Mick Brown
Angling Services
Angling Services
Posted on October 29th 2011
BEAT THE WEED
Water levels are still very low in my region due to very little rainfall
over the summer. Combine this with the weather being unseasonably
mild, weed has become a major problem on many of my local pike
venues. Taking a break from lure fishing, I got my stillwater
deadbaiting gear out this week and tried a session on a local gravel
pit. Getting runs was not a problem. Although the weed was really
dense, a leger rig with a four foot long weight link, combined with a
buoyant bait, put the bait right in the pikes' vision, above the weed.
over the summer. Combine this with the weather being unseasonably
mild, weed has become a major problem on many of my local pike
venues. Taking a break from lure fishing, I got my stillwater
deadbaiting gear out this week and tried a session on a local gravel
pit. Getting runs was not a problem. Although the weed was really
dense, a leger rig with a four foot long weight link, combined with a
buoyant bait, put the bait right in the pikes' vision, above the weed.
Getting the pike out was another
matter but I was fully prepared for
the situation having faced it many
times before. Hitting the runs
straight away was vital to prevent
the pike burying themselves under
the weed. This is where
preparation paid off as I applied
full pressure with a 3 lb test curve
rod and didn't give them a chance
to getting buried and eventually
snagged. A pike snagged in this
sort of weed is as good as dead if
you can't get it out.
matter but I was fully prepared for
the situation having faced it many
times before. Hitting the runs
straight away was vital to prevent
the pike burying themselves under
the weed. This is where
preparation paid off as I applied
full pressure with a 3 lb test curve
rod and didn't give them a chance
to getting buried and eventually
snagged. A pike snagged in this
sort of weed is as good as dead if
you can't get it out.
To read entries from previous weeks - click on articles link above.
Trying to apply such pressure with inadequate line is asking for it to
break so my reel (Shimano 8000 Super Baitrunner) was loaded with 30
lb Powerpro braid. The combination of a powerful rod, a robust reel
with good cranking power and a line that is almost impossible to
break before the hooks bend was the winning combination for
getting those pike out. Weed is an ongoing problem nowadays and
such tackle has now become standard for my deadbaiting. If I ever
use mono line, it will be a minimum of 20 lb breaking strain for the
same reason. We owe it to the pike not to leave them snagged with
hooks in their mouths,
break so my reel (Shimano 8000 Super Baitrunner) was loaded with 30
lb Powerpro braid. The combination of a powerful rod, a robust reel
with good cranking power and a line that is almost impossible to
break before the hooks bend was the winning combination for
getting those pike out. Weed is an ongoing problem nowadays and
such tackle has now become standard for my deadbaiting. If I ever
use mono line, it will be a minimum of 20 lb breaking strain for the
same reason. We owe it to the pike not to leave them snagged with
hooks in their mouths,
