Striking

Tim Ford · Jul 14, 2004

Am having problems hooking the fish when the float goes under. Whenever I strike I miss the fish.

Does hook size and bait size affect this or is it just about timing!

Bryan Baron 2 · Jul 14, 2004

Timming. It will help if you keep the line between the rod and float as tight as you can. This is usually helped by sinking the line after casting.

The only way a hook size or bait size will affect it is if they are to big for the size of fish there and they are just pulling the bait.

jp · Jul 14, 2004

Hooks can be too small as well.

The first piece of advice I was ever given a long time ago when I was missing bites was to try a bigger hook and on that occasion it worked.
(Changed from a 16 to a 12 with three maggots on iirc.)

Shrek · Jul 14, 2004

Tim, I don't want what level of angling you are at or how much you now already, however you might find these ARTICLES of some use to you.

Ron Troversial Clay · Jul 14, 2004

Timing the strike when you are float fishing, especially for roach, is one of the great skills of angling.

All I can say is to imagine what the fish is doing under water. One thing I will say is that if you get sucked maggots or crushed casters, the fish has had the bait and you did not strike at the right time. This is the time to experiment with shotting depth and float type.

It's all a matter of a big learning curve.

Ron Troversial Clay · Jul 14, 2004

And by the way, when your float goes under, you are probably too late.

Tim Ford · Jul 14, 2004

Thanks everyone.

Ron, thanks for your last reply. I was under the impression that you stike when the float goes under!

How much movement should the float do before I strike.

ps. I don't know if you remember but you helped on a previous topic of mine, so just to let you know on my first trip I caught 2 small roach, a very slimy bream and a mirror and common carp bot about 6-7lb!

Thanks for your help.

Jonny Field · Jul 27, 2004

just reading the messages and one says if you strike when the float is under your probably too late can you expand on this because i am only a beginner and i have had trouble with missed bites thanks

jason fisher · Jul 27, 2004

if it is still moving downwards you are in with a chance of connecting with the bite but most beginners make the mistake of not striking till the float has completely disappeared by which time with small species like roach they have already spit the bait out.

Jonny Field · Jul 27, 2004

to jason thanks for the advice do you think i should strike as soon as i see a little movement in the float

jason fisher · Jul 27, 2004

if it look like it's going to disapper then strike, you are asking one of the most difficult questions in fishing and one unfortunately which you only learn the answer to with experience.
probably the best advice i could give is keep striking earlier and earlier till you start missing them all the time then you will know what is too soon.
this changes from species to species and day to day as well though.

big boy · Jul 29, 2004

Tim,
i know what it is like when you strike and there is no fish on the end of your line it happens to me all the time.

Mark Shinton 2 · Oct 23, 2004

If your float sinks your too late, is probably the most daft thing I've ever read!

Ron Troversial Clay · Oct 23, 2004

I know it sounds daft but in many cases with roach it's true.

I fish a local pit quite often where the roach average over the pound. You learn to time the strike just as the float begins to move.

Wait for it to disappear and you strike fresh air.

Mark Shinton 2 · Oct 23, 2004

That's a fair comment concerning Roach, but not all fish. I just did'nt want People being any more confused then they already may be.

Mark Shinton 2 · Oct 23, 2004

Keep as little of the float tip out of water as you can get a way with.

Alan Tyler · Oct 23, 2004

Decidedly un-daft; if a roach decides a bait isn't quite right, the bait will get spat out far more forcefully than it was taken in - so you get a faint flicker as the fish takes, and a full-blooded dip as it rejects the bait.

Baz · Oct 23, 2004

More importantly, make sure youre float is dotted down to the merest dimple.
This way you weil see the slightest movement, and wait until it goes under.

A trick of the match lads it to shot the float so that it "just" sinks.
What you do then is to smear the top of the float with vaseline, so that only the tension of the water is holding it up.
Use this method for fishing just off the bottom.

If you are fishing on the bottom, say by 6"-8"
Try either deepening or shallowing up in order to give the fish more time to take the bait properly. This last part is trial and error.

Mark Shinton 2 · Oct 24, 2004

Where does Tim mention the word Roach Alan, as I said daft!

Alan Tyler · Oct 24, 2004

Post 2, line 6.

Striking

New member

Well-known member

New member

Shrek

Guest

Ron Troversial Clay

Guest

Ron Troversial Clay

Guest

New member

New member

jason fisher

Guest

New member

jason fisher

Guest

big boy

Guest

New member

Ron Troversial Clay

Guest

New member

New member

Well-known member

Banned

New member

Well-known member