Page 17 - Anglian angling on the broads

16 Environment Agency Angle on the Broads Environment Agency Angle on the Broads 17

Fishing from dinghies and Mooring the boat should be these points float fishing becomes
small craft achieved as quietly as possible, with a more viable proposition, although Fish species
mudweights being lowered gently a light feeder fished with a quivertip
The fish have sought the peace down in the water rather than being rod will provide excellent catches,
and quiet of shallow weedy bays thrown. A comfortable seat will help particularly of bream.
away from the boat traffic for a cut down fidgeting and will also in the Broads
good reason – to get away from encourage you to remain seated out Fishing from a boat will allow the
the turbulent water and feed in an of sight of the fish. The safety aspect angler to have control of a stick float
environment that offers them food of fishing from a small boat should as he trots maggot or caster for the
and cover. The stealthy approach never be neglected – always wear abundant roach stocks. Perch like the
that a dinghy allows the angler is a buoyancy aid. areas around quay headings where Containing a diverse variety of non-tidal, tidal and estuarine habitats, the Broads and
therefore all important. Forget about moorings are situated – try a float- its rivers, the Thurne, Ant, Yare, Bure, Waveney, Wensum and Chet, all support a large
outboard motors and use a bit of Tactics for the Broads fished worm close to the bank in
muscle power. Oars allow you to get It must be recognised that flow rates such places. Often the current is very diversity of fish species.
fit at the same time as maximising vary a lot and they dictate how you slight here and a light shotted float is
your chances of catching fish. a practical choice. Besides the abundant shoals of regularly run as far upstream as the species likely to be encountered
will be able to fish. The lower reaches roach and slab-sided bream, good cathedral city of Norwich before their along with a few tips which may aid
There’s much more to it than just of the Yare, Waveney and Bure have On the Broads themselves remember numbers of perch and fabulous progress is eventually stopped by the the visiting angler put together some
ensuring a quiet approach. For powerful currents that make legering that the water is shallow, keep your specimen pike are amongst the last sluices of the upper Wensum. worthwhile catches.
many, fishing from a small boat with a heavy and open end feeder tackle as light as possible. A crystal species traditionally associated with
will be a new experience – one the most successful tactic. Used waggler is a good bet, being less Broads angling and can be caught Away from the busy boat traffic, in Chris Turnbull
that involves a whole new way of in association with a stiffly mixed visible to your quarry in the shallow throughout the freshwater areas. the quiet reedy backwaters of the
thinking. Remember that fish-scaring groundbait and large bait such as and sometimes, clear water. Try to Upper Thurne and Trinity Broads,
vibrations travel very effectively worm, sweetcorn or bread this is a find a balance between delicately Tackle-tangling eels are everywhere shoals of beautiful rudd abound
through the shallow water to ruin good method for bream that inhabit presented terminal tackle and the and can make the use of maggots alongside good numbers of tench, Did you know?
any chance you might have of these reaches. ability to cast at least 15 yards to and worms impossible in the both of which offer superb summer
catching fish. your fish – get too close and you summer, especially after dark. fishing prospects.
It must be borne in mind that the will scare them. At night, when the >> The tench is one of the few
A few golden rules govern small bream grow large – fish of 7–8lb bream feed more enthusiastically Estuarine species such as flounder Carp that have escaped during coarse fish species where the
boat fishing: are fairly common, fish of over 10lb a betalite illuminated float or light travel far upstream from Breydon floods from fisheries have become sex of the fish can be easily
are present – so a size 12–8 hook leger gear will suit your purpose. Try Water, the estuary through which commonplace, especially in the
>> Quiet footwear such as trainers is appropriate. The experienced all Broadland rivers eventually drain Waveney and Yare, growing to well determined just by looking at
are essential. pole fisherman will find the roach by to keep light to a minimum, using a into the North Sea. Other saltwater over 30lbs. them. In contrast to the female,
torch to bait up or unhook fish when
the mature male fish has a long,
>> Gear needs to be organised in controlling the pace of his maggot necessary rather than having species, such as bass, grey mullet Each species requires various angling curved pelvic fin, with a greatly
such a way that movement within or caster-baited small hook as it a powerful light going all the time. and goby are all occasionally found techniques and baits employed for thickened second fin ray.
the boat is kept to a minimum. makes progress just off the bottom. as far inland as Hickling Broad and their capture; here are the six main >> Tench mature at between 3–5
Below Thurne Mouth on the Bure, Happy fishing! Heigham Sound. Migratory sea trout
>> It is important that the boat is not Brundall on the Yare and Beccles years old and tend to spawn
overcrowded – a safety factor as on the Waveney are the areas most John Nunn at higher water temperatures
well as for more efficient fishing. suited to such tactics. Upstream of than most other native coarse
fish. Females can carry
Linked to not being overcrowded is 300,000 –400,000 eggs per kg
the necessity of keeping fishing gear of body weight. The eggs stick
to a minimum – for instance one to submerged vegetation.
landing net (preferably with a short >> Roach/bream hybrids are
handle) is all that is needed rather often found in Broads surveys.
than each angler taking their own. Hybridisation occurs because
Rods should be tackled up before roach and bream often spawn
setting out in the boat – it is very at the same time and in the
awkward for two anglers, each with a same type of habitat. These are
12-foot rod, to try and tackle up in a typically shallow beds of water
dinghy that is only 11 feet long! Float plants and the roots of reeds
fishing is the most effective method and sedges around the edges
when using a small boat, as the of the Broads. During spawning,
unavoidable small movements of the some eggs from one species
boat make bite indications unreliable can be accidentally fertilised by
using leger tactics. Don’t forget your life jacket Know your fish the other.