Rods
General
Coarse Fishing
A medium to strong feeder rod (12 to 14 feet ), a standard
waggler rod
or a sturdy pole. My Drennan IM9 Feeder has landed 120lb of
bream
in a little under 5 hours with individual fish weighing up
to 6lb, and those
Erne Bream can fight a bit!.
The above should stand you in good stead for most waters in
and around Cavan, but don't forget to take a few odds and
ends to carry out general
repairs on your tackle should you need to do so.
Line
Mainline
41b maximum is good enough for most conditions. On the rare
occasions when fishing is hard or I am waggler/stick float
fishing for Roach, I will use 3lb. When the Bream are really
feeding I will step up to 5lb.
Bottoms
2.5lb and 4lb Ultima or other high tech fine lines.
Braid
Far more effective than mono line when fishing at distance
and perfect for long range tip fishing, braid is much finer
in diameter than mono and it has no stretch. You see bites
register on braid that you would not otherwise see when fishing
mono. But remember not to strike too hard, or you will break
off. Use a softer action rod, and just wind into your bites
- you will feel everything.
A sinking braid like Drennan FEEDER Braid works best. For
best results use a 5lb mono shock leader (length of your rod
plus two turns on the reel) and a softer action rod.
Braid is also a definite aid in long casting. For example,
6lb braid is equivalent to 3lb mono in diameter, causing less
drag on the line.
Remember that with braid, the more you use it the better it
gets - it really is very hardwearing.
Floats
Pole floats
4 to 15 gram. The Polaris flag and round bodied leger pole
floats are revolutionary and really are worth using if you
are catching on the bottom within pole range. They are deadly.
Wagglers
I prefer peacock stems with a range from 2 to 5 swan, as you
do not want to fish too light. You need to have weight on
the bigger, fish filled waters abroad to give better control
and presentation.
Sticks
4BB-8BB. On the rivers, I use a big wire stemmed stick float
taking 3-5 swan on a short leger link, and find it ideal for
fishing those opposite slacks for Bream and Rudd.
Float
Legering
There's no need for stop-knots and legerstops when float fishing
in deep or moderate water anymore. The Polaris range makes
fishing even more fun - these floats are highly efective and
work a treat.
There is no finer way of float-legering than with the Polaris
method.
Hooks
Hooks
Rarely will I have time for anything smaller than a 16! Generally
it's plenty of size 10, 12 and 14 hooks. Mustad, Browning
and Tubertini all produce some extremely strong, sharp, fine
wire hooks. Only if conditions were rock-hard would I find
a use for size 16 and 18 hooks.
Hook sizes
When fishing in Ireland, waters generally support a greater
head of natural fish stocks. Larger bait presentations usually
sort out those bigger bags of quality fish. Hook size in relation
to baits is important and here's our general guide.
|
Baits
|
Hook
Size
|
Species
|
|
Worm
cocktails
|
10-12
|
Bream,
Tench, Hybrids
|
|
Corn
and maggot
|
12-14
|
Hybrids,
Rudd, cocktail Quality Roach, Bream and Tench
|
|
Casters
|
12-16
|
Bream,
Quality Roach, Tench.
|
|
Maggots
(red for Ireland)
|
12-16
|
Roach
and "finnicky" Bream
|
Sidewinder
The Sidewinder is the most effective bite indicator on windy
days with wave action, when the quiver-tip is hard to read.
This bite indicator fits on top of any rod, usually towards
the top section, but please note, it is not a butt
indicator!
So effective is the Sidewinder at detecting bites that it
has been used by
many of our guests, who have reported that it as more than
doubled their catch rate, with fish up to 7lb being taken.
Feeders
Cage feeders are effective on shallower pegs, say up to 10
feet in depth. Generally when I am bagging on Bream I am fishing
12 to 18 feet and a plastic open ended feeder works best.
1 to 2oz feeders help you get down fast and tighten up quickly,
which is essential when bites are coming thick and fast.
The
new Polaris Feed 0 Rings are great and they can fasten onto
any feeder that has a vertical lead strap. There are so many
of benefits to putting them on your feeders. They act as a
shock absorber when casting and striking, and you can change
feeders or feeder bomb quickly and easily. In my view they
are an essential.
