How important is local knowledge?

Well i made one of the first mistakes in fishing rules the other week when i decided to pay one of my local fisheries a visit and see if we could get in a bit of winter fishing before the warmer weather approached. I was joined with my step father for the trip, Brian. We had selected this lake as it was well known for its good fishing and heavy weights. We checked on-line the details about the lake and noticed that some work had been done to it. They said on the web site that the lake had been levelled to 3’ foot all over. So off we went excited and ready for a great days fishing.

When we got there we selected what seemed to be some good swims with loads of nice features to it. We set up our gear an off we went. Well at fist it was cold but the day slowly warmed up but the fishing didn’t. Nothing! when i say nothing i mean absolutely nothing for hours not a line bite not a twitch not even when fishing the pole. We tried everything. We fed up our swims careful not to over feed as it was still winter but nothing seemed to attract the fish. There where other fishermen around the lake but no one seemed to be catching the fish. What was wrong?

Brian managed to get a couple of bream in the end after having to resort to feeder fishing at a long distance but still our swims remained dead. It wasn’t until we started to pack up and one of the local fishermen stopped for a chat on his way past and asked why we had selected the shallowest part of the lake to fish?

OH MY GOD!" I couldn’t believe what had happened. We had been led to believe that the lake was even all over where in reality it wasn’t it was shallow at the one end and deep at the other with a gradual shelf in the middle. We had been fishing the entire day in the wrong spot. We were the only one fishing at that end of the lake and now we understood what had happened. It just goes to show that you should take your time when you get to a new venue and speak to the local fishermen who are already around the venue (if any)and find out exactly what the lake or pond is like. Find out the best features and ask what has been caught lately.

This will then give you some idea of what is going on in the venue you are fishing. It will save you having to find out the hard way that you have been fishing in the wrong spot all day. We at least i got a chance to test some of my new tackle and practice some of the new rigs i had learnt. Now talking of new rigs i found a new release from Task Tackle, rig cards that they were giving away at a show for free and also available on-line. i have included them within my web site to make it easier for you to find just follow the links:

