Fishing Tackle

[nobby]

I have a Shakespeare 1.65m telescopic rod with a 2003G reel (or a Daiwa 120M closed face reel), and a small, shallow draft boat that should be ready to launch in a month. I am intending to travel by rivers, estuaries and coastal waters. I haven't fished for 25 years and would be thrilled to catch anything that I can eat.
What should I have with me in the way of lures, line, weights, hooks, etc.? I'd appreciate any advice on putting a kit together, but working with the rod and whichever is the better reel that I already have.

 

[fred gordon]

I would go and ask the local anglers or ask at the local fishing tackle shop. I have usually found that fishermen are willing to help a fellow angler. As a general rule I feel the lighter the tackle the better. More exciting and gives the fish a better chance.

 

[themac]

I'm not sure about giving the fish a better chance ? But I do also recommend asking locals, local knowledge is hard to beat when it comes to fishing.

 

[nobby]

Thanks but I'm going to be travelling in the boat.
I'm needing details of a general tackle kit that will have enough gear for river, estuary and sea wherever I may be.

 

[directdrive]

Hi: Although I'm not from your "neck of the woods" I do fish extensively here in the States as well as abroad. Certain types of lures will catch fish world-wide and should be in every angler's tackle bag. My suggestions for all-round lures would include some of the following items: 1) Wide asst. of hooks, small, medium and large. 2) Asst. of monofilament lines, say three different spools with 8, 15, and 25 pound test for various situations. 3) A small spool of flourocarbon line around 12 pound test. 4) Asst. of lead-head bucktail jigs. 5) Asst. of spoons. 6) Dry bait bits. Go to: www.fishbites.com They make very effective baits that will work for all species of fish that can be taken with rod and reel. Good Luck and Tight Lines! Bruce

 

[ilan]

Think the biggest restriction will be on your choice of rod and reel . what sort of weight can it cast ? also what size boat will you be in . To be honest get your self a few sets of the hokai lures in the shrimp and minnow sizes if you have just a light rod the use just two from the set of six . The best bet is to use fresh bait if possible bit of sea shore scrounging turning over rocks etc . For rivers of course you cannot beat worms Tip take a packet of salt and put strong salt solution down any holes in the sand and you may get some razors (great fried with bacon) or use srong wasing up liquid in a field to raise up worms for bait . Cockles are also good bait .Just be very careful on eating shell fish in summer from uk waters as we get a poisionous alge bloom on most of the south/ east coasts {may june july august} Good luck hope it goes well love to know what sort of boat you built

 

[nobby]

Hi: Although I'm not from your "neck of the woods" I do fish extensively here in the States as well as abroad. Certain types of lures will catch fish world-wide and should be in every angler's tackle bag. My suggestions for all-round lures would include some of the following items: 1) Wide asst. of hooks, small, medium and large. 2) Asst. of monofilament lines, say three different spools with 8, 15, and 25 pound test for various situations. 3) A small spool of flourocarbon line around 12 pound test. 4) Asst. of lead-head bucktail jigs. 5) Asst. of spoons. 6) Dry bait bits. Go to: www.fishbites.com They make very effective baits that will work for all species of fish that can be taken with rod and reel. Good Luck and Tight Lines! Bruce

Hi
Thanks for the link, that looks very interesting. When you say an assortment of spoons are any types ok or should I look for something specific?
Are there any UK fishermen able to add to this?
cheers

 

[Longstrider]

Hi Nobby, As has been said, an assortment of hooks and some different breaking strain lines will be a good place to start. Weights will need to be heavier for sea fishing than for freshwater in general. Inland waterways should require no more than an ounce at the most unless you plan on doing some more specialised types of fishing. Sea weights can be as heavy as the tidal pull requires you to use to keep the bait on the bottom this can be as much as 2 lbs which your rod simply will NOT handle, hence the market for "proper" boat rods.

In general, simple ledgering techniques will usually result in fish being caught. For freshwater I would use about 5lb line with a size 6 or 8 hook with a lobworm or something similar as bait. For sea fishing, uprate to at least 12 lb line if not more, use thicker, heavier line for the hook-length as many sea fish will soon bite through thinner line.

Tight lines !

 

[longshot]

if i can add my 2 cents worth, i'd save the rod for fresh water and use hand lines for the salt water. check with some to the older skippers at the ports and they will probably be happy to demonstrate, or let me know and i'll try to explain the use and equipment.


dean

 

[nobby]

if i can add my 2 cents worth, i'd save the rod for fresh water and use hand lines for the salt water. check with some to the older skippers at the ports and they will probably be happy to demonstrate, or let me know and i'll try to explain the use and equipment.


dean

Thanks, I'd like to know more about hand lines.
Would the rod that I've got be ok for spinning for mackerel?
cheers.

