Re: Bream .... bail arm open or closed???
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 8:58 pm
Like all things in fishing there is no right way or wrong way to fish. On any given day one method will be more successful than another. On another day a different method will be more fruitful. Just use whatever method you feel comfortable with.
My own preference for bream fishing is to float fish. Not with the crude old bobbycork or chunky floats that seem to proliferate in the discount chains but with European waggler style floats (Middy's etc) , weighted up with split shot so that just the very tip of the float is above the water.
Correctly weighted your bait is presented in a very naturalistic way and not anchored to the bottom. Even the most gentle bite will register at the float tip and there is no weight felt by the fish as line is dragged through a sinker.
With practice you can maneuver your float to carry your bait to fish over quite a large area rather than having it anchored in just one spot. (Often where a fish can't find it). Also,using a float lets you present a bait at any depth in the water column, not just anchored on the bottom.
If you decide that you must use a sinker to get your bait on the bottom then try using what is called a "link ledger".
Simply, what this is, is that you remove the weight of the sinker from your line, allowing a much more sensitive bite to be felt. Instead of using a sinker use a "link".
The link is a short length of nylon, about 20cm long, to which you tie a small swivel. Your mainline goes through the other end of the swivel and the mainline is the then tied to a second swivel which is attached to your hook trace (leader).
The link you made earlier is now free running and all you do is add a couple of split shot to the nylon link. You add more or less depending on the current flow. Don't pinch the shot on too tight. Should they get snagged they will slide off the link and you will still be connected to your fish. Also, it is better to use a nylon link with a lesser breaking strain than your main line. If you get it badly snagged the link will break before the mainline does.
The net result of using a link ledger is that the fish is less likely to feel any resistance when taking a bait. Your line is passing through just the eye of a swivel, not a chunk of lead.
Apologies if this was a bit long winded but it works for me. You may want to try it.
:water:
My own preference for bream fishing is to float fish. Not with the crude old bobbycork or chunky floats that seem to proliferate in the discount chains but with European waggler style floats (Middy's etc) , weighted up with split shot so that just the very tip of the float is above the water.
Correctly weighted your bait is presented in a very naturalistic way and not anchored to the bottom. Even the most gentle bite will register at the float tip and there is no weight felt by the fish as line is dragged through a sinker.
With practice you can maneuver your float to carry your bait to fish over quite a large area rather than having it anchored in just one spot. (Often where a fish can't find it). Also,using a float lets you present a bait at any depth in the water column, not just anchored on the bottom.
If you decide that you must use a sinker to get your bait on the bottom then try using what is called a "link ledger".
Simply, what this is, is that you remove the weight of the sinker from your line, allowing a much more sensitive bite to be felt. Instead of using a sinker use a "link".
The link is a short length of nylon, about 20cm long, to which you tie a small swivel. Your mainline goes through the other end of the swivel and the mainline is the then tied to a second swivel which is attached to your hook trace (leader).
The link you made earlier is now free running and all you do is add a couple of split shot to the nylon link. You add more or less depending on the current flow. Don't pinch the shot on too tight. Should they get snagged they will slide off the link and you will still be connected to your fish. Also, it is better to use a nylon link with a lesser breaking strain than your main line. If you get it badly snagged the link will break before the mainline does.
The net result of using a link ledger is that the fish is less likely to feel any resistance when taking a bait. Your line is passing through just the eye of a swivel, not a chunk of lead.
Apologies if this was a bit long winded but it works for me. You may want to try it.
:water:
