| #2  06-30-2011, 10:00 AM | |||
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| Re: Bleak We don't get bleak up here on the rivers but I assume they are similar to the millions of minnows you sometimes have to get through on the Tees and Wear. Maggots, casters and hemp are all baits these little fish go for. If you are going to carry on using these baits, try using a heavy float rig that will get that bait down quick. I use an ollivette rather than lots of shot and this gets the bait quickly through the little stuff and can prevent tangles. Set it not to far up from the hook but not too close as to spook the fish. Of course, you can always use feeder and bigger baits which get straight down to the bottom and into the good fish, weight the hooklength slightly so hookbait does not drag behind the feeder as it sinks. Use bunches of maggots or worms to tempt the big ones and put chopped worm and dead maggots in the feeder with some nice dark groundbait such as ground hemp, using dead maggots on the hook will tempt those bream and stop the live maggots burrowing down into the silty river bed. Also, these little fish will hang around closer in so cast past them - using a longer rod is good for distance float fishing on rivers as the line pick up is more instant and some anglers use them up to 18 or more feet in length but at this distance I would definately use feeder tactics. Ask on this forum about using these long rods somebody is sure to help you out. Good luck!!     |
