The flatties are comeing

[solehunter]

This is a crude drawing of the trace i use for any flattie........When the tide ebbs, i`ll clip on a rig that uses a shorter bottom set up so i can cast up tide without any tangles, and makes sure the bait is HARD on the bottom
When casting straight out in tide, i always keep slack line to ensure the top hook is on the bottom always.

[eccles]

Fascinating mate, I do something very similar but put some short booms in to reduce tangling and I have the lead on a zip slider so that if fish takes the bait, it won't initially feel resistance and leave the bait alone. I use those little white nylon booms (some are made by Avis and Drennan).

[solehunter]

Yes, mine is basically a running ledger at the bottom (crude pic). I may try some booms this season.

[Dave.S]

Am I assuming this rig is for beach casting?

The reason for asking as I have always been told that drift fishing is more productive, which of course means being on a boat!

Dave

[RichardB]

Interesting to note how short the hook snood lengths are. I know you recommend this for sole fishing - static/hard on the bottom, etc. But for plaice and flounders I use a very similar set up, but with much longer hook lengths - to induce movement, as they are much more actively 'sight feeders'.

[solehunter]

dave said:

Am I assuming this rig is for beach casting?

The reason for asking as I have always been told that drift fishing is more productive, which of course means being on a boat!

Dave

Yes dave this is what i use from the beach.

richardb said:

Interesting to note how short the hook snood lengths are. I know you recommend this for sole fishing - static/hard on the bottom, etc. But for plaice and flounders I use a very similar set up, but with much longer hook lengths - to induce movement, as they are much more actively 'sight feeders'.

Yes i would lengthen the bottom snood if i was targeting plaice with it, but like you say , this is my general sole set up.

[RichardB]

Yes i would lengthen the bottom snood if i was targeting plaice with it, but like you say , this is my general sole set up.

OK . It's just that I've been going to the other extreme lately - using an up and over sliding ledger rig, that gives a near six foot hook trace when opened up !
Fat lot of good it's done me so far this year, but I'll keep at it. God loves a trier !

[solehunter]

That sounds interesting, i may have a go at that, though our main plaice mark has almost no tide pull at all. Worth a try though if its quite rough as it will move the bait more. Nice one.

[solehunter]

Also, i have been reading an old fishing book, and the writer uses a long running ledger with a watch lead and constantly reels in his bait inch by inch to provoke a bite from a plaice.
Another guy uses a float with an oversize trace and casts and lets the float slowly drag the bait across the bottom. I tried this once but it was too windy and my float was back on the beach in no time.
I`ll deffo try this again though.

[RichardB]

Yeah, I think it works best if you're casting out into a bit of tide run, so it 'lays out' properly and wafts in the current. Could be a bit of a tangle nightmare otherwise. Also thought it might help in the case of shy biting flatties.

[RichardB]

I always 'twitch' the baits along like that when after flounders. Not used the watch lead idea though.
I've float fished for them too - in the lagoon behind the spit in the mouth of the river Hamble. Quite effective and a nice way to catch them with the light gear.

[solehunter]

richardb said:

I always 'twitch' the baits along like that when after flounders. Not used the watch lead idea though.
I've float fished for them too - in the lagoon behind the spit in the mouth of the river Hamble. Quite effective and a nice way to catch them with the light gear.

Do you float for them with a long trace, or off the bottom?

[RichardB]

solehunter said:

richardb said:

I always 'twitch' the baits along like that when after flounders. Not used the watch lead idea though.
I've float fished for them too - in the lagoon behind the spit in the mouth of the river Hamble. Quite effective and a nice way to catch them with the light gear.

Do you float for them with a long trace, or off the bottom?

I tied an 18 ins trace below a drilled bullet lead on normal sliding float gear with stop knot, and tried to set it so that the wieght was just off the bottom - dragging the bait lightly along the bottom.

[solehunter]

Thanks for that, i think thats what i want to try... cheers

[RichardB]

No probs - good luck with it ;D. I do like a bit of float fishing where conditions allow - must have more of a crack at it too later on.