Greg asks;

Is it possible to plumb the depth of a lake with a ledger rig? I’d like to find where the gullies and gravel bars are.

Hi Greg the short answer is yes you can.  You can gather an incredible amount of information about your swim by simply tying a lead on your line and casting it out.

If you cast out a lead and let if descend on a tight line you can count down the number of seconds until the lead hits the bottom.  A 3oz lead falls at approximately 3ft per second.  It’s not an exact science but it will give you an indication of the depth. It is difficult with depths under 4 or 5ft because the lead is on the bottom before you can start your count.

The accuracy of this process can be increased by adding a marker float to a lead on a running link.  Stopping the retrieve every few feet and measuring the line taken from the reel as the float rises to the surface will give you an accurate indication of the profile of the bottom.  It also gives you the depth of features such as bars, humps and plateaux as you locate them.  The lead can stick or hold on the side of a bar, and the slope of the bottom or bar can increase the resistance of the retrieve confirming what the float tells you.

The feel you get when the lead hits the bottom can also tell you a lot. If you feel a positive “donk” as it hits, the bottom is fairly hard a more muffled hit could indicate silt or weed.

A braided line is preferable because it transmits the vibrations from the lead more efficiently because of its lack stretch.   As you retrieve the lead slowly; watch the rod tip.  If it vibrates regularly you are probably pulling back over gravel, if the rod tip snatches occasionally there could be stones or boulders scattered amongst the gravel or even patches of weed.

The variation in the resistance you feel on the retrieve gives you even more clues.  Light resistance and a smooth retrieve could be smooth clay or sand. Heavy resistance and the rod tip pulling round indicates a soft bottom, with probably silt creating resistance to the movement of the lead.

The make up of the ground in the margins, its profile, the vegetation showing, all combine with the information from the lead and help you create a picture of what’s happening under the water.  It’s like developing all skills, practice makes perfect.

Cheers,  Ron

Want to learn more? Take a look at this video clip…

Part 2 is here.

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