Newbie advice

[rollcast]

What would be the best species to go for, my local river has rudd, pike and perch, and possibly roach and eels, not going for the eels. I say possibly as the first three are listed by all sources but the last 2 are not.

I can split that into 2 groups, pike and perch and rudd and roach, which group should I go for, I could handle a pike, have handled large sea fish and trout and I know well all the key points on fish handling.

Also what sort of tackle, rod and line, would you use for each of these.

Thanks
AL

[Cool_Duck]

At this time of year I would target the roach and rudd, the perch and pike can be caught at this time of year, but are more traditionally targeted in the darker colder months when the other species are reluctant to feed.

If this is a new river to you then one of the best things to do is to run a stick float down different areas of the river you are fishing, using maggots as bait. This will help you map out the contors of the river, find the snags, and exactly what type of fish is where, as most fish will happy take maggots! Armed with this knowledge you can then target certain areas with a feeder or ledger set up if you so desire.

To acheive this then a float rod and reel with about 4lb - 6lb line strength. You need to match the hook size to the type of fish, so with roach then hook sizes of 18 - 20, and if you target chub and perch (if there are any, should be) then you need a larger hook size to fit into their mouths, so about a size 12 - 14.
Whilst fishing if you find that the line gets broken by the fish then you need to use a stronger strength line. It is all trial and error, and no advice can work better than the experience that you get from the river bank, and the mistakes that you make.

As for fishing for pike then there are vast amounts of info regarding this topic that you must know and understand, its all on this forum and on the pike anglers GB website of which I have posted you a link:http://www.pacgb.co.uk/

Don't get too wound up about tackle, as long as you have got a landing net, and disgorger then you can't go too far wrong (obviously bait, rod, line ect), but if you do go pike fishing ensure that you have forceps and a unhooking mat, and the knowledge of how to unhook pike.

Have a search on the internet relating to the fish species and techniques you are after, and hopefully more members will add their advice. Also try posting what river you are fishing so that more venue specific advice can be added.

Hope this has helped a little bit

Tight Lines.

[rollcast]

Thanks mate,

The river is the Quoile outside Downpatrick, somewhere near steamboat quay up to the bridge towards comber