trotting advice

[fozzer]

Hi all I am looking for some advice and tips on trotting. I mainly use a domed alloy stick float for my trotting. Can I ask what other people use for their trotting, what floats they use what shotting patterns, or how to know what float to use depending on the conditions like depth, flow, wind. I am fishing for grayling but not been trotting long and would just like some general advice.


Any help much appreciated
Thanks in advance

 

[peterjg]

I'm going to get some stick for saying this but most of the fancy floats and shorting patterns that are recommended for trotting are nonsense!

A few thoughts to bear in mind:

Keep the line above the float behind the float as it goes down stream, keep mending the line but try not to pull on the float.

Use a heavier float, it is easier to control - especially if you use a pin.

Forget fancy shorting patterns and dropper shots just bulk all the shots together about 15 inches from the hook.

If there is a down stream wind put a number 4 shot about 18 inches above the float or use a waggler float.

Best trotting floats are Avon's, have a selection of different sizes.

Learn to slow the float down in colder conditions. If it is very cold either lay-on or leger.

 

[Keith M]

Have a look at this article by the great Keith Speer on trotting and how he used to approach a swim. Although it was written about trotting for barbel It covers all you need to know whether it’s barbel your after or other fish.

He was a brilliant and well respected angler who could catch quality fish trotting almost anywhere.

Floatfishing For Barbel - by Keith Speer | Barbel Fishing World Forums

Keith

 

[sam vimes]

I'm guessing from your location that you are likely to be fishing for grayling in upland rivers which are likely to be fast and shallow. That's similar fishing to my own and I gave up on piddly little stick floats years ago. They have their place, but it's not on fast shallow water for grayling. For many years, fairly standard Avon floats were my go to choice. However, I went to the Dave Harrell Avons. A couple of years back, I progressed to Bolo floats. Not really what they are intended for, but they work just fine.

Ultimately, my advice would revolve around a couple of points. Don't be scared to use fairly big floats. I tend to go for 3,4, or 5g. Despite the gut feeling that they'll be insensitive, I've had no problem seeing bites from minnows and tiny dace, even at fairly extreme ranges. Don't be scared to shot these big floats with bulk shot, or even olivettes, well down towards the hook. Whilst grayling in fast shallow water will come up in the water if you overfeed, they are basically bottom feeders. The need for fancy shotting patterns is usually minimal.

 

[daniel121]

Stick float fishing is my first love, its a wonderful method thats a little like chess no matter how good you get you never get quite as deep as you could go.

I have to say I disagree with peter, although I do think I understand where he is coming from. Every stick float patten has there time. The key is too look at them as a golfers set of clubs rather than a favourite pet float.

However the truth is you need to keep it simple look at floats at material level and decide what you want from that material and in time it will become easy to swap floats to achieve the presentation you desire.

As a generalisation I'll give my opinion to try to clear some fog,

Wire stem - bottom fishing with a bulk shot - I'd personally sack off alloy stems and use thick paino wire

Balsas - Avons are such like are deadly in water water conditions

Cane stems - I use these with shirt button style shotting when fishing high in the water column.

Now thats the bases sorted the tips

Shouldered sticks are great for fishing deep powerful/quick rivers when you need to slow the bait down.

Domed - I used to use thick ones on these to see in foamy pollution filled waters of yesterday, I'll still use domed floats if I'm not fishing hard on the deck.

As others have said don't be scared of heavy floats but just as important is not too dismiss light floats either. It's all about critically balancing your tackle in the water. It's not as difficult as it sounds, basically it's no use using no 8 droppers in a fast shallow current, the shot needs to do something. The reverse is its no use using heavy no 4 droppers in slow smaller rivers unless you want to overpower the flow to maybe get through the bleak for example.

I hope I've not rattled on too much and if you wish to ask me anything I'll gladly help.

 

[daniel121]

I said 'deadly in water water conditions' god know why, I meant flood water conditions.

