fishing the river medway in maidstone uk?

[nelson20]

hey all
was just wondering if anyone could give me some tips on what sort of bait to use size hooks and bait nad good swims and stuff thanks xx

[dave fish]

what you fishing for? barbel,chub,raoch,perch,trout?

[nelson20]

tbh im not particularly fussed was just going to fish on a float and see what happens as ive never fished a river before

[dave fish]

ok try free lining maggot (basicaly main line tied onto a leader half the breaking strain of main line and a size 16 hook single maggot hookbait and thats it just let the bail arm off and let the line flow down river using your index finger on the line to feel for bites).Or you can add a maggot feeder with a bb shot just before your leader this will be free running and have no tention so wary fish wont be scared off hope this helps tight lines.

[fishypaul]

its a long tome since i fished there but i remember having a good days sport on the stick float trotting for roach and dace in the free town stretch

[JAM_EZZ]

Originally Posted by nelson20

hey all was just wondering if anyone could give me some tips on what sort of bait to use size hooks and bait nad good swims and stuff thanks xx

Hi, My favourite type of fishing. Now if it was me I would take as little tackle as possible so i can find and move swims easily. I would start on 4lb line on my 13ft rod and try long trotting. If your not familiar with this ask for a chubber or loffer type float. These hold more weight and are easier to control and cast, they can make it much easier to practice and you will still catch fish. You can easliy play around with the sizes of floats as you just add or remove the shot from the same place. You need to play with your depth but depending on the flow and the size of float you go for i would start with a string of No.4s (possibly some big weights at the top if you chose a big one) about a 14" - 16" from the hook and something small maybe a No.8 6"-8" from the hook and try fishing about 10" over depth, the idea been that the smaller shot is hitting bottom continuously, your string shot should be almost touching bottom. this technique has worked on so many different places for me, its well worth a go, you might possibly think its the best type of fishing ever. I would probably be using, bread, hemp and my personal choice of bronze and red maggots. Always worth having a big worm or two with you too. I dont use big hooks and i would probably stick on an 18 or a 16 unless i get broken a few times. Of course if this fails I would get out the feeder rod. and look for some interesting black spots in the water or obvious features. Anyway could talk about that for hours. Well worth trying it out if its the first time your putting yourself in that situation. I hope you have a good time mate. tight lines :)