COARSE FISHING

coarse fishing

Coarse fishing started in the United Kingdom about 200 years ago. On the whole, most coarse fish were native to England, mainly due to Hunger, or possibly the influence of immigrants from the rest of Europe.

It is clear that these many styles of fishing need different types of rods, reels, lines, hooks and baits, and with that many types of set-ups, or rigs, as we commonly call them.

There are many methods used within coarse fishing. Of course, within these are many variations but once you can do one of these methods then it is easier to progress within that method. What is much more difficult is to try to use the equipment suited for one of the methods for a different one.

These methods cover many types of fish and different sorts of waters. The techniques for a narrow barge canal are useless on a big river like the Trent or Severn and the opposite applies. Some techniques can be applied to most waters. Float fishing is one example of this, being a good technique for canals, rivers and lakes.

FLOAT FISHING

float fishing means using a rod and reel with a fine line, typically two to four pounds breaking strain and a float. By attaching weights (split shot) to the line below the float the float is trimmed so that only the tip is showing. The float supports the bait at the required depth, lets you see bites, and gives casting weight when shot have been added to the line. On a river using a float helps you search an area of water by letting the float travel with the current; this is known as trotting. It is well suited to catching river species like dace and roach, and lake species like roach, bream, rudd and perch. Typical bait is maggots.

LEDGERING

Ledgering means that you use a rod and reel with a weight on the line that rests on the bottom of the lake or river. No float is involved. This ledger weight also provides the required casting weight. Lines used are stronger than those used for float fishing but still in the range three to eight pounds.

Legerin

Detecting bites without a float is usually by watching the rod tip or using a bell that is clipped on the top , or a special flexible rod tip attachment or extention or with a type of indicator that is clipped on the line closer to the reel. Typically the rod is held still on one or two rod rests when ledgering. A swim feeder is a device that can be used instead of a weight and it is usually a cylinder of plastic that is used to introduce samples of bait like maggots or ground bait into the fishing area to attract the fish. Ledgering is popular with anglers trying to catch big chub and barbel on rivers, and big tench, carp and bream on still waters. The angler can tackle more challenging conditions than float fishing, like fishing at longer range. this is my favorite type of coarse fishing and quick to set up .

FLY FISHING
The least used of coarse fishing methods, though widely used for trout, is fly fishing. This utilises a special rod and reel with a weighted line to give casting ability. At the end of the trace is a fly made of feathers and other materials that usually represents a natural insect. This challenging method offers a very different approach to most coarse fishing as it is reliant on learning how to cast and present a fly, and coarse fishing relies more on the use of introduced bait to encourage the fish to feed and presenting a bait. i found this a very interesting type of fishing and more precise to actually fish in fast running water which relies a lot on the placement of the fly with a fast flick on the rod to make the fly look more lifelike .

PREDATOR FISHING
Predator fishing in the UK mostly means fishing for pike, perch, zander and catfish. These fish are largely fish eaters so the three main methods are using artificial lures that resemble their prey or dead or live fish as bait.

Carp fishing

The large size of both pike and catfish mean that strong tackle is required as well as a wire trace where pike are concerned, whose sharp teeth can cut through nylon lines. Perch may be tackled by ledgering and float fishing as well as lure fishing. Zander can be tackled with scaled down pike gear, whereas catfish have their own specialist requirements due to their immense size, strength, abrasive teeth and often nocturnal habits. This type of fishing is very exciting and when you have a decent size pike on can put up a fight that can last a very long time .

All these different types of fishing can be perfected by a visually impaired person and with a small bell attached by a peg to the tip of the rod you can always tell when you have a bite .
when the rod tip quivers and the bell goes the immediate reaction would be to strike ,but the best method would be to wait for a 2nd or 3rd bite then strike .The adrenalin will then start and its a fight of wits between you and the fish but to tire the fish out will always be the best bet and when you reel in a decent size fish will provide you with more excitement to carry on .