 

[markcw]

I said 'deadly in water water conditions' god know why, I meant flood water conditions.

Would that have been a "Fishy" moment Daniel ? :wh

 

[John Keane]

Another consideration is your eyesight! Mine isn’t great so I mostly use Drennan Loafers with the new Glow Tips and they go under just as well as as a stick or Avon but, crucially, I can still see them at 40yards plus.

Another good tip, for bulk shotting, is to use an inline olivette secured by two float stops, much kinder to your line than 5 AAAs or 10 BBs

 

[108831]

I haven't replied to this thread because it was such a broad question that a 'war and peace' length answer is required and life is too short,I do however agree with the replies above as basic good practice.

 

[daniel121]

I haven't replied to this thread because it was such a broad question that a 'war and peace' length answer is required and life is too short,I do however agree with the replies above as basic good practice.

It certainly is Whitty no doubt your correct there. However I do think the OP is genuine, I doubt he realises the size of the question he has asked.

I think its a shame that fishing can be so daunting to a new comer, it should not be this way it never was back in "my day" mind you maybe it was but we did not all expect instant success. I don't know I'm rambling on now so ill zip it

 

[108831]

I've absolutely no doubt the op is genuine,I'm afraid when I started I taught myself as best I could and read a lot alongside watching anglers fishing and even then it seemed perfectly obvious they were doing it right,even when I obviously was not...

 

[Jim Crosskey 2]

Interestingly I was fishing yesterday on a local stream, where my day was made up of about 85% trotting with a wire stemmed avon. The issue of shotting patterns was one that came in to my mind because of this - usually, where adjustment can be made to the presentation of the end tackle, I would always want to understand WHY I'm making an adjustment before I make it. (So a really simple example - deep-hooking fish on a feeder rig = shortening the hooklength). However, the exception to this rule is when I'm out trotting. I will often have a slightly random play around with the shotting pattern or depth of float (or both) simply because it's so easy to do so. Even a fairly long trot is only going to last a few minutes and you can always revert the set-up back to what you had.

A method that definitely comes in to its own around this time of year. Two months ago, I would have suffered from bleak in the millions had I sent maggots down this particular water (the river Cherwell at Thrupp)... however, yesterday I only had the one, and he was and impressive hand-filling specimen! Everything else - roach, perch, chub and some really clonking dace - were all fish who gave an account of themselves (if not huge by anyone's standards). A very lovely day.

 

[flightliner]

Fodder, you say you are trotting for Greyling.
Shown are the ones I use on my local river where it's often very shallow and running over and between rocks and weed.
Not my Idea, I won't take any credit on that score but they are superb little indicators and I've had some outstanding bags of greyling using them.
The ones here are simply imitation berries from some unwanted Christmas decorations that take two number six shot.
Others I made are from a bag of senses two coloured half inch poly balls with a half toothpick suck in the bottom.
<a href='https://postimg.cc/gnKqpBCF' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/4ND8zDwd/IMG-2131.jpg' border='0' alt='IMG-2131'/></a>

 

[flightliner]

Hope this works--
<a href='https://postimg.cc/gnKqpBCF' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/4ND8zDwd/IMG-2131.jpg' border='0' alt='IMG-2131'/></a>
Sorry !!!

 

[sam vimes]

Mick, here you go.

 

[mikench]

Ingenious Mick using Swizzels double lollies!!! If they don't work they can be eaten!!!

Online Food Shopping - ASDA Groceries

 

[flightliner]

Chris, many thanks- I don't know how it went wrong ??
Maybe it's my viral infection , just can't shake it just now.

 

[mikench]

I know how you feel Mick! In my third week now and still feeling rough! Keep positive!

 

[tigger]

I know how you feel Mick! In my third week now and still feeling rough! Keep positive!

I think the honey has done my cold in after about 5 days.....don't forget the honey mummy!

 

[mikench]

I have consumed two jars of the stuff and no effect!