glos canal zandering Nov 2011

[sam pagett]

hi guys, i had my first zander whilst match fishing and although it was only around half an oune i wanted to catch more. since then i have almost given up match fishing and have been hooked by the zander bug :) i have got myself a bivvy and all now.
anyway every weekend for the past 2 months i have been bivved up on the banks of the canal. to start with i had no success at all but persevered and changed my rigs, bait, approach etc and am now catching between 2 and 5 zs a night even though they are all small fish (between a pound and 3) i feel really privillaged to catch such beautiful fish :)
however i would love to catch a bigger Z and would be really grateful if anyone would help me, i am willing to put 100 percent effort in,


thanks

[headless]

Hi Sam

Well come to the forum

As you are regulary catching zander, you are doing things right. I would just enjoy catching the smaller Zeds, the bigger Zeds will come along.

What rigs, bait etc....are you using?

Don't mention night fishing on the canal...I believe it is banned

Darrell

[sam pagett]

cheers :),
im using low resistance run rigs fished with small roach deadbaits on size 10 trebles.
i thought it was banned but after speaking to a few of the carpers over summer who were night fishing I gave it a go, the baliff doesnt seem to mind either after a chat with him,
sam

[headless]

Originally Posted by sam pagett

cheers :),
im using low resistance run rigs fished with small roach deadbaits on size 10 trebles.
i thought it was banned but after speaking to a few of the carpers over summer who were night fishing I gave it a go, the baliff doesnt seem to mind either after a chat with him,
sam

low resistance run rigs are perfect. I would up the size of your hooks to a size 8 semi barbless trebles.

What is the max number of rods you are allowed?

Where I fish there is a three rod max rule. I fish with one rod dead Rudd/Roach. One rod with trout fillet (fished with a feeder stuffed with trout) and the third rod fished with Eel section.

Cast one rod to the far shelf, one middle and the third near shelve. Be patient, dont keep reeling in and recasting. Cast to the same areas, building up the scent trail from the baits.

If you are catching in one area, keep the others baits in the original areas. I have had times when I was catching small Zander on the near shelf rod then to have a run on the middle/far shelf rod, resulting in a much larger zander. This happens quite often

I have found that the trout and Eel section produce the bigger Zander, but I have also caught big Zander on Rudd and Roach.

What is your bite indication set up?

This year there seems to be many more smaller Zander about reducing the chances of the bigger Zander. Also there are so many small fish about, again reducing your chances.

When using Eel section try hair rigging two inch chunks, I have found hook up rates better and fish loses reduced.

Interesting about the night fishing. I will be across your way in the new year after the Zander, so I may be after some info on areas to fish from you

Darrell

[Echelon Pest]

Originally Posted by headless

What is the max number of rods you are allowed?

Interesting about the night fishing. I will be across your way in the new year after the Zander, so I may be after some info on areas to fish from you

Darrell

There's a very regular Carper on the canal uses 4 rods Darrell so its no prob if you have two EA licences.

And no probs night fishing on a BWB (towpath side) ticket. I did a few nights during the last river close season for Carp but blanked

Steve

PS Not been down the canal lately but I'd imagine conditions would be perfect for Zeds.

[headless]

Originally Posted by Echelon Pest

There's a very regular Carper on the canal uses 4 rods Darrell so its no prob if you have two EA licences.

And no probs night fishing on a BWB (towpath side) ticket. I did a few nights during the last river close season for Carp but blanked

Steve

PS Not been down the canal lately but I'd imagine conditions would be perfect for Zeds.

Hi Steve, how has the barbel fishing been?

[Echelon Pest]

Not too bad Darrell but everyone else seems to be doing better than me

I'm on the river Friday night a mix of Barbel fishing and Zander fishing.

I find the river hard going for Zeds against the canal however my two biggest fish are both from the 7rn - just can't get anything of any size out of the canal only numbers.

[headless]

Originally Posted by Echelon Pest

Not too bad Darrell but everyone else seems to be doing better than me

I'm on the river Friday night a mix of Barbel fishing and Zander fishing.

I find the river hard going for Zeds against the canal however my two biggest fish are both from the 7rn - just can't get anything of any size out of the canal only numbers.

I think as the weather cools the smaller Zander will be a bit thinner on the ground giving you more chance of a better Zander, but there will be more bitless hours.

The river and pit I fish over this way have been a nightmare with the small Zander, 1-2lb fish, but the last few weeks I have not landed one. I am sure they are there as I am missing a few runs but not so many.

I have had a few doubles lately, but the average sized zeds (6-7lb) that I was catching regularly over the last two years seem to have moved elsewhere.

I am catching more Zander around the 4-5lb bracket now. On the plus side, with the numbers of young Zander about, the Zander fishing in a few years time, unless we have some really bad winters, and the foreigners and Cormorants don't decimate the stocks, the Zander fishing is only going to get better.

Darrell

[John Costello]

Hi Sam and everyone else, (my first post)

I have dabbled on your venue, but further down and have only caught pike. It does seem the upstream end is more prolific for zander, but with the lack of rain there is no colour in the water and this may be one reason why you are struggling with the bigger fish. The bigger fish can be a bit more fussy about what conditions they are active in.

[headless]

Hi John

Well come to the forum.

Have you read Kabbychris thread in the going fishing/catch reports?

Interesting that they had some interest in their baits when the water had some colour. They were unlucky that they did not connect to any fish.

Darrell