Hi all.

[maninblack]

Hi Turbo,
Welcome to the forum, from another Kent member.
Tight lines
M.I.B

[dean macey]

welcome turbo it is a good informative site with lots of help and laughs.we live in eastry mate and fish similar venues to yourself.could you give us some advice on dengmarsh please.and welcome again.

[turbo]

Thanks M.I.B where abouts are you from in Kent?

Dean, i'm not sure that i'm the man to ask about Dengemarsh mate because although i've fished it more times than i've had hot dinners i've never caught a sole!!

I had nice Bass, flounders eels etc etc but never a sole. I've mainly used 3 hook flappers tiny hooks and small baits. Although after talking to a few people Dave (solehunter) being one i still think that my baits might have be slightly to big.

I've also tried french booms but could'nt get on with them. I think the secret is to keep the baits hard on the bottom and NOT to stike, let the bite develop.

I'm going to put a lot of effort into it this year and i'm determined to have a good season on them.

Sorry i can't be any more help mate.

[dean macey]

hi turbo,i have read all of solehunters solepages and they are very good.i am going to have some trips on me own when there is lots of cloud cover as advised.i also have never had a sole but my younger brother has.he fishes a lot with mick davies who has a piece on solehunters page well worth reading.i am going to try also the lead at the top of the flapper getting the bait hard on the bottom.me friend who fishes three times a week also has had no luck at dengemarsh and thinks it is not a sole haven as many say.
might be a case for a size 8 hook and fish a tiny worm on a hair rig,with 6lb hook line.
good luck.

[turbo]

Yes mate roll on the summer!! Going to have a real crack at them this year as i said.

[solehunter]

turbo said:

i still think that my baits might have be slightly to big.

I've also tried french booms but could'nt get on with them. I think the secret is to keep the baits hard on the bottom and NOT to stike, let the bite develop.

I find large worm baits the best. At the start of a session i put 1 good worm up my line then another on the hook. As long as there are no crabs about and some worm are still left on my hooks, i thread the remaining bait above my hook and just add another single worm to this and so on. I defiantly catch better with a big bunch of worm on!
Its a MUST to have your bait on the bottom as its been proved the sole will take nothing above its eyes. A lead bead on your snood is a good trick also casting up tide and keeping the rods low in your rest will help no end. Like you say, never strike and leave a suspicious bite for a good few minutes. You should know when its hooked as it will try to run and you will see either a good slow bend or fast jolts on your tip. These are text book bites, but they do differ and will often fool you.

[turbo]

Thanks for the advice Dave, i'll bear that in mind, never thought about presenting a bigger bait.