Taska Tackle – Specialist Carp Rigs – Part 1

Taska Tackle – Specialist Carp Rigs – Part 2

Water Craft – The Science of Fish, Water Habits

Just read this article on Fishing Your Way and had to share with you…

It is important to understand the habits and influences that affect the fish that you are pursuing. Rig science and other vital fishing knowledge are very important, but for one of the team members at ‘fishing your way’ being an environmental ecologist (BSc) leads to further questions; is something else effecting the movement patterns and location of these fish?
He writes…
All lakes in the UK can be broken down and viewed in 3 distinct layers, this breaking down into layers is known as ‘lake stratification’.
The 3 different layers each have different temperatures; this difference in water temperatures is caused by a change in outside temperature which changes throughout the year.
The 3 layers are called the
1.    Epilimnion – This is the top layer of water.
2.    Metalimnion – The middle layer of water, this is a thin layer of water.
3.    Hypolimnion – The bottom layer of water.
In the UK we function on 4 seasons and as a result a cyclical pattern of temperature change occurs every year.
It is important to know that lake water has a maximum density of about 4°C. This basically means that for some reason (that I am not going into here) water that is 4°C will weigh more than water at any other temperature and so will move to the bottom. To make this clear:
If there were only 2 temperatures of water in a lake of 4°C and 18°C then the 4°C would be at the bottom of the lake and the 18°C would be at the top.
Equally, if there were only 2 temperatures of water in a lake of 4°C and 2°C then the 4°C would be at the bottom of the lake and the 2°C would be at the top.
From this we can see how different seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn) will effect the stratification of the lake.
In the Winter months the air temperature is very cold, there is less sunlight and therefore the temperature of water in the lake is lowered. The water at the bottom of the lake (hypolimnion) will be around 4°C. The water at the top (epilimnion) will be around 1°C. From our knowledge of carp fishing we know that as a general rule carp go to the warmer areas of the lake (for reasons I am not going into here). So in the Winter months the carp will tend to be near the bottom where the water is warmest. Unfortunately, with 4°C being the maximum temperature anywhere in the lake the carp’s metabolism slows right down and so the need for food is reduced and the need to conserve energy (less movement) is increased. This is one reason why carp fishing in the Winter is more challenging.
It is as Spring arrives that a massive change happens. The outside temperature increases due to there being more sunlight hitting the UK for longer periods of time. This begins to warm the temperature of the water. This gives rise to our 1st dimictic cycle, the 2nd happens in the autumn. During this cycle the water warms gradually until the entire lake is of the same temperature from top to bottom. Due to this same temperature, the lake water now beings to mix from top to bottom. If you want to know exactly when this is happening, take a thermometer with you in your bag and put it a few inches into the water to get the temperature. Over the days it will gradually get closer and closer to 4°C until the mixing happens.
From this point the water starts to increase in temperature past 4°C and so the mixing stops. As you know from reading this far, water at 4°C is the heaviest anywhere in the lake and as a result all water at 4°C moves to the bottom layer and becomes the hypolimniom. This happens much quicker in shallow water as the suns rays can hit the bottom of the lake. This often encourages the fish into the shallow water at this time; as the angler it is to your advantage to know when this is happening.
This process of heating the water will continue through into the summer and as a result fish can now be seen feeding on the lake surface where the temperature is very high. But what about the thin metalimnion or middle layer? Knowledge of this is vital to an angler. Only when the water is not in its mixing stage will there be a thin middle layer of water. This thin layer separates the top layer from the bottom and is actually at a higher temperature to the water anywhere else in the lake, because it changes the quickest.
So during the spring months into early summer is this the warmest part of the lake?… yes!
This layer may be known as the ‘thermocline’. The thermocline layer will be at different depths depending on the depth of the water you are fishing in. A thermocline in 6ft of water will be at a different level to a thermocline in 20ft of water. Your task as the angler would naturally be to locate where this thermocline is and through different techniques, zig-rig, pellet waggler etc, find it. This can have dramatic effects on your fish catch rate during this period in the lakes natural cycle. It is important to note that in very shallow water all the water is classed as the top layer as the suns rays are so powerful that they heat that section of water equally, this makes fishing in these areas on the top and bottom very effective.
As the lake moves out of Summer into the Autumn the process is repeated with the 2nd dimictic cycle of water temperature gradually moving towards the temperature of the bottom layer. The bottom layer may now be at 11°C, though this will depend on how hot the summer months were. Again, when the water temperature is the same throughout the lake, the mixing phase will happen. Eventually the lake will return back to a lower temperature at the top with a slightly warmer temperature at the bottom as the winter months return.
Be at least aware that these changes happen, pay attention to where in the yearly cycle of stratification the lake you are fishing is likely to be and adjust your fishing approach as necessary to suit this.
This has hopefully helped your ‘watercraft’ so apply it to your fishing and see what happens…

Fishing - Peterstone Lakes, Newport / Cardiff.

We had chosen Saturday 16th February as the weather forecast said although it would be foggy the sun should lift it by mid day and then it should be clear and sunny. When the morning came it was freezing cold, damp and mist every where. I say mist rather than fog as it was so damp you could feel it on your skin. Even though the weather was so cold we still gambled on it warming up and off we went to Peterstone Lakes in Newport, Cardiff. Situated right out the way, at the back of a farm that can be found after driving down miles of back roads and lanes. Its a pretty little complex with two smaller lakes to the one side where we had decided to fish and there is also the syndicate lake which is quite big and contains many double figure carp.

Brian started to hook into nice Roach

When we arrived there was a low fog across the water and the banks were all waterlogged. This didn't put us of so off we went and set up our tackle. I had decide to fish one rod on a running chod rig and then i would also fish the pole in the margins. I had decided not to use ground bait as the weather was to cold and the water temperature low so it would just over feed the swim as the fish wouldn't be feeding that well in the cold. I had decoded just to trickle maggots and pellets in at a regular interval to try and encourage the fish to feed constantly

The fish size started to get bigger

The next few hours were quite strange as there was no sign of interest on the Carp rod and only a couple of tiny fish on the pole. I was getting a few bites so i new the fish were defiantly there so i decided to tackle down. Reducing the size of my hook down to a size 18 wide gape from Carp Force on the Fluorocarbon Fishing line i got from Total Outdoors seemed to do the trick. I started to pull in some small Roach at the start and then they started to improve in size. Getting a bite each time i dropped the line back in showed me they had started to feed so i continued to trickle in small amounts of maggots and pellets every now and again and continued to catch fish. The quality of the fish was good and the size i was catching was averaging 1/4 and 1/2 lb but then hooked into a nice size bream about 1 lb.

