new to site!!

[mikey26]

hello guys im new to your site and new to fresh water fishing! ive gone out and bought a pole to try thing is i have not got a clue how to use it really ita a 4 meter telescopic pole has any body got any advice on how to rig them up and basically any info that i could learn by please? also does it need to be elasticated i havnt a clue about poles to be honest! cheers guys

[BoldBear]

If it is a 4m telescopic pole then it is most probably a whip not a Pole.

If it was quite cheap then it is probably a bit stiff so not one of the better ones.

If the tip is hollow and does not have a ring to attach the line to (or a short length of knotted string/line) then it is possible that it is a very short pole and will need elasticating.
However; If it does have a ring to attach the line to (or a short length of knotted string/line) then its a whip and does not need elasticating.
Some companies even wrongly call their short poles whips. but a Pole is a completely different tool and is fished completely differently.

We would need to know what 'Make and model' of Pole/Whip it is before we can give any help as there are many different types and makes; some of which are for Carp some of which are for silver fish which can be used with much lighter hooklengths.

[BoldBear]

Mikey 26, thanks for the message giving me the make and model of your whip.
(Leeda: 2xl Triumphant Whip 6 Metre And Rig).

It is a whip acccording to this site ( lathams tackle )

I have found out that it has a solid flick tip with an eye attatched which is designed to be used with the rig attached directly to the eye (without any elastic).
These whips are sold from approx £3.99p upwards.

To use:
Attatch the rig to the eye so that the line is around 3 foot shorter than the whip; allowing you to lift the fish and swing it into your hand.
You cast by either doing a sideways or overhead or underarm cast.

Floats:
I like using a ‘bottom only’ small waggler like a small 'canal grey' or similar with most of your shot immediately under the float with a couple of dust shot nearer the hook.
Don’t use a normal pole float as you are casting up to almost twice the length of your whip and normal pole floats are not really designed for any casting.

Line and hooklengths:
I would start off by using 3lb line with similar or lighter hooklengths (around 1.5lb) and size 20 or 18 hooks using pinkies (smaller than maggots) as bait and loosefeed.

Whips were used by several top anglers to win matches on the Thames and canals usually in the winter when they used to get into a rythm of 'bait, feed, cast, feed again, and strike' to catch upwards of 3 or 4 silver fish per minute while others struggled on the Long Pole because of them having to unship and ship their Poles each time they caught a small fish. sometimes they used to catch several fish on the same maggot thereby speeding up the catch rate.
One well known match angler (Billy Makin I think) was known as the 'bionic bleaker' with his whip.

It can be good fun when you get them feeding well.

Best of luck and welcome to this site.
BB