 

[nobby]

Think the biggest restriction will be on your choice of rod and reel . what sort of weight can it cast ? also what size boat will you be in . To be honest get your self a few sets of the hokai lures in the shrimp and minnow sizes if you have just a light rod the use just two from the set of six . The best bet is to use fresh bait if possible bit of sea shore scrounging turning over rocks etc . For rivers of course you cannot beat worms Tip take a packet of salt and put strong salt solution down any holes in the sand and you may get some razors (great fried with bacon) or use srong wasing up liquid in a field to raise up worms for bait . Cockles are also good bait .Just be very careful on eating shell fish in summer from uk waters as we get a poisionous alge bloom on most of the south/ east coasts {may june july august} Good luck hope it goes well love to know what sort of boat you built

Thanks for that. I've had a couple of days course with Andrew Packer of Nomadbushcraft on seashore gathering. The boat is a Paradox. Here is one of several links: http://home.triad.rr.com/lcruise/paradox1.htm
If you are interested in more google matt layden paradox, or al law or bill sergeant for uk builds.

 

[ilan]

Hi that a great looking boat have you got an engine for it ? With fishing it will depend on what you want ? If its a couple for the table then perhaps a hand line with a set of feathers on and tow whilst under sail . In an estury then a light ledger or one of my favorite methods is to float fish allowing the fresh bait to cover a wide area also try a small spoon for bass. Again if its just food you are after then a simple drop net {Made from an old bike rim and some fine netting } will give a good supply of shrimps } you could aslo try towing it ? .
Where are you going to use the boat as tides will be a big factor in its use ? Ian

 

[nobby]

Hi that a great looking boat have you got an engine for it ? With fishing it will depend on what you want ? If its a couple for the table then perhaps a hand line with a set of feathers on and tow whilst under sail . In an estury then a light ledger or one of my favorite methods is to float fish allowing the fresh bait to cover a wide area also try a small spoon for bass. Again if its just food you are after then a simple drop net {Made from an old bike rim and some fine netting } will give a good supply of shrimps } you could aslo try towing it ? .
Where are you going to use the boat as tides will be a big factor in its use ? Ian

Thanks ilan, I am fitting a Honda 2.3. The plan is to sail all the coast and rivers from the Western Isles to East Anglia going anti clockwise. (not the NE or East Scotland because the safe harbours/ beaches are too far apart for what I want to do). Also, Lochs, lakes and canals where they tie in with my history interests. I'll be doing the journey in sections and out of order starting this Summer. I'm expecting to launch in 3 weeks, or so.
I am planning on fishing just for the table. I guess that in freshwaters there is not much to eat excepting trout and pike? I fished as a hobby as a kid but it was a way of getting away from home and having a ciggy, or two. Besides which taking the same perch from the same N Kent gravel pit palled after awhile.
I'd like to suppliment my food supplies with minimal effort :0)
The shrimp net idea is great. I'll make one of those.
Cheers

 

[ilan]

That sounds a great adventure you will need to get the tides just so with the boat and engine , so hope you have done the navigation classes lol If you are staying for any length of time in a estury the perhaps a longline may get a few eels. Hope you have deep pockets for the solent area £20 per night is not unknown . Have you got a fish finder/ depth gauge as most of the sea bed is just like a desert and you will need to find any abnormalities to find the fish .If you are serious perhaps investing in a better rod/ reel would be the way forward Get a 12lb class rod /small multiplier reel with 12ib braided line (Not nylon) with some weights upto 4oz keep the hook sizes small 2-4 freshwater sizes or small sea ones you can catch a big fish on a small hook but getting a small fish on a big hook is a lot harder good luck ian

 

[nobby]

That sounds a great adventure you will need to get the tides just so with the boat and engine , so hope you have done the navigation classes lol If you are staying for any length of time in a estury the perhaps a longline may get a few eels. Hope you have deep pockets for the solent area £20 per night is not unknown . Have you got a fish finder/ depth gauge as most of the sea bed is just like a desert and you will need to find any abnormalities to find the fish .If you are serious perhaps investing in a better rod/ reel would be the way forward Get a 12lb class rod /small multiplier reel with 12ib braided line (Not nylon) with some weights upto 4oz keep the hook sizes small 2-4 freshwater sizes or small sea ones you can catch a big fish on a small hook but getting a small fish on a big hook is a lot harder good luck ian

Oh yes, I'm a Competent crew and Day Skipper (Theory) with Fish Finder, gps, compass, charts, OS maps and an underground map jic.
If what I've got proves worthwhile I'll probably upgrade.
I'm not intending to pay mooring fees. The boat has a flat bottom and 9" draft so will run up small creeks or onto a beach to float off on the next tide. I'm keeping everything cheap because I only work two days and I retire in two years, but I have loads of free time :0)

 

[nobby]

