 99-year history that kayak fishing had featured.

More than 40 competitiors from across the UK took part, with Sowersby beating off rivals from Hampshire, Scotland and North WalesKayak fishing is said to be rapidly gaining in popularity with some businesses reporting sales of the boats increasing ten-fold in three years

Been waiting for my new Century E1000 Eliminator to arrive and yesterday was the day!!! I have been very excited about geting my hands on this rod for a couple of months now! Ever since I spoke to Simon Chillkot at Century and asked him that I was looking for a rod which was 14 ft or more in length and was capable of casting big baits a good distance!! He suggested the Eliminator to me, I exsplained the kind of places which I was fishing, such as Straumen, which is the second strongest current in Northern europe!! He assured me that the E1000 was the rod for the job!! He couldnt have been more wright!! I got down to Straumen for a 3 hour session yesterday afternoon and the current was flowing hard, I rigged up with a big bait!!

The rod also picks up the smallest of bites and as I reel down ready to strike you can feel every move the fish is making as it taking the bait, which is a majour advantage when your fishing were you know big cod are!! I had a good session with the rod and im looking forward to geting that 30 pounder on it this winter season!!

I ended up with 8 codling all around the same size but a lovely 3 hours fishing!

Thanks for looking

If any body is thinking of coming over shore fishing during winter please PM me and now we have all the best shore fishing gear here so you dont have to worry about bringing your own gear on the plane!! Flights are 90 pound return from Stansted to Trondheim!!

Cheer

Phill

www.skarnsundet.com

The Prize Winners

1st Mathew Colling        89cm
2nd Ciara Drew             86cm
3rd Page Colling            77cm
4th Furgus Drew           62cm
5th Cathering Donoghue 48cm
6th Jayme Lee Jeffries   38cm
7th Natan Anderson      24cm
8th William Lang           23cm
8th Adam Hodson         23cm
9th Robbie Lang           21cm
10th Jack Waud           19cm
11th Ben Colling           18cm

Special Prizes Under 10 years Olds with Longst Lengths
1st Fergus Drew 62cm £30.00 Donated By Turnstone Baits
2nd Catherine Donoghue 48cm £10.00 Donated By Dave & Dorothy Medd
Junior Lady Winner
Ciara Drew 86cm £10.00 Donated By Turnstone Baits
Youngest Competitor to Catch
Catherine Donoghue (5 years old) 48cm £10.00 Donated By Chris Anderson & Family
Longest Fish Caught
(tie) Furgus Drew & Ciara Drew 32cm Both Recived a Fishing Suit each Donated By Turnstone Baits

I would just like to say a very big thank you to all the sponsors for making it a fantastic day out for all the juniors, none of the kids went away with out a prize even if they did not catch, just to see their faces when reciving their prize was worth all the hard work that has been put in over the last 12 months

Get a text alert every time your local lifeboat launches

Date: 08/10/2009

Author: Joanna Quinn, Public Relations Officer

RNLI supporters can now receive a text message to their mobile phones every time their local lifeboat goes out.

The SMS alerts are triggered by the same pager system that summons the lifeboat’s volunteer crew members.

This means that people who sign up to the service will know exactly when their local lifesavers have been called out.

However, unlike the crew members who can be summoned at any time, day or night, subscribers can choose what time of day they’d like to receive alerts and set a limit on how many messages they receive.

They can pick which lifeboat stations they want to follow and can keep in touch with more than one station. It is also possible to pause the service for a while, for example while going on holiday.

People who sign up to the alerts can specify how much they would like to pay for each message received and set a maximum amount they would like to spend each week.

A portion of the fee will go to the RNLI, so not only do the alerts keep the local community informed, they are also contributing to the real cost of the lifeboat launch.

The amount donated depends on your mobile operator, but everyone who signs up to the scheme will be helping to raise vital funds for the RNLI.

In order to sign up for the alerts go to www.rnli.org.uk/what_we_do/lifeboats/launches/mobile_phone.

For more ways to raise money for the RNLI and information on how to take part in the charity’s biggest fundraising day go to www.rnli.org.uk/sosday.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone RNLI PR on 01202 336 789 or contact RNLI Public Relations Officer Pamela Saunders or Joanna Quinn on 01202 663510 or email psaunders@rnli.org.uk or jquinn@rnli.org.uk.

After about 30 minutes of steaming out to sea, the boat was stopped in order to pick up a few mackerel for bait. Mackerel had been few and far between all summer, and today was to prove no exception to the frustration of all on board. After about an hour of jigging, we had maybe eight little joeys to show for it, not enough for a days fishing…. Despite this, spirits were still high as we motored on towards the tope mark Dave had lined up for us.