Techniques
Time of Day - Feeding Habits
Bream
During the summer months, when we have longer daylight hours,
Bream in particular will move close to shore at night, then
move out into deep water during bright sunny days. On dull,
overcast days, particularly when there's a facing breeze,
Bream will feed right through the day, but on still, bright
days it is usually an early start that produces the best weights,
with sport slowing down dramatically around early afternoon.
Whilst it is possible to catch decent weights in shallow water,
particularly on warm days during early summer when water temperatures
are starting to climb, in general the ideal depth is around
12 to 20 feet. Some waters have two defined shelves. As an
example, you may find 12-15 feet at 30 yards and deeper water
(18-20 feet plus) at around 40-50 yards. It is best to pre-bait
two lines, one at each depth. You often find the Bream feeding
on the near line at the start of your session, and as the
day progresses and the sun rises, the shoal will move out
into deeper water, onto your second pre-baited line. By baiting
two lines you can keep in touch and keep the shoal feeding.
Roach &
Hybrids
These fish are usually all-day feeders and great fun on the
waggler or pole. A soft groundbait mix laced with maggots
is the best way of feeding, and 40-100lb weights provide plenty
of action in a days fishing. 3-4lb mainline and 2.5lb high
tech. bottoms to a size 12-16 hook provide good sport.
Tench
Ireland offers some excellent Tench waters with strong, fighting
fit fish in the 4 -6lb class. With a bit of careful preparation,
you can enjoy 40-100lb catches of Tench. Select a known Tench
water, usually a fairly shallow lake with clear water, rich
vegetation (reeds and lilies) and a muddy bottom. Rake out
a moderate size area and prebait with particles - hemp, corn
and casters.
Groundbait is not recommended as Tench will avoid light coloured
areas on the dark lake bottom.
5-6lb line is usually the norm when using a big bait presentation
(worm, corn, cocktails) on a size 10-12 hook. Strong tackle
is essential, but if float fishing, use as little weight as
possible down the line. A loaded waggler is recommended.
June and September are the best months, when water temperature
is about right and the lakes are not at their peak in terms
of natural food. Tench are cautious feeders, so early morning
and evenings are the most productive times.
Legering
on stillwaters
. . . Mark Smith
Unless
I am on a large shoal of hard feeding Bream, I always start
off with a long tail (one of around 5 feet). If I am Roach
fishing, on the bomb, I will often go to a 7 foot tail. This
is particularly effective because: - Your bait has a bit longer
to fall tantalisingly through the last few feet of your swim,
giving fish a bit more time to see your bait. - Bites are
more positive and usually easier to hit. - Whilst Bream respond
best to a stillbait on the bottom, a longer tail seems to
produce a far more confident bite response. - When I am feeder
fishing, and line bites become a problem with a big head of
fish feeding over a tight area, I continue to cast accurately
using my line clip, but after my feeder has hit bottom, I
rapidly pull my feeder a yard towards me. This empties my
feeder and allows my hookbait to come closer into the area
of feed. Bites are usually instant and very positive. Even
when fishing a long tail, most of my fish are mouth hooked.
If they are taking it down, then I would start to shorten
my tail. NOTE: A disgorger is a must for every angler. They
are 100% effective for safely unhooking fish, no matter how
far down the hook is. Always use a line clip for total accuracy
and distance. In really deep water try to cast just short
of the clip and allow free line to feed off the spool until
it hits the clip as your terminal tackle falls to the bottom.
Use FEED 0 RINGS on your feeders as links. They make excellent
shock absorbers and make changing feeders or switching from
feeder to bomb quick and easy, allowing tangle free feeder
fishing.
HOW
TO ELIMINATE LINE TWIST . . . Mark Smith
Line
twist is often a problem when feeder fishing with big baits
and/or using fine "high tech" lines.
Line twist builds up when winding in fast when you don't have
a fish on. Big baits (triple maggot, corn and worms) cause
the line to spin and the twist is retained in the reel spool.
It gets progressively worse and can cause line weakness, crack-offs
and tangles.
There is a simple answer. Use a small swivel at the link point
between your mainline and hook-length - it solves the problem
instantly. When legering, I always use a size 14 "Microswivel".
Bait
Hookbait
How much bait should I take?
You will need sufficient for each day and pre-baiting. This
is our general guide per angler per week.
1 bag (50lb) of brown crumb.
Additives. Van Den Eynde and Whizzo are excellent, use crumb
to bulk out your feed. Binders are essential for deep and
running water.
