Jim Crosskey 2
Well-known member
If they're anything like the "canals" I've seen in Holland and France then they're a very different kettle of fish (groan!) to our UK canals. More like a big UK river.
Maybe a length of anti tangle tubing could be deployed on the mainline, carp style?
I would not use a hook-length that long fishing similar waters here in the uk (I think the river thames is probably similar when it's got some flow). I would tend to use a hook length of between 12 and 18 inches. I'd also make sure that I feather the cast... by this I mean that I'd apply a finger to the spool just before the feeder is going to land. By doing this, the feeder slows down and the hookbait flies forwards. The rod is held upright, then as soon as the feeder lands you clamp your finger on to the spool (so that no more line can come off) and you drop the rod tip down which ensures that the line between the rod tip and feeder is tight and the hooklength can fall down straight abover the feeder. If you don't do this, the feeder, hook-length and a load of slack line all take their chances together on the way down and will likely tangle as a result.
I will then also gently move the feeder - by about 12 or 18 inches - about 2 or three minutes after casting (assuming I haven't had a bite). This does two things, it encourages the bait in the feeder to distribute, and also moves the hook bait closer to the loose feed from the feeder.
As for hair rigging or mounting direct on the hook.... I do both. Maggots and worms go on the hook, pellets, corn or meat on the hair. All of them will catch bream.
Maybe a length of anti tangle tubing could be deployed on the mainline, carp style?
I would not use a hook-length that long fishing similar waters here in the uk (I think the river thames is probably similar when it's got some flow). I would tend to use a hook length of between 12 and 18 inches. I'd also make sure that I feather the cast... by this I mean that I'd apply a finger to the spool just before the feeder is going to land. By doing this, the feeder slows down and the hookbait flies forwards. The rod is held upright, then as soon as the feeder lands you clamp your finger on to the spool (so that no more line can come off) and you drop the rod tip down which ensures that the line between the rod tip and feeder is tight and the hooklength can fall down straight abover the feeder. If you don't do this, the feeder, hook-length and a load of slack line all take their chances together on the way down and will likely tangle as a result.
I will then also gently move the feeder - by about 12 or 18 inches - about 2 or three minutes after casting (assuming I haven't had a bite). This does two things, it encourages the bait in the feeder to distribute, and also moves the hook bait closer to the loose feed from the feeder.
As for hair rigging or mounting direct on the hook.... I do both. Maggots and worms go on the hook, pellets, corn or meat on the hair. All of them will catch bream.