Runs but no fish.

[andrew@abcomplete.co.uk]

The chap I fish with and myself have been having a spot of trouble with Zander not taking the hook when dead baiting so far this season, they have been picking up baits and running really well, however we can't seem to set the hooks.
If we lip hook the tail end is bitten right off, if we hook into the tail the head is taken.
We have baited using needles, trebles, single, big hooks, small hooks and just about everything else we can think of.
Any ideas, small fish maybe?
We have even tried waiting until the bait should have well inside the fish before striking.
Last night we had eight good runs between us without one fish being landed. this has never happened before this season, normally we fill our boots with fish.
(Fill our Boots speaking metaphorically)

[headless]

Hi mate

I had the same trouble a month or so ago, after three / four session missing so many runs and going through bait like it was going out of fashion I tried a single treble hook and a small piece of Rudd and hooked fish straight away...the only problem was the fish I hooked were Eels, which I believe are the giving you the missed runs

I over came the problem by popping the baits up a good two foot off the bottom, I then connected with a good percentage of the runs

Also try a small Eel section hair rigged on the deck, the Eels won't touch it.

Eel section very rarely comes off on the strike and can lead to lost fish, the hair rig gives better hook hold.

Let us know how you get on

Good luck

Darrell

[andrew@abcomplete.co.uk]

It was Zander taking the bait a bit at a time just leaving the flesh where the hook were. Dropping the treble size to size 10 did the job.
This is the biggest of eleven fish we took last night.

Just over 13Lbs

[barbel master]

nice fish m8, looks bigger than Just over 13Lbs

[andrew@abcomplete.co.uk]

The scales we use are getting on a bit, they are near enough for what we want. I suppose we should get another set, to old too tight to buy new ones,
Barbel Master some great photos of yours on Youtube.
Yesterday evening we landed half a dozen roach that were around the 1lbs mark while we were float fishing for some fresh bait for the Z's.
I may well have a day on the peg just lobbing in some hemp and fishing the tares just for fun. It was great to see big roach on the lower Severn not seen them for years.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

fab zander looks a nice 16 !!!!!!

[GerryT]

Lovely Zander, but looks dead to me Andrew, please tell me it isn't ?

[hawk]

Originally Posted by andrew@abcomplete.co.uk

It was Zander taking the bait a bit at a time just leaving the flesh where the hook were. Dropping the treble size to size 10 did the job.
This is the biggest of eleven fish we took last night.

Just over 13Lbs

I know exactly the place, and I will say only one thing - fishing at night on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal is illegal!

Ps . Anyone who caught a several zander , sees that the fish in the picture is dead / milki cloudy eyes/ - congrats mate

[headless]

What a loss of a stunning fish

Darrell

[Fishing Forum Admin]

bloody hell only took a quick look and im shocked a fab zander wasted how did it end up like that mate ?