Comments on: Winter rivers for Grayling and Chub http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:35:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Ron Key http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1831 Ron Key Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:34:40 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1831 Thanks Pat. That's more gear to go with me. As the conditions on the Wye are so unpredictable especially at that time of the year I'm now taking pike rods, barbel rods, lure rods, quiver tip and now match rod and centrepin, and I nearly forgot power float rod just in case I get a chance to trot for the barbel Cheers Ron Thanks Pat. That’s more gear to go with me. As the conditions on the Wye are so unpredictable especially at that time of the year I’m now taking pike rods, barbel rods, lure rods, quiver tip and now match rod and centrepin, and I nearly forgot power float rod just in case I get a chance to trot for the barbel

Cheers Ron

]]> By: Pat Gillett http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1827 Pat Gillett Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:31:02 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1827 Hi Ron, I think the grayling is only really considered to be a winter species because you can still catch them when it is so cold that very little else will still feed. This doesn’t mean that you won’t catch them when the weather is a bit milder and from my limited experience of trotting for them on the Upper Severn, I would say that you definitely get more action when it isn’t bitterly cold (as with all fishing). So I would say November could be ideal. Travel light and explore plenty of swims trotting maggots or sweet corn and you should be in for some fun fishing. Cheers, Pat Hi Ron,
I think the grayling is only really considered to be a winter species because you can still catch them when it is so cold that very little else will still feed.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t catch them when the weather is a bit milder and from my limited experience of trotting for them on the Upper Severn, I would say that you definitely get more action when it isn’t bitterly cold (as with all fishing). So I would say November could be ideal.

Travel light and explore plenty of swims trotting maggots or sweet corn and you should be in for some fun fishing.

Cheers,
Pat

]]> By: Ron Key http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1825 Ron Key Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:31:42 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1825 I will be fishing the Wye in November and would love to try trotting for grayling. I know they are considered a winter fish, is November too early? I will be fishing the Wye in November and would love to try trotting for grayling. I know they are considered a winter fish, is November too early?

]]> By: Shaun Harrison http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1822 Shaun Harrison Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:24:26 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1822 Really enjoy Grayling fishing but not managed to do any these past few winters. Seems to me that it never gets too cold for them to have a feed so long as the water is running relatively clear. Really enjoy Grayling fishing but not managed to do any these past few winters. Seems to me that it never gets too cold for them to have a feed so long as the water is running relatively clear.

]]> By: Ken May http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1820 Ken May Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:01:42 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1820 Many people pack up in the winter, but like you I enjoy fishing in the winter time and you hit the nail on the head when you said “ nice simple fishing” that’s another thing that some anglers forget , you can make fishing easy when you travel light – roll on the snow! Many people pack up in the winter, but like you I enjoy fishing in the winter time and you hit the nail on the head when you said “ nice simple fishing” that’s another thing that some anglers forget , you can make fishing easy when you travel light – roll on the snow!

]]> By: Pat Gillett http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1417 Pat Gillett Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:08:34 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1417 Shaun wrote "Always fish them with a very small lead Pat. Just large enough to grip but light enough to allow me to work the swim by tweaking the line and trundling the bait around". Thats how i fish my bigger baits whilst chub fishing. I have tried fishing bolt rigs etc but still think the light lead approach is the best. Had some fascinating winter fishing a few years ago on the tiny river Mease near Tamworth. The river here was mainly only a rod length wide but could be great fun. When it was running low and clear you could actually watch the chub take your bait. It soon became apparent how quickly the chub would wise up to a bait, you would see them mouth the bait or spook etc, but as soon as you tried a bait they hadn't seen before they would be back feeding confidently. Must admit never thought of fishing mackerel fillets ! The only baits that it seemed they couldn't resist in low water were the maggots and casters. If fed correctly (little and often) you could get them queing up and could often catch them underneath the rod tip by freelining the maggots or casters and watching the chub take the bait. We took fish to 5lb 13oz off this tiny river and it was cracking sport. For the times when the river is carrying a tinge of colour (or after dark) i reckon the chubby chops paste will score very well as again it is something slightly different. Cheers, Pat Shaun wrote “Always fish them with a very small lead Pat. Just large enough to grip but light enough to allow me to work the swim by tweaking the line and trundling the bait around”.

Thats how i fish my bigger baits whilst chub fishing. I have tried fishing bolt rigs etc but still think the light lead approach is the best.

Had some fascinating winter fishing a few years ago on the tiny river Mease near Tamworth. The river here was mainly only a rod length wide but could be great fun. When it was running low and clear you could actually watch the chub take your bait.

It soon became apparent how quickly the chub would wise up to a bait, you would see them mouth the bait or spook etc, but as soon as you tried a bait they hadn’t seen before they would be back feeding confidently. Must admit never thought of fishing mackerel fillets !

The only baits that it seemed they couldn’t resist in low water were the maggots and casters. If fed correctly (little and often) you could get them queing up and could often catch them underneath the rod tip by freelining the maggots or casters and watching the chub take the bait.

We took fish to 5lb 13oz off this tiny river and it was cracking sport.

For the times when the river is carrying a tinge of colour (or after dark) i reckon the chubby chops paste will score very well as again it is something slightly different.

Cheers,
Pat

]]> By: Shaun http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1416 Shaun Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:19:49 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1416 Always fish them with a very small lead Pat. Just large enough to grip but light enough to allow me to work the swim by tweaking the line and trundling the bait around. So, I guess a mixture of the two. One thing I have found is that touch legering is the most effective way of converting bites. I find you need to give them a couple of seconds on the Mackerel before striking and a lot of sharp tugs are experienced where the bait is then left alone unless you can slacken the line quickly whereby they chub carry on with it. I use braided main line for this method and hold the rod with my right hand (I am right handed) and the line in my left hand at right angles to the rod. This allows me to give line whilst remaining in contact with what is happening. Went to Sainsbury's last night - they had run out of Mackerel! Always fish them with a very small lead Pat. Just large enough to grip but light enough to allow me to work the swim by tweaking the line and trundling the bait around.

So, I guess a mixture of the two. One thing I have found is that touch legering is the most effective way of converting bites. I find you need to give them a couple of seconds on the Mackerel before striking and a lot of sharp tugs are experienced where the bait is then left alone unless you can slacken the line quickly whereby they chub carry on with it.

I use braided main line for this method and hold the rod with my right hand (I am right handed) and the line in my left hand at right angles to the rod. This allows me to give line whilst remaining in contact with what is happening.

Went to Sainsbury’s last night – they had run out of Mackerel!

]]> By: Pat Gillett http://www.questbaits.com/blog/winter-rivers-grayling-and-chub/comment-page-1/#comment-1415 Pat Gillett Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:27:08 +0000 http://www.questbaits.com/blog/?p=1859#comment-1415 Hi Shaun, Do you find the mackerel fillets are more effective floatfished or static on the lead ? Pat Hi Shaun,
Do you find the mackerel fillets are more effective floatfished or static on the lead ?

Pat

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