1 gallon of maggots (reds for Ireland).
1-2 gallons of casters.
Sweetcorn, pearl barley and hemp- excellent particle feeds.
Corn is a superb big fish hookbait.
Worms - Plenty of red worms (dendrobenas).
Remember on the fish rich waters of Ireland, particularly
in summer, big bait presentations account for bigger fish
and better catches.
A few trout pellets sprinkled into your feed seems to have
a positive effect.
Particle
Feeds
Take hemp, wheat, pearl barley and a cooler box. Soak your
next days requirements overnight with the particles well covered
with hot water, and by morning it will be cooked to perfection.
These particles can work as well as casters and are much cheaper
and easier to keep.
Groundbait
Pre-Baiting
This is generally essential. The idea is to pre-bait a couple
of swims (different waters), fish one for a day or two, then
move on to the second water. Pre-baiting only works on prolific
stillwaters and slow moving rivers. By baiting up the evening
before, you are attracting a larger than normal head of fish
into your patrols They usually stay over the feed for a day
or two.
Bream are most receptive to pre-baiting. A moderate groundbait
(heavy) mix should be laced with plenty of particles (pearl
barley, hemp, corn and casters).
Tench prefer a particle only blend (no groundbait).
When pre-baiting, first plumb the depth and find the drop-offs
(Bream like 10-18 feet deep swims, the deeper the better on
sunny days). The better the peg, the better the response will
be to pre-baiting.
Take a cautious approach next morning, get down to your peg
early and start off with a feeder. Only throw in a ball or
so now and then if you think the fish really need it.
Groundbait
Mix
For pre-baiting, use hot water with your bread mix. It goes
really hard and gives the shoal something to rummage around
all night. Pack your feed with lots of particles. To save
time while on the riverbank, I recommend preparing your mix
before you leave for your day's fishing. For feeding during
the session, take a careful approach. Use a softer mix, particularly
if balling in. When I haven't had time to pre-bait, I make
frequent casts with a big "bucket" feeder, packed
in the centre with casters and plugged at each end with groundbait.
I may back off the volume of feed during the session, by reducing
the volume of particles, or by changing to a medium of small
feeder. How the bites come indicates my pattern of feed.
Soft
balls for Bream
On stillwaters, I always put my groundbait in soft, particularly
when fishing for Bream. Even when fishing in 10-18 feet of
water, do NOT put your balls in hard as you are more likely
to frighten the shoal. I catapult my balls out, using a soft
mix that breaks up fast and sinks down to the bottom, carrying
my particles in an attractive cloud. It may bring the small
fish up the water, but with plenty of feed going in constantly,
(sometimes 2 to 3 balls every cast when there a big shoal
in my peg), the hungry Bream will feed where they like it
best, on the deck. I use enough weight on my feeder/bomb to
get down to them quickly. A tail of around 5 feet is best,
giving the slow, lazy Bream plenty of time to see the bait
as it drops through the lower levels onto the lake bed. Getting
the mix right Add liquid molasses to your water. For a bulk
mix use brown crumb as the base, then add a Van Den Eynde
super feeder. This adds body, active ingredients and flavoured
particles. Add the water a little at a time, constantly stirring
the mix. It may take a minute or two for the mix to settle.
I like to add my particles, hemp, casters and corn as I fill
my feeder to stop them drying out in the mix.
Save
time on your swim
Mix and prepare your baits at kingfisherlodge before you set
off for your days fishing.
Trout
pellets
I have started adding a few to my pre-bait and feed mix and
they really do work, adding plenty of protein and attractive
smells that all fish seem to like, particularly Bream. A packet
goes along way, is easier to keep than casters and costs less.
I highly recommend using them, particularly on bagging waters.
Groundbait
Flavours
Brown crumb is an excellent bulk and base ingredient, both
in terms of colour and texture. You should definitely consider
groundbait concentrates and additives to increase particle
activity, provide texture change and add flavour. additives
work well.
