Hooking bass on live sandeels

[nimue4]

Hi all,

I've caught loads of bass on lures from my boat and it really wasn't very difficult. You cast out, a fish hits and you strike instantly.
Yesterday I used live sandeels for the first tme and had 2 very positive takes from heavy fish, I felt both but didn't hook up with either, do you have to give a little line on first feeling them? I struck as I do with lures and it all went pear shaped!
Having said that my fishing partner mr Mackeral Mat hit his after a couple of plucks and the sandeel was in the fishes stomach!
I've blanked on bass this year and it's starting to worry me!!!

Cheers and stay safe,

jules

[Fishing Forum Admin]

I always find its best to keep reeling in at the same speed and hopefully the bass will get hooked

If its just a knock then bye keeping the speed and action the same then the fish will hit it again as the action is what attracted the fish in the first place

Saying that if you are finding its hard then when a fish hits then just twitch the bait so it acts like a wounded fish works as well

I know there are one or two very good bass fishermen on the fishing forum so Im sure they will post thier ideas

live sandeels for bass, your in heaven mate, The way the profesional rod and line boys do it is, they fish on a twelve pound rod with a fixed spool reel. they have a very simple rig it is a smallish american snap swivel slid up the main line for the weight which is 2 or 3 ozs. and a swivel on the end of the main line for the trace which is 3 to 4 ft of 30lb amnesia to a 4/0 fine wire aberdeen hook.
they hook the sand eel on and drop it to the bottom and allow the weight to bounce along the bottom you will feel every little bounce, when the bass takes they strike, a good rod and liner will have a rod in each hand and normally catch at least one on every drift the trick is to keep everything light and simple and concentrate it takes a while to get used to it but can be very worthwhile.

'lo...

...Just to let you know ur not getting rid of me...

...I'm going down to Teignmouth on saturday... having the day off work... that reminds me, I should probably tell them... meh...

...Cheers...

...Nick "Chappers" Chappell

[steve devon]

dont strike thats the best thing

[nimue4]

Thanks Guys I knew I could rely on you for a speedy reply,

I use a carp rod, fixed spool reel with 12lb braid.

I bought the first rig from the tackle shop in Teignmouth and made loads of copies (sad git that I am I have a fishing room at home for doing this kind of thing). It is pretty much as you describe but with only an ounce as I fish in shallow water. Perhaps I concentrate too hard or was just unlucky as the rod hooped right over in both cases and I could feel the fish but all went slack...I will try as you suggest and leave the sandeel down for a while after a missed take in case old bassy boy has another go, I reeled in straight away last time.

Thanks again.
Chappers..no one is trying to get rid of you...you're paranoid! Can you make next tuesday, early tide? Or long day august 1st?

[andyg]

So where do the live sandeels come from them, I've only ever seen em caught on TV using feathers and I think that was near the channel islands.....

hey andy we have a friendly fisherman who will tow for eels and he charges £50 for enough eels to last 8 rods all day and a few left over. sand eels come from all over and every bassman has his own mark where they tow for them when Paul was doing it he used to get 4-5 stone per tow its just that the tackle shops won't gear up to keep them alive. they are missing out on some serious money. although the shops down the rest country will and do so it remains to be seen how long it will take the rest of the country to catch up.

And thus a voice spake; "Lo... tis Chappers"

When hooking live sandeels how do you suggest hooking them?... I'm guessing through the lip...

...Cheers...

...Nick "Chappers" Chappell

[Ben]

i asked the owner of my local tackel shop about live ells a little while ago and he said he used to sell them but gave it up cause it wasnt worth it money weise