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It is obvious that you can’t catch fish that are somewhere else. Except in a match-fishing situation, the choice of the swim to fish is as much an art as it is a science. The one type of feature to which most coarse fish respond is cover, and this can be a great aid to locating them. Overhead cover gives fish a sense of security and refuge, and in most cases these areas are also rich in natural foods. In rivers, weed rafts are river features that belie the presence of chub and barbel; overhanging trees are great areas for perch; and barbel often tuck themselves away under the long, trailing fronds of water-crowfoot. On stillwater fisheries, water-lily beds, encroaching reed beds and overhanging trees are examples of natural features that provide fish with cover and can aid their location, as do fallen trees and sunken bushes. Fish also respond to man-made artifacts such as fishing platforms, floating islands and aerators. Perch are especially fond of holding position beneath moored boats and jetties. Fishing close to such areas is not always easy because of the risk of casting into the cover and losing hooked fish which make a bee-line for the snags. Strong tackle suitable for the job is really a must, and a hook-length trace of a breaking strain lower than the main line will reduce potential losses of the entire tackle set-up. Being prepared to react immediately to bites and control the first powerful surges of hooked fish are also essential. When fishing right alongside snags, strong lines, softer-actioned rods and a determination not to let the fish gain any line is a combination that works well. Top Tip When attempting to cast right alongside cover, trial and error will be necessary until the correct distance is achieved, whereafter the line could be marked at the reel with a trimmed-down strip of electrical tape or a sliding stop knot tied to it with powergum. If the main line or one of the loose ends of the sliding knot is slipped under the line clip on the reel spool before reeling in, subsequent casts can be gauged accurately each time. Bait wise, this is the time of the year where fish look for higher protein baits, if you want to target all species use a Nori bait. EFG 151 is a high protein Nori bait that will be excellent during the summer months. |