| Below |
| Coarse fishing |
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| The art of Coarse fishing |
| I, as many others, had or have a problem with the term 'coarse fishing'. It implies that it's rather uncouth to go fishing or even the anglers who pursue it. I have been told that it came about because trout and salmon, the main game fish, were delicacies on the table, while freshwater fish such as roach, bream and other fish are coarse tasting and very unpleasant to eat. I have also been told it was because the best trout and salmon fishing in England was just for the rich. |
| There is no better time to be a coarse fisherman: Tackle has vastly improved, waters are much better managed, fishing is increasingly popular and records are being broken all the time. |
| The first thing to do is think what type of fishing you want to do. There are three divisions in corase fishing. The pleasure angler, The match angler, The specimen hunter. * The Pleasure Angler They will fish for anything that comes by and loves to fish in good weather but would never dream of sitting out all night in winter in the hope of catching the big one. * The Match Angler Most start off by taking part in club matches, then realized that rivalry with other anglers give that extra edge to their fishing. some remain as good club matchman, others aspire to the heights fo competition. There are the people who fish against the clock. At the very pinnacle of the match scene there is an body of professional angler who pit their skills against the best in the world such as Matt Hayes, Bob Nud, etc. * The Specimen Hunter Then there are the big fish boys. These are the anglers who rather than catch small to average fish, have slowed down the catch rate to target the bigger-then-average specimen. They will sit happily for hours, days,weeks or even months just to catch that one monster. |
| Tackle and equipment |
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| There is a bewildering variety of tackle, bait and equipment available, most of it of excellent quality. Good tackle helps catch big fish. But the key to success is your ability to use tackle correctly and with confidence when hooking and landing fish. Well, what tackle will you need? First of all buy the best quality tackle you can afford. Buying cheap tackle will cost you dear in the long run. Cheap tackle doesn't work well, it tends to break and requires constant repair, or replacing. Get to know a good tackle dealer and stick with him/her. Visit his/her shop and look at the huge amounts of tackle on display, look through some catalogues, fishing newpapers, magazines, books and videos. Tackle dealers are friendly and helpful fishing experts. Chat to your dealer, ask his/her advice about tackle, baits, fishing clubs etc. |
| To see a bigger image press on it to enlarge, then use "back" button to return. |
| 1- Float fishing to cast light lines long distances and give maximun float and line control. 2- Legering to cast heavy weights and baits. 3- Spinning to cast and rapidly retrieve strong lines and weighty artificial lures. 4- Pole fishing and fly-fishing also need specialized rods. However most types of fishing can be enjoyed with a general purpose rod of around 10ft (3m) to 12ft (3.65m) in length. Buying of specialist rods is best discussed with your local tackle dealer, who'll let you try out rods in his/her shop before you buy. |
| Rods |
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| B |
| C |
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| B |
| C |
| 14ft (4.27m) General float rod |
| 2 peice 14ft (4.27m) Carp rod |
| 11ft (3.35m) light leger rod |
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| Reels |
| Reliable reels are a must . Buy the best you can aford. Tell your tackle dealer the sort of fishing you intend doing. He'll guide your choice. A reel you will use for general fishing is unlike one made for competition anglers, reels for heavy pike spinning, or fly fishing are individual in design and performance. For good casting always fill your reel fully with line. |
| multiplying reel |
| centrepin reel |
| baitrunner reel |
| Fixed-spool reel |
| Line |
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| Moden monofilament lines are a vast improvement on line that was on sale only a few years ago. Breaking strains have increased and diameter has decreased. Many of the new fluorocarbon lines are now virtually invisible in water. |
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| Just a few lines that you will see on sale in your local tackle shop. Each one labelled with the perpose, diameter and breaking strain. Amnesia memory-free lines are being used more and more by anglers. the lines do not kink and are a great help in avoiding tangles. |
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| Floats |
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| The float is one of the best bite indicators an angler will use, it will also let you present bait in a natural way. There's a float for every fishing situation. Most of use collect too many and rarely use half of them! Buy just a few and from experience find how to use them correctly before adding to your collection. |
| Just a few floats that you will see on sale in your local tackle shop. Each one from left to right = * Waggler float. * Avon float. * Night float. * Stick float. * Pole float. * Pike float. |
| ABOVE |
| Hooks |
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| hook sizes Size 10 Size 12 Size 14 Size 16 Size 18 Size 20 |
| Hook faults you may come across. A. Barb cut too deep the hook might snap on you. B. Gape too small. C. Over-long point will be weak. D. Wide eye gap allows hook to slip off the line. |
| Above:- Left to right. Hooks size 10 down to 20. Carbon maggot hooks tied to nylon. Two types off hook tyers. |
| Your choice of hook size will depend on the bait you want to fish. Hooks without a barb, they will penetrate better and are easier and quicker to free from the fish. However, barbed hooks are better for wriggly baits like maggots or worms, which don't always want to stay on barbless hooks. |
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| Split shot & other leads |
| A selection of slit shot. |
| Arlesey leger bombs, come in all shapes and sizes. |
| Non-toxic slit shot in various sizes is a must in every coarse fisherman's tackle box. Split shot size as a guide are. SSG= 1.68g, AAA= 0.75g, BB= 0.41g, NO.1= 0.30g, NO.3= 0.20g, NO.4= 0.18g, NO5= 0.16g, NO.6= 0.10g, NO.7= 0.08g, NO.8= 0.06g. The arlesey bomb is, without doubt, the most popular leger weight. A range from 3g to 30g should meet all your requirements. |
| All sorts of optional extras are on sale at your local tackle shop including; angler's clothing, bait and bait boxes, headlamps for night fishing, bite alarms, caps, sun glasses, reel pouches, rod bags, rod rest, scissors, swivels, tackle boxes, unbrellas, flasks, catapults, and trollies. A must for all fishermen is to carry a selection of disgorgers and forceps. |
| Odds and sods |
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| Landing nets |
| Landing nets range from shallow pan nets on a telescopic handle, used for small fish, to the large specimen landing nets with rim diameters of around 36in (91.4cm) to 42in (107cm) or more, which are made for the largest carp etc. |
| A keepnet is a long net in which fish can be kept untill the end of the fishing session, when they can be measured, weighed and released. |
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| 'Security' Watch out - there are thieves (sharks) about! |
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| Record serial numbers of your equipment, etch tackle with your own easily identifiable secret symbol, insure tackle if you can against theft and damage. Don't forget also mark rucksacks, tackle bags and boxes. One good thing to do is give your telephone number to your mates and tackle shop, because stolen tackle can turn up in the most unlikely places! |
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| Keepnets |
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| Shotting Diagram 1 SSG = 2 AAA's 1 AAA = 2BB's 1 BB = 2 No 3's 1 no 1= 2 no4's 1 no 3 = 2No6s 1 no 4 = 3No8's |
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| Do Keep to the footpaths. Do Close gates after you. Do Keep about 20 Metres from other anglers. Do Treat fish with care. Do Take a Disgorder with you. Do Take litter and line home with you. Do Respect the person whos land you are on. Don't Disturb widlife. Don't Cast into other anglers swims. Don't Leave baited tackle unattended. Don't Obtruct paths with your tackle. Don't Don't take a radio. |
| Follow the Code of Conduct |
| Please |