Brilliant Days fishing at Peterstone Lakes 

Brian was starting to catch also with some tidy sized Roach and Bream and my mother also hooked into a couple of nice Roach and a few skimmers . Although the day started slow and it was difficult and took a few hours to get them to start to feed it was due to the weather and for those conditions we all did extremely well to catch as many fish as we did. The weather didn't improve until it was almost time to go and everyone did well to sit it out in the cold damp conditions.

It was a shame the sun didn't decide to show its face until the end as i recon we would have bagged up at Peterstone Lakes. An enjoyable days fishing was had by all of us and i will be going back there when the weather improves to see if i can get myself a nice big Carp out of the water as they have quite a few good size, different types, of Carp in there. A challenge for another day.

Preparing the Web Site for the New Year

Well i haven't had a chance to go fishing no where near as much as i would have liked but that's been due to the weather keeping us stuck indoors. Thankfully i have been making use of my time not only tying and brushing up on my rigs and bait presentation and watercraft but also been spending plenty of time online preparing the F.A.W. website. The idea of the site is so that readers will be able to follow our adventures and if they fancy it they can even join in. The web site is just a portal to the F.A.W. Blog where we will tell all but also the F.A.W. Forum, a place for fishermen and women in Wales to be able to go and chat about fishing, discuss with others about their catches and the venues they fish. A place where people can go to to find out where is the best fishing action in Wales.

 The forum is very new and will take time to build up its membership. This is where we ask YOUR help. Those who have skills in specific areas of fishing whether it be tying rigs or fishing the pole we need your help. We would like to make you an admin of the forum, someone who people can ask advice about your subject. If you think your up for it and can help grow the community then follow the link and contact either myself (Voodoo) or one of the other administrators.

http://fishingadventureswales.createaforum.com/

The F.A.W. Forum

Getting Ready for the Season

New Tackle Storage Bag from Carp Force

Spring is almost here so like most other fishermen its time to organize and prepare the tackle. Old line stripped of the reels and new line added, Old tackle boxes have been thrown and new ones filled with tons of tackle and bits. I even ordered some new storage bags ready for the new season and they arrived today. It didn't take me long to fill them and all ready to set off fishing.

Stiff Rig Storage

When the storage bags arrived i was shocked at how much you can actually get in them. The Deluxe Rig and Tackle Storage bag from Total Outdoors is amazing, Padded for that extra bit of safety it has two storage areas not just one. The first storage area you can hold all you rigs on a stiff rig board set in inside of the hood, when you open it, and you also have a wallet style storage area to keep all you hooks and leaders. 

The other side of it holds a huge tackle storage box that is clear so you can see where your items are, this can be removed if you want and the compartment can be used to storing larger items. In my case i decided to store all my hook lines and accessories for making rigs.

Huge storage area to hold all your bits and tools

It also has a padded handle so it doesn't cut into your hand if you have to carry any distance. It is styled in weed green to blend in with the back ground. Under the flap on the storage side is an area where you can hold your tools and scissors using elasticated straps to hold the items in place. This is a great option for any fisherman as it can store everything you need for a session out on the bank and makes it easy and fast to find the items you need.

What a peace of kit! Well that's all my tackle now sorted and ready to go fishing all we have to do now is wait for the right weather and we are off. I have a good selection of baits and ground baits to attract the fish and new rods and reels to play with. Talk about boys and their toys!

Mono V's Braid

Mono

The word mono-filament means single strand, which is made by melting down Polyamide (nylon) pellets and then extruded through very fine nozzles into long continuous strands. These hot strands are cooled slightly then carefully stretched to get the desired finished diameter. The line is then passed through various immersion tanks where a series of complicated coatings are added to change line color, UV resistance and add abrasion-resistant coatings, etc.

