GO FISHING 29
Angling Times Tuesday, March 3, 2009
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Get an edge with our great tricks for pepping up your hookbaits: www.gofishing.co.uk/advice This 6lb 3oz chub shows the versatility of the loafer float.
Martin’s loafer kit Rod: 15ft Drennan Float Master – this float rod has the backbone to land a big chub Reel: Okuma Aveon 30 – although I backwind when floatfishing I always set the clutch correctly Line: Drennan 4.4lb Floatfish – although it floats I still use line floatant to enhance this Hooklength: 3lb Team England to a size 12 Super Spade
There are lots of species that respond to a floatfished bait. Bait: Two tins of Dynamite Baits sweetcorn
took umbrage at this intrusion and did its best to smash me in the woodwork. Holding firm, I watched as the striped flank cut through the water inches from danger before submitting to the pressure. I could now see clearly the lobworm hanging from the corner of its mouth while it thrashed its head from side to side. Full of anger, it only gave in to the inevitable when shown the folds of my net – there sitting at the bottom was a big fish easily over 3lb. It was one-nil to the loafer. T r ip t wo p r e s e n t e d a n
altogether different challenge – roach in shallow, fast water. Although difficult to see with the surface displacement and a tinge of colour, I could make out a series of shadows ghosting across the gravel. It appeared a range of sizes were in residence, so what I needed to work out was a tactic that would target the bigger specimens. My odds of success would be slim w ith mag gots and experience has taught me that once the smaller fish begin to be hooked, the rest of the shoal melts away. So I opted for a bait
Although there were none over the magical 2lb mark, the roach gave great sport.
traditionally reser ved for summer – sweetcorn. Standing k nee-deep in mid-river I lowered in my loafer and chosen bait, watching intently as the f low grabbed hold and drew it closer to the shadows below. The question of whether they would take corn didn’t take long to answer, as a bite materialised straight away. A shaking sensation on the rod-tip followed by a silver f lank rolling on the surface confirmed that the culprit was a roach. My size 14 hook did an admirable job, defying every twist and turn until I was able to net more than 1lb of silver. The following hour was filled in a similar fashion in one of my favourite ways to fish – wading, floatfishing and catching roach. While they never reached the magic 2lb mark, it was still two-nil to the loafer. Session three arrived when the Thames began to fine down and chub came on my radar. For once I decided to leave the cheesepaste at home, and instead took a bucket of mashed bread and a fresh loaf – together with, you guessed it, a loafer! About 10yds downstream sat a near-bank raft with, I hoped, a shoal of hung r y f ish in residence. Two tangerine-sized ba l ls of ma sh st a r ted of f proceedings, the milky residue leaking out of each lump as it fell to the bottom. With no more than 4ft of water to deal with, I bulked the shot at the three-quarter point of the rig and allowed just t wo No4 dropper shots. When using large chunks of flake, shots any lighter would see it f loating upwards in an unnatural way. Happy with my tactcics, I
began to f ish, introducing another ball of feed every dozen trots. By being patient I knew the chub would break before I did, and sure enough, less than 30 minutes in and I connected to a big brute of a fish that tried desperately to steal my float. Unfortunately for him that wasn’t part of the plan, so he had to submit to a quick round of photos before I slipped all 6lb 3oz of him back safely. So if you’re unsure what to do in the last few trips of the season, my advice would be to pack a loafer. It really is a multi-functional float that will help you catch more fish.
Martin’s loafer tips 1
Use a small float band on the very tip of a loafer to prevent you moving the bait below when mending the line.
2 3
Use a long piece of silicone at the base to stop tangles.
4 5
When perch fishing use as small a loafer as possible.
Place bulk shot next to the float if you don’t require it for the flow – that way you can hold back better.
Always make sure your mainline floats.
Martin’s loafer rig