targeting sole?

[luke6661982]

I hope you catch one ben, i have never personally caught them using rod or line. They seem so strong for the size of them and i would think would but up a little scrap. Good Luck

[big guy]

down my way we fish at short range usually just past the low water mark or to the patches of mud/ sand. always at night, using a 3 hook flapper with size 2 B940 long shanks hooks. metal booms can work well sometimes, as can slowly rolling a lead along the sea bed to find any mud/ sand/ bars.

my best tip is to always have some SMELLY blacks in your bait bucket. i leave half the blacks i'll take in the fridge for a week before fishing so they stink. then the rest would be fresher ones, about 2 days old.

[solehunter]

hi, I posted this piece on another forum a while back. these are some of the things i have found with the old sole
Hope it can help somone


VENUE, Find a sandy/muddy venue that has plenty of lug worm casts, or is known to hold ragworm.The best thing to do is look at low water or ask a local.A place where people dig bait is a sure bet!
RODS/REELS, Does not really matter what reel you use if you ask me,(i use fixed spools) though a rod whith a reasonably whippy tip should be used.
TACKLE, Use size 4 or 6 hooks on a 3 hook patternoster or a two hook one up one down rig. A wishbone or running leadger rig is ok but in all cases, keep snoods short, no longer than 12 inches.
I always use grip leads as sole dont like bait movement, so nail the bait to the bottom and let the sole come to you. Another good trick is to put a 4 to 5mm lead shot just above the hook to really NAIL it down! If you want to use beads use red!
BAIT, Any type of lug has to be first choice, black lug/ blow lug/ yellow tails ect, though rag is often as good. Try lug and rag cocktails, this can be awsome and have had my biggest sole this way! Alot of people say use small baits, i dont! Use large baits for sole, whole worms or sometimes 2. Trust me it WORKS alot better! Also tipping worm baits with squid can do the job or tipping with winkles is a new trick of mine and it works well (also have had a few plaice this way while soleing)
TIDE, fish 2 hours each side of a high water thats bettween midnight and two in the morning. Try earlyer when nights get longer, but it normally has to be dark and late! Low waters are somtimes better in some spots so try both. Sole are often feeding in VERY close, so dont cast beyond 30 to 40 yards. Some venues, try closer!
WEATHER/MONTHS, Sole seem to like calm or slightly choppy conditions. They should start to come to the southern shores around the start of may, right through to the end of the year getting fatter as they go!!!
TACTICS, Keeping nice and quiet is a must as they are finiky feeders. Dont use a tilley and dont shine headlamps on the water, pretend you are not there and use stealth! Keep a small amount of slack line after you cast a tension may put them off!
The most important rule is when you get a bite ....LEAVE IT dont strike as its probably just sucking on the bait. When its on you will know as it will normally go bezzerk and try to run, this is the time to reel in!
Good luck!