Swim
Selection
Swim selection is imperative. Pick the right peg and you can
really bag up, but get it wrong (and you can be only a few
pegs off the shoal) and your catch rate will be dramatically
less. Fishing will change by the week, and that is why you
will benefit from staying in kingfisherlodge. They keep in
touch with what's happening and are able to offer the best,
up to date local advice. Generally, deeper swims with the
same flow fish best in winter, shallow pegs just before and
after spawning if the weather is rapidly warming up, and swims
with a good average depth (10-18 feet) are best for summer
Bream. Quite often you will catch on the first drop off during
early morning, but on the really bright days the shoal will
drift further out into deeper water around midday. During
such conditions it is better to pre-bait two "lines".
Stillwaters in summer usually have some colour and fish will
come closer in, but during winter, when the water becomes
much clearer, fish are more wary and stay further out. In
summer, you may catch around 20-40 yards out, whereas in winter
a 40 to 50 yard cast may be required. Even on prolific waters,
accurate feeding and casting is essential to get a feeding
shoal competing. Bagging for Bream demands accurate casting
with a feeder - but if you are lucky to get a shoal of fish
in your peg, and you are suffering from line bites, then feed
a few soft balls by hand too. This will spread the shoal a
bit. The Erne system around gowna are deep and wide, with
a fairly even bottom out from your peg. The depth does not
usually vary whether you cast 20 yards or 50, but where you
fish and feed certainly matters. Do not fish too far out,
because the big Bream shoals usually feed close in just out
from where the bottom levels off, which is anything from 10
to 15 yards out.
The Erne
This highly
productive water system covers a vast region in Counties Cavan,
Monaghan and Fermanagh. The Erne varies from being a narrow,
meandering river with numerous tributaries, to vast open expanses
of water. The Erne can best be described as a series of interconnected
lakes, of all sizes. Bream, Roach and Hybrids are the dominant
species, with some areas producing good Tench. Some locations
offer big Pike. The Erne is a great year-round fishery with
its variety of species, and due to such diverse depths and
pace, all methods can be used. The waggler, feeder and pole
are the most productive, but some of the smaller tributaries
provide good stick-float fishing. In summer, when the water
system has a bit of colour, the Erne's vast shoals feed close
in, but in winter when the water clears up, fishing into 14-20
feet at around 30-50 metres will produce the best catches.
Fishing
for Bream
If you are fishing a swim where the drop off forms a large
"hole", it is best to pre-bait over a wider area,
but when fishing, concentrate your feed fairly tightly. By
picking fish off from the near side of the shoal, you are
less likely to spook the fish. If you are getting lots of
line bites, cast a bit shorter until they stop, but ensure
that you are still catching. It is often better for two anglers
to feed and fish the same hole (if the shoal is big enough)
rather than fish too far apart and risk splitting up the shoal.
Methods
On rivers like the Shannon where the depth can be around 20
feet, the Pole Feeder is a deadly method close in. Use a Larkin
cage feeder that stands up vertically on the bottom and a
Polaris flag or round bodied pole leger float. On still or
slow moving lake systems like the Erne, you generally have
to fish at some distance, usually 30-40 yards. A still bait
presentation is essential and the tip, or Sidewinder should
be used. The Sidewinder comes into its own during windy conditions
when it is impossible to see bites on the tip.
Gone are old fashioned stop knots. The Polaris range of leger
floats is the answer when you prefer to fish a float, but
when the best method is fishing a feeder or bomb. The Polaris
method gives you perfect presentation, and a simplified way
of enjoying watching a float. No other method works as well
or is as reliable or effective and, what's more, the unique
Frixon invention lasts almost for ever. The Polaris range
includes over 30 floats to suit all conditions, from shallow
stillwaters to wide, deep slow moving rivers. There is even
a pole leger range too, coarse and specimen floats cover all
species. You can also use these floats for finding features
and contours in your swim as they find their own depth and
lock every time. There is no easier way of accurately finding
the depth of your swim. Winding through the Frixon device
in the base of the float is easy, and causes no wear to the
device or your line.
Waggler
Use a short link of line from a small swivel or bead to an
American Snap (4"-6"). This allows free running
on your main line and a quick change from bomb to feeder and
vice versa. The only shot that you need to put on your line
is immediately above your knot at the point your mainline
connects to your hooklength.
Pole
Unbeatable when fishing on the bottom, but within range of
the pole. There are stillwater and running water versions.
Attach as normal, swing out to get the depth, then place a
small shot, 2' below the float. This means that your float
does not have to ride up and down the whole length of line.
The Stillwater round bodied floats sit better in the water
with shot added about 18" below the float after you have
plumbed the depth.
