Waggler fishing with hair rig

[geffski]

no reason why u cant get a bolt affect with a waggler, 3-4 swan shot 6 ins behind the hook, fish a small float like a quil
so its over weighted, fish it a foot or to over depth, when u cast out your waggler will lay flat,
put it on the rest so the rod tip is just below the surface, now gently take up line untill the float is cocked and the tip just shows (keep the butt of the rod in your lap or on your knee the takes can be pretty violent)
2 types of take with this, 1 the rod wants to go for a swim or 2 the float will lift out of the water and go flat! lean into both!

[AndrewR]

Originally Posted by geffski

no reason why u cant get a bolt affect with a waggler, 3-4 swan shot 6 ins behind the hook, fish a small float like a quil
so its over weighted, fish it a foot or to over depth, when u cast out your waggler will lay flat,
put it on the rest so the rod tip is just below the surface, now gently take up line untill the float is cocked and the tip just shows (keep the butt of the rod in your lap or on your knee the takes can be pretty violent)
2 types of take with this, 1 the rod wants to go for a swim or 2 the float will lift out of the water and go flat! lean into both!

hmm sounds good do you think this would work better than a normal float set up?

[peakoverload]

Originally Posted by AndrewR

hmm sounds good do you think this would work better than a normal float set up?

The method geffski describes is essentially The Lift Method and the only shot you use are the Swan shot by the hook meaning that you attach the float to the line only by a piece of silicon tubing or float stops.

The reason it is called the The Lift Method is that because the float isn't weighted when a fish picks up the bait it will also lift up the shot which makes the float become buoyant and it rises out of the water (if the fish swims away then the float will still go under though).

Is it better than a 'normal' waggler? Unfortunately you can't do a direct comparison because it depends on what species you are after, the bottom of the water you are fishing and most importantly where the fish are feeding.

If you are targeting bottom feeding fish then this method can work well, if not a normal waggler will out fish it. Normally this method is used for targeting Tench and Carp but can also be used for large Bream.

If the bottom of the lake you are fishing is covered in a dense weed then this method can be problematic as the Swan shot will bury the hook into the weed reducing the chance of it being found by any fish.

But most of all if the fish aren't feeding on the bottom then this method is a complete waste of time.

I would also say that a normal waggler set up will out fish the Lift Method if the fish are shy because the weight of the Swan shot can be enough to scare the fish into spitting out the bait. Occasionally this will result in a bolt like effect but really 3 or even 5 Swan shot isn't going to produce the same bolt like effect where the fish is actually hooked rather than just scared into swimming off as you would get by using a 1oz bomb or heavy feeder.

Essentially this is a very useful method to use at the right time. Part of fishing is knowing when to use the right method.

[marktol]

Hi,

Sorry to hijack your thread. I have a question about fishing with a wagler. I have just purchased a wagler and some of the special clips to attach it to the line. Do I need to put any weight on the line near the hook or should the hook sink just with the weight of the bait? My understanding is I just attach the float to the line and have the hook with bait on underneath - is that correct?

Many thanks

[AndrewR]

Originally Posted by marktol

Hi,

Sorry to hijack your thread. I have a question about fishing with a wagler. I have just purchased a wagler and some of the special clips to attach it to the line. Do I need to put any weight on the line near the hook or should the hook sink just with the weight of the bait? My understanding is I just attach the float to the line and have the hook with bait on underneath - is that correct?

Many thanks

Hmm are you fishing on the bottom for fish like carp, or on the drop so you fish for all species?

[AndrewR]

Originally Posted by peakoverload

The method geffski describes is essentially The Lift Method and the only shot you use are the Swan shot by the hook meaning that you attach the float to the line only by a piece of silicon tubing or float stops.

The reason it is called the The Lift Method is that because the float isn't weighted when a fish picks up the bait it will also lift up the shot which makes the float become buoyant and it rises out of the water (if the fish swims away then the float will still go under though).

Is it better than a 'normal' waggler? Unfortunately you can't do a direct comparison because it depends on what species you are after, the bottom of the water you are fishing and most importantly where the fish are feeding.

If you are targeting bottom feeding fish then this method can work well, if not a normal waggler will out fish it. Normally this method is used for targeting Tench and Carp but can also be used for large Bream.

If the bottom of the lake you are fishing is covered in a dense weed then this method can be problematic as the Swan shot will bury the hook into the weed reducing the chance of it being found by any fish.

But most of all if the fish aren't feeding on the bottom then this method is a complete waste of time.

I would also say that a normal waggler set up will out fish the Lift Method if the fish are shy because the weight of the Swan shot can be enough to scare the fish into spitting out the bait. Occasionally this will result in a bolt like effect but really 3 or even 5 Swan shot isn't going to produce the same bolt like effect where the fish is actually hooked rather than just scared into swimming off as you would get by using a 1oz bomb or heavy feeder.

Essentially this is a very useful method to use at the right time. Part of fishing is knowing when to use the right method.

Ok mate that is a good review there many thanks may try this method when im going up to the lakes on monday!

[marktol]

Originally Posted by AndrewR

Hmm are you fishing on the bottom for fish like carp, or on the drop so you fish for all species?

Either, lol

Im completly new to fishing. So far im trying different methods, ive heard alot about wagler fishing so thought I would give it a go. So far ive been twice and caught only carp. although im not targeting them specifically - i will be happy with whatever I can catch.

Happy to try either?

Thanks,
Mark

[AndrewR]

Originally Posted by marktol

Either, lol

Im completly new to fishing. So far im trying different methods, ive heard alot about wagler fishing so thought I would give it a go. So far ive been twice and caught only carp. although im not targeting them specifically - i will be happy with whatever I can catch.

Happy to try either?

Thanks,
Mark

Put a 2bb shot to lock the waggler in place, once youve plumbed the depth i then cock the float so about half the tips showing, then i put the rest of the shot around 8 inch away from the hook to sink the line quickly to the bottom, then put a no 6 or no 8 shot around 6 inch away from the hook, I fish straight through to the hook, I use no hooklink. I also fish about 6 inch overdepth aswell. This method has worked well for me so far. There are other methods such as on the drop, the shot is spaced out equally and there usaully no 6 or no 8 shot, I dont usually use this method as smaller fish take the bait before it hits the bottom. I hope this made sense

[peakoverload]

Originally Posted by marktol

Hi,

Sorry to hijack your thread. I have a question about fishing with a wagler. I have just purchased a wagler and some of the special clips to attach it to the line. Do I need to put any weight on the line near the hook or should the hook sink just with the weight of the bait? My understanding is I just attach the float to the line and have the hook with bait on underneath - is that correct?

Many thanks

There are many ways to shot a waggler which all depend on what depth you are fishing and what species you are after.

As a general rule though secure the float to the line with 2 shot the size of which will be dictated by the capacity of the float and the depth you are fishing but generally is either No 4's or BB's. Typically you then want the bulk of the shot directly under the float so that the float cocks and bites can be detected as soon as it hits the water. After that though it greatly depends on your depth and where fish are feeding as to where you put your remainder shot.

For shy biting Silvers and for fishing shallow you may want to fish on the drop where you don't really have any shot except directly below the float. However you may fish a deep water where fish are feeding 2/3rds down in which case you may want a shot at about 1/3rd depth to pull the hook down faster through the top water where it will then gently float down in the feeding layer.

Alternatively you may find that smaller fish are high ip on the water with larger fish on the bottom. You then want your hook to pass quickly through the small fish to the bottom and so you would use larger shot closer to the hook.

If you are fishing on the bottom a lot of anglers will use what's called a 'tell tale' shot. If you are fishing 3" over depth then a tell tale shot is placed 3" from the hook. The float will be shotted right down so only the tip is showing and the tell tale is generally very small like a No 6. Being small the fish won't easily feel it when they pick the bait up but because the float is shotted so low any slight change is instantly shown on the float making it super sensitive.

Hth

[marktol]

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like im going to have to experiment with a few different techniques when I get out. Any particular bait better for waggler fishing or I suppose it depends what you are targetting?

Many thanks,