Question following my first pole fishing session

[Cool_Duck]

Hello all, I have just returned from my first fishing session using a pole.

Following a happy season on my local river I have now turned my attention to the canal. I have invested in a middy 6m white knuckle short pole, and used it for the very first time today.

Today I caught 3 perch, however, here lies the foundations to my question - some of the other fish that I hooked managed to come off, only feet away from the bank, or after only a few seconds of being hooked - what was the reason for this?

I was using a size 18 barbless hook, fishing maggot, and have got size 6 elastic that was already fitted to the pole when I bought it. My initial thoughts are that the hooks are not sharp enough to get a good enough hold (they are cheap ones made by fladden) , and that it might be just bad luck.

Any advice on this would be greatly welcomed.

[northern eye]

Hi Cool Duck. When I first started using the pole I had the same problems. I used a Middy Rhythm Stik 8metre pole and the elastics that came with it were way too strong for what I was catching. Bumped fish all the time, even 5 - 6lb carp. Changed the elastics to a no 4 and a no 8 in the other topkit. Used a standard Drennan elastic which was much more supple than the elastic supplied with the pole and this also improved things. Immediately saw the difference, more fish landed. I tried the Fladden ready made pole rigs and found them to be terrible. Badly made, badly weighted, poor quality hooks, stiff line - Crap!! I eventually made my own rigs but in the meantime I tried both Fox and Drennan ready made rigs and they were spot on. Gradually I learned how to handle the pole and found that smooth movements and carefull shipping made for more fish on the bank. If you jerk into a fish as the float goes down and ship in, in a panic theres a good chance the fish will be bumped off. Gently lift into the fish when you have a bite and then allow the elastic to do the work, play the fish gently out of the swim so as not to spook the others and allow the jerks and fight of the fish to be soaked up by the elastic then start to slowly ship back, a roller is very useful to aid smooth shipping, even on a short pole. Once you have the fish near the bank, slowly lift back and slip it under your net, even if its small -and thats it, you will be pulling them out in no time.

[barbelblanker]

Some great advice there from Northern eye.

One of the best pole anglers around is Bob Nudd. If you can get a dvd of him fishing you will notice something. He is very smooth and unhurried. Reinforces Northern Eyes points exactly. If it's good enough for a world champ...

Personally I think the following work for me on a canal.

Strike sideways and against the flow and do it decisively.
Use sharp hooks.
Keep tension on the fish, no slack line or it's off.
Let the elastic do it's work.

Hope that all helps.

[northern eye]

I actually bought one of Bobs DVD's when I first started using the pole. Got it for £1 from Poundland which I thought was a bit of an insult to the great man but it was usefull. Amazing to watch really good pole anglers at work.