That sounds a great adventure you will need to get the tides just so with the boat and engine , so hope you have done the navigation classes lol If you are staying for any length of time in a estury the perhaps a longline may get a few eels. Hope you have deep pockets for the solent area £20 per night is not unknown . Have you got a fish finder/ depth gauge as most of the sea bed is just like a desert and you will need to find any abnormalities to find the fish .If you are serious perhaps investing in a better rod/ reel would be the way forward Get a 12lb class rod /small multiplier reel with 12ib braided line (Not nylon) with some weights upto 4oz keep the hook sizes small 2-4 freshwater sizes or small sea ones you can catch a big fish on a small hook but getting a small fish on a big hook is a lot harder good luck ian

Oh yes, I'm a Competent crew and Day Skipper (Theory) with Fish Finder, gps, compass, charts, OS maps and an underground map jic.
If what I've got proves worthwhile I'll probably upgrade.
I'm not intending to pay mooring fees. The boat has a flat bottom and 9" draft so will run up small creeks or onto a beach to float off on the next tide. I'm keeping everything cheap because I only work two days and I retire in two years, but I have loads of free time :0)

 

[longshot]

Thanks, I'd like to know more about hand lines.
Would the rod that I've got be ok for spinning for mackerel?
cheers.

ok, so here goes.

first the rod and reel are fine for mackrel quite a few folks around here use them for mackrel and heering.

the hand lines are hooks and weights on a long line usually more than 50 or 60 fathoms (6 feet to the fathom).

the set up is a weight at the bottom and a number of feathered of bare hooks that you bait with squid or what ever spaced along the line use the number of hooks that you feel comfortable with 3 seems to be a good number for me about 2 or 3 feet apart. this is the set up that i have used and will use this summer when the food fishery opens for cod.

the equipment is very simple, it consists of a reel; a hollow square consisting of two side parts that extend beyond the corners of the square on both sides and both ends,this is to keep the line on the reel the line is tied to one of the cross peices and wrapped onto the reel and the hook set up is as i described above.

at one time a fisherman could make a living on the catch of the hand line alone.

as a side note the traditional hook was a lead "mackrel" with two hooks comming out of his mouth kind of picture a catfish wiskers called a Jigger or Newfie jigger. and more recently a Norwegian jigger was used consisting of a large steel weight about with a triangular profile picture a long peice of steel with 3 sides running the legnth of the wieght. with a trebble hook on a swivel at the bottom.

hope this helps and please feel free to contact me with any questions.

dean

 

[nobby]

ok, so here goes.

first the rod and reel are fine for mackrel quite a few folks around here use them for mackrel and heering.

the hand lines are hooks and weights on a long line usually more than 50 or 60 fathoms (6 feet to the fathom).

the set up is a weight at the bottom and a number of feathered of bare hooks that you bait with squid or what ever spaced along the line use the number of hooks that you feel comfortable with 3 seems to be a good number for me about 2 or 3 feet apart. this is the set up that i have used and will use this summer when the food fishery opens for cod.

the equipment is very simple, it consists of a reel; a hollow square consisting of two side parts that extend beyond the corners of the square on both sides and both ends,this is to keep the line on the reel the line is tied to one of the cross peices and wrapped onto the reel and the hook set up is as i described above.

hope this helps and please feel free to contact me with any questions.

dean

Thanks Dean

I've found a book on fresh and seawater spinning and reckon that the rod should be good for Mackerel, Pike, Perch and Trout all of which are apparently eatable. (I've only ate Mackerel and Trout before.)

The hand line reel sounds much like you'd use for a kite so I'll make one of them.
If I've understood correctly you place the 3 hooks to fish between 2 and 9 feet from the bottom?
can you tell me some more about the line? Material and weight would be useful.

Cheers

 

[longshot]

hey nobby

the weight is usually lead or steel just tied to the end of the line. the line is really heavy test line i like tuna line like they use on deep sea fishing rods and reels or you can get really heavy monofiliment line at a commercial fishing supply store.

you use it by playing out the line till you hit bottom then take back about a fathom or two and then simply pull the line up and down till you get a hit and pull it in steady. the best places to fish are the shelves and ledges under the water. you should be able to find them with your fish finder that shows the bottom features. the sea bottom is not a desert but a plentiful provider for those who learn from her and respect her.

dean

 

[nobby]

hey nobby

the weight is usually lead or steel just tied to the end of the line. the line is really heavy test line i like tuna line like they use on deep sea fishing rods and reels or you can get really heavy monofiliment line at a commercial fishing supply store.

you use it by playing out the line till you hit bottom then take back about a fathom or two and then simply pull the line up and down till you get a hit and pull it in steady. the best places to fish are the shelves and ledges under the water. you should be able to find them with your fish finder that shows the bottom features. the sea bottom is not a desert but a plentiful provider for those who learn from her and respect her.

dean

Thanks Dean
I'll get on with making it. My boat should be finished in a fortnight.