daft question about bait

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:52 pm

hi,
all through the winter we have fished very regulary using mackerel as bait! we have caught loads of doggys, one small codling and some small pollack fishing along the chesil bank from portland to west bay.
by using mackerel as bait have we limitized the fish to catch! what would we have caught if used rag or lug? is it better to use worms or should we try peeler crab? please could you help

fishing-dorset-seas.mysite.orange.co.uk

Member Joined: Jan 02, 2007 Posts: 95 Location: Sussex

You would probably get more flatties on rag or lug and the whiting love worm too

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:56 pm

thanks for that, point taken and must admit i know that i have been limiting my catch but wanted to know just how much really.

what about rigs, i am using a simple set up of a one or two hook flapper rig, should i be using something different, please tell me what rigs you have been using and with what result etc

Guest

Hi petersclan, I am generall using a pulley penell now in various sizes but I will change rigs and try bombers, flappers, flattie rigs if nothing seems to be doing. Changing baits can help too. I will generally try to take rag, lug, squid and mackeral as a minimum. Actually, it's never a minimum-I always seem to have enough to supply half the beach! :lol: :lol:

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:14 pm

On Chesil I use ragworm as my usual bait, tipped with squid or mackerel and change to fish only if dogs/whiting are about. A lot of bigger fish are caught on squid. Most of the time I use a simple running ledger with a 2 to 3 ft hook length and size 1 hooks, bigger if fishing whole squid. If I'm match fishing then size 2 or 4 hooks are the way to go. My interest is in catching different species so I tend to fish small hooks/baits to maximise my chances.
Top tip for learning the area..... join a club ......

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:39 pm

No such thing as a daft question when it comes to bait.

Some of the guys on here know exactly what to use for what species, whereas people like me just walk into a tackle shop, buy a handfull of worms and try and drown them :lol:

Mind you I am beginning to experiement now, trying maccy, squid, lug

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:39 am

I don't think you are limiting your catch by using just fish bait. There isn't a fish swimming that wont take a fish bait. My own feeling is that a fish bait will catch better fish, worm baits will catch more, but smaller fish. A look at the record fish list will back this up.

Guest

VifferRider wrote:

Mind you I am beginning to experiement now

Does your wife know :roll: :roll:

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:47 pm

thanks for all the info, im learning fast... i think

we are catching fish and have been regular, well we where up until a month or two ago anyways, just trying to understand the technical side a bit more, we are trying to always fish on a on coming tide or at least 2 hours either side and experimenting with rig making etc

thanks again

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:01 pm

Read the entire Hints and Tips threasds, every single one of them. These will cover all but the most arcane elements of rigs, bait and tackle. At the end,emerge confused but a little better informed. MK