There is one particular characteristic which mono has and braid doesn't... STRETCH. Up until the late 1990’s feeder anglers required some stretch in their line. Most general nylon mono lines have a stretch factor along their length of between 20 and 30%. The German line, Maxima, actually has quite a high stretch factor, at about 34% and it was Maxima which proved the number one choice for feeder anglers for many years. Anglers liked the stretch and the exaggerated diameters of Maxima because the line was very forgiving and robust.

Stretch, of course, has its drawbacks. First, delicate bites can be hard to pick up. Secondly, the stretch muffled some of the force given to each cast. So anglers started using braid to help see these bites in difficult conditions and, in particular, to cast further than was possible with classic nylons.

About 5 or 6 year ago, mono manufacturers started to catch up with some of the braids 'Nil stretch'. Lines like Preston Direct Mono and Tubertini Gorilla Feeder started to appear on the shelves. These had stretch ratios of nearer 10%. There is now a good choice of these 'reduced stretch' feeder lines on the market, like the New MATCH FORCE Feeder fishing line.

Braid

Braid lines are made from twisting together a number of very fine strands of high density polyethylene fibers to produce a braided line, and, because the lines are twisted together, any stretch that would be inherent in a single strand of material is completely eliminated. There are two fiber types used to make fishing braids. Most European and Japanese braids are made using threads of Dyneema. American braids are made using Spectra fibers  Both fibers have similar properties as they are both extremely strong. In fact, diameter for diameter, Dyneema claims to be 5 times stronger than quality steel, whilst claims for Spectra are as much as 10 times stronger!

Fishing is only a tiny part of the market for both these materials. Both are extensively used in a variety of applications from bullet proof vests to strong industrial rope and surgical stitching applications. These fiber lines are incredibly strong for their diameters. For instance, a standard 0.06mm mono line would have a breaking strain of about 500 grams, or 1lb+. A braid of the same diameter could be 4 kilos (8.5lb+) or even more!

The earliest braids used for fishing were natural Dyneema and flat in profile. The problem with natural Dyneema, as with Spectra, is that it floats. Ideal for surface lure fisherman in the USA, but not very acceptable for feeder anglers in Europe. Over time flat braids gave way to round profiled braids and 'sinking' braids. Kevlar is a very dense material and by adding anything up to 20% Kevlar strands, a braid can be made to sink. However, Kevlar is very abrasive. It was the Kevlar in some braids which started causing problems for tip anglers who were using feeder rods with poor quality lined rings. Some braids are now using polyester to help them sink, rather than braid.

There has been much talk in the 'big fish world' of new Fusion lines. Some, like Berkley Fireline, are made by giving the braided fibers a thin coating to make them feel less like material and more like fishing line. Others are made by heating the braided fibers to fuse them together, again to create more of a fishing line feel.

At the end of the day the choice between the two has become more difficult as new technologies keep on improving the way in which these lines are created. The subtle differences are what attracts the different anglers to their choice of preferred line and whether it be braid or mono its all about catching the fish!

Product Testing - Total-Outdoors STEALTH Braid

As we prepare for the start of the Autumn & Winter and to get in as much fishing as we can it's time for the usual tackle update and service. Checking all reel line and terminal tackle is vitally important to make sure you have the right toots to do the job.  At F.A.W. we have been given the chance to test some new and exciting products that are being sold in the market and as a reader of the site you get to see these reviews and products here first.

One of these products is the new release of the STEALTH fast sinking, low diameter fishing braid. visit out review section to see what we think of this new product......

http://fishingadventureswales.weebly.com/product-review---braid.html  

See how good the Braid is for making Hair Rigs and how good it is to use as a main reel line instead of standard fishing line. See the advantages the braid has over others on the market. You will also get a chance to follow us as we put it to the test over the next year and report back exactly how the braid performs. We will be using a range of products on release from Total Outdoors over the next couple of seasons and report back on how they have performed and how good the product actually is. We will see if what they claim is actually true and how much it helps to produce the goods. At then end of the day its the fish on the bank or in the net that counts.