Page 27 - Anglian angling on the broads

26 Environment Agency Angle on the Broads Environment Agency Angle on the Broads 27

Pike fishing on the stand upright – as effectively from boats. The float rig
Tighten reel-line
will work from the boat or bank. Do
to cock float to
not leave the rods unattended if you
Norfolk Broads shown right use a bite alarm, it is illegal.
Lure fishing

one suited to the holiday angler,
Typical ‘pencil’ dead bait leger float This is a very popular method and
(use self cocker from dingies) as it doesn’t require baits and bait
Pike (Esox lucius) and the Norfolk Broads are inseparable, particularly as an attraction storage. This is particularly true of
for holiday anglers hoping to emulate the successes of Hancock, Fickling and Amies in Typical ‘pencil’ dead bait leger float anglers using cruisers as their means
(use self cocker from dingies)
catching pike of UK record proportions. So how do you go about catching pike whilst of a holiday afloat. With a spinning
‘Powergum’ stop knot and rod or carp rod and associated items
on holiday on the Broads? small bead to set depth 1ft as described earlier, a selection
deeper than swim
of spinners, spoons and lures and
Tackle filled to the spool lip with 15lb BS ready made from the tackle shops those spinning traces to prevent
mono filament sized line for bait around the county.
To enjoy any degree of success fishing or 30 to 40lb BS braided line bite-offs, the lure angler can cast
you will need to be equipped with for lure fishing, to allow easy casting. You will need an uptrace for float and and fish for pike at any point the
suitable tackle to catch pike. Most lure fishing, one with a link clip for Minimum 12 to 15lbs BS cruiser stops on a journey. Please do
anglers today probably have a carp Moving on to the terminal tackle quick hook trace and lure changes reel-line not use your lures whilst the boat is
rod or two and these can be put end, you will need a selection of and a couple of medium size ‘snap in motion as this may kill or injure
into service for bait and lure fishing pike floats: tackle’ hook traces for your bait pike or water birds, if they come into
with reasonable safety. The correct >> a particularly long thin balsa fishing. The uptrace/spinning trace contact with the moving lure. It may
rods will make the experience that float (see Rig diagram 2); is necessary to reduce the risk of also cause tackle to become snagged
bit more enjoyable but an 11 to 12 a bite off should the pike’s teeth and lost; annoying, expensive and
foot carp rod which has a medium, >> some small 5mm diameter beads; come into contact with the line unnecessary. Furthermore this
compound type of action and a test immediately above the bait or lure. practice is illegal and against local
curve of between 2 and 2.5lbs will >> a spool of Powergum or some The uptrace/spinning trace should 18" wire uptrace bylaws. You are only permitted to fish
cope with leger or float rigs used in silicone float stops to set the be approximately 6 inches longer with lures from a moving boat when
bait fishing. A spinning rod of 9 to 10 depth of the float; than the hook trace. rowing is the means of propulsion.
feet with a medium to heavy rating >> a supply of medium-sized swivels You will need some weights to cock Another way of lure fishing with
will allow you to fish with spinners, (size 10) and a selection of the float and hold the tackle in added attraction is to wobble or
lures or to ‘wobble’ and ‘sink and wire traces. place, to help with casting and bait sink and draw with dead baits
draw’ dead baits. (see diagram 3). This has the visual
If you do not have the experience to presentation. Swan shot (SSGs) will
These will need to be combined with make your own wire traces we would provide greater weight for holding attraction, plus the benefit of the
a medium-sized fixed spool reel, recommend that you purchase them the river bottom in strong flows, Dead bait with hooks in tail/flank 12" hook trace scents being released from
whilst also allowing you to make the dead bait. This is a worthy
longer casts. method if normal lure fishing or
float fishing is unproductive.
12" two hook ‘snap In weed – suspend bait with foam bait The weights can be attached to the
tackle’ bait placed ‘popper’ attached to end treble bottom uptrace swivel with 6 inches 1oz leger weight 6" to 24" link to weight Handling and fish care
into bait trail
to 24 inches of mono-filament line Diagram 2: Float leger
(6lb BS) to suit clear bottoms or This section should be at the front
Wire trace of this article really, as the way you
fishing amongst weed. Alternatively Methods: a long enough nylon linked bomb, put the bait on the hook and set your
Large eye run, use a large bore run ring and large Float/leger fishing will serve well in open running or still tackle up can dictate whether you
ring and bead bead to allow free running of the link water over clean or weedy bottoms.
on the trace (see Rig diagram 1). Bait fishing is probably the most Ensure you plumb the swim to are fishing safely when pike fishing.
Accepting you have taken the advice
Finally you will need a strong pair reliable way of catching pike using ensure you set the depth correctly for given earlier then perhaps being at
of forceps, an unhooking mat and a float legered or simple legered dead the float to register bites correctly. the end is not so much of a risk.
landing net with at least 32 inch long baits such as mackerel, smelt or If you have difficulty with the depth
arms, 42 inch arms being better. To sprats. These are readily available you could straight leger using a drop- To many, the tough, almost
1oz leger weight or otherwise in fresh frozen packs from the menacing, appearance of the
Smelt, mackerel or for float fishing pinch swan start fishing for pike without these off indicator in conjunction with an
herring dead bait shots (SSG) on top of trace items is unwise, for both you and tackle shops. audible bite alarm, although this is pike makes them believe that old
the pike. The float fishing rig in diagram 2, if better practised from the bank using Esox is indestructible and in fact
threatening. Nothing could be further
Diagram 1: Legered dead bait correctly loaded with SSGs or with bank sticks. This cannot be used