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SEA ANGLER ADVICE SECTION
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Braided line has been like a breath of fresh air to sea angling. At a stroke it has improved presentation, bite indication and fishing fun...but you have to understand how braid works. Contributing editor Alan Yates explains...
BRAID – MYTH OR MAGIC?
WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?
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ead manufacturers’ treatments add colour or claims about their abrasion-resistant modern braid line coatings. Polyamides without underhave undergone standing the changes in recent science and you’ll be confused. times and modern Non-stretch braided line mono is far superior (Dacron) has been around for to the lines we used years, then super-strong Kevlar several decades ago. was introduced in 1965. Now the It still stretches, but man-made polyethylene braid is generally tougher fibres are blended and improved and lacks the coil specifically for angling. memory of The basic difference original between monofilanylon ment and braid is lines. that braid has zero Braid is stretch and gives made by ALWAYS USE A SHOCKLEADER direct contact with twisting BETWEEN YOUR the fish, which polyethylene BRAID AND THE RIG improves bite fibres together, detection, presentation which produces a and general fishing feel. line that is stronger, of Braid is also far tougher and lower diameter per breaking more wear-resistant than nylon, strain and has little stretch. but it is not the total solution to A 0.06mm diameter mono has a all fishing situations, and mono breaking strain of about 1lb – can still hold sway in many braid of that diameter is upwards branches of the sport. of 8lb. Far stronger line of lower Single strand mono is made by diameter brings many advantages. melting polyamide (nylon in European and Japanese braids pellet form) that is stretched to are mainly made from Dyneema, form a long continuous strand. while American braids are often Further stretching results in the latest Spectra fibres, which various diameters, and other are more expensive. Spectra
Top tip
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claims to be 10 times stronger than steel, as opposed to Dyneema’s five times. Early braid lines were flat, because they were made for the construction of things other than fishing line. This caused them to float, making them most suited to spinning. Now round-profiled
braids specifically for angling actually include some that sink. Some of the latest braids, like Fireline, include a thin outer coating or are slightly heated to fuse the fibres together to give a softer feel and better line flow.
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SEA ANGLER EXPLORING THE IRISH ANGLE
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Arrivals lounge
Paul Fenech didn’t have to wait long for his first bite at the airport.
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SEA ANGLER ISSUE 437
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SEA ANGLER LATEST NEWS Please send in your news to
mel.russ@bauermedia.co.uk
SeaNews An insight into what’s happening in sea angling
RADIO FEE SHOCK FOR LIFEBOAT SERVICE The Lifeboat service could see the charge for using its VHF radios leap by a staggering £200,000 if Ofcom, the communications regulator, gets its way. Currently the RNLI, which is a registered charity, pays an annual discounted rate of £48,000, but the authorities want to charge it the full commercial rate. Peter Bradley, RNLI operations
Reef finds favour
The RSPB, which represents Britain’s birdwatchers, claims a reef built across the Severn estuary would generate more electricity, cost less to build and protect wildlife, including fish, far better than the proposed plan to build a barrage from Cardiff to Weston-super-Mare. RSPB engineers say a ‘greener’ 12-mile reef, which would be built between Aberthaw and Minehead, could cost £2bn less and produce more power than the proposed barrier scheme. Power would be generated as water flowed through turbines, but unlike the barrage idea, the reef wouldn’t affect the tide height so much, therefore preserving fishing grounds and bird breeding areas.
Welsh select women’s team
The five women who will fish for the Welsh FSA team in this year’s Home Internationals and World Championships, sponsored by Tronix UK, have been named. They are Helen Pearce , June Howell, Sally Owen, Karen Hancox and Pam Worrall.
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staff officer, said: “That’s a lot of extra cash that’s got to be collected. In fact, we could buy a couple of inshore lifeboats for the money. “The Government does not fund a seaborne lifeboat service, which is currently funded by the public to the tune of £124 million a year, and now it wants to charge us a huge amount of money for using our radios,” he added.
Radio contact is essential so that RNLI crews can liaise with other agencies like the Coastguard, RAF, police and ambulance services and other shipping. Ofcom wants to bring ‘market forces’ into civil aviation and maritime communications. Have you say by visiting http:// petitions.number10.gov.uk/RNLIRF-licences/
Superb cod session New Romney, Kent anglers Dave Knight, pictured, and Steve Savage fished aboard the former’s Warrior 175 and enjoyed a fantastic day’s fishing anchored in Kerton Road, east of Dungeness Point. The partnership had 36 cod to 10lb over a four-and-a-half-hour period. They fished lug and squid cocktails on Pennell rigs.
Anglers face big fines
Bumper whiting
Big whiting are fairly rare, so this super 3lb 14oz specimen caused a bit of stir when Upper Dicker, East Sussex angler John Fradd swung it aboard. He made the memorable catch on a big squid bait presented on a Pennell rig, while fishing aboard a private boat out of Eastbourne.
Anglers who try to fish illegally in Sunderland Port could face a hefty fine of £500 for each offence. The city council and police are warning anglers they will be prosecuted if they are caught trespassing on the South Docks estate. This follows a series of incidents where anglers have been caught flouting port rules and risking their lives by fishing out-of-bounds areas on the sea wall, New South Pier and old South Outlet. Port manager and harbour master, Captain Ian Duncan, said: “Although angling is a popular pursuit, we cannot allow anglers into the port estate on health and safety and security grounds. Despite several accidents in the past, fishermen are still placing themselves at risk by illegally entering the port through damaged fencing.”
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