on going debate, strike or not to strike

[mikeomania]

this has been an ongoing debate for some time now and i personally am havin trouble picking between the two. The majority or my fishing revolves around the pellet and a few years ago i started lifting into my baits whilst fishing the pellet, 1) to save the pellet and 2) to avoid foulhookers. However as great as the benefits seem does anybody seem to miss a lot of bites fishing the pellet and lose a few fish in the intial stages possibly due to the hook not setting in because of lifting?

[TF_Hillbilly]

For me it depends on the bite. If it is a possitive guzunder it is met with a possitive lift of the pole but for nibbles or a suspicion of a bite I “feel” for the fish first with a much more gentle lift to save the pellet. As regards the foul hookers I was “done” next peg by 2lb by an angler who had five foul hooked fish in his catch last week. They were all decent F1’s and he was striking hard at every indication on the float.

[billy the squid s.t.aParticipant]

i find it’s best not to strike just lift realy fast and hard !

[mikeomania]

Have you found you have lost one or two fish hillbilly, just in the intial statges when lifting into bites, as if the hook has properly penetrated

[mikeomania]

good answer squider!

[pellethead76]

mikeomania what hooks r you using i was using 911s and found only the point of the hook was penetrating and the full hook wasnt going in so i switched back to 808s and i aint lost a fish also f1s and mirrors/commons feed different if am fishing a place thats predomintly mirrors and commons i tend to lay on a bit if its full of f1s i fish dead depth

[TF_Hillbilly]

Miko as per PH76 I find 808’s an excellent hook for winter fishing with almost any bait. I cannot honestly say that I have had more fish come off early in a match than late and find that the vast majority of fish losses are down to foul hookers.

[TF_freddy the frog]

Its strange how those foulhooked ones always seem to fall in the keepnet as their bieng returned.Does any one else have this problem.

[TF_Decaff]

Slippery little beggars Freddy aren’t they!

[TF_fillitinsomemore]

whats wrong with putting foulhookers in the net if you do not you are as daft as a frog.

[TF_Billy no FishParticipant]

Here’s first, a match thread i can comment on. After fishing with Darren Cox (name dropping git aren’t i) i now strike by aiming to see the bottom of the float i am using, while maintaining a tight line between pole tip and float. You’ll be surprised how you feel, rather than see the bite first.

I will add it does take a lot of concentration to maintain the tight contact between pole and float to get the maximum benefit.

[TF_freddy the frog]

BnF,i fish this way when fishing close,i tried to explain this method a couple of times,but the lads have a right chuckle.I also find when catching crucians a lot of them are hooked around the face and not actually in the mouth.

[TF_freddy the frog]

As Hillbilly and BnF say your’e feeling the bites before you see them.

[TF_baitchefParticipant]

Soft laccy & firm strike.

[mikeomania]

BNF does this only work for close in work?

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

If conditions dictate that you can use a short line between float and pole then even a 4″ lift will hit the majority of bites especially if you can get above the float.

Knocks can be met with a slight lift that i’d ‘progress’ if the line tightened: Hard to describe but hopefully you get my drift!

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

I only like lifting at bites when there are lots of fish in your swim otherwise its a strike.

[TF_Billy no FishParticipant]

mikeomania. Close and long. Fished it with Darren at the Glebe on pool 6 1st peg at 14m into the close vegetation. If you have it right, feeling that bite gives the split second to control the fish and move it into open water.

The key is not striking but lifting just enough to see the bottom of the float. It’s tricky but worthwhile.

[mikeomania]

is the advantage of holding your line tightish so that you can actually feel the bite then

[TF_freddy the frog]

Yes tou feel it before you seeit,try it it works.

[mikeomania]

does the fish not feel the resistence thou?

[pellethead76]

mike instead of striking i found that a gentle lift works all the time i found that if its a gazunder bite or a dip or a tremor on the float if you lift and dont connect with a fish and drop it back in you can sometimes induce a bite. through out a match i never ever leave me float stationary for more than a minute i am contiually lifting dropping and laying the rig in trying to induce my next bite. the reason behind me not strikin is i hate fishing long and having to ship back without a fish

[mikeomania]

i have a tenduncy to lift with a pellet and strike with corn, but i have found that a few fish have come off when lifting into bite with pellet as if they are not hooked properly. I think a fish has to close its mouth or at least turn its heard in order for you to connect when lifting at bites or you will just gently drag the pellet out of the fishes mouth. I found this alot with skimmers, lifting on a bite produced one in about every five, put a single maggot on and gentlely stirike on every bite bought a fish nearly every bite, anyone else find this? next time your fishin you put a 4mm pellet on and gently drag the pellet across the palm of your hand, the hook wont even penetrate the pellet, can you see my concern?

[billy the squid s.t.aParticipant]

hold hook against pellet so as point and shank both touching pellet . Then roll pellet up towards spade end until point sticks out and rest is bury’d . Then lift like a stealthy ninja.

[mikeomania]

cheers squid, mystery solved!

[TF_Billy no FishParticipant]

It’s the resistance that causes the fish to hook itself.

What i picture happening is the bait is in the fishes mouth. As it moves away you see/feel the movement and lift. The fish bolts, hooking itself.

All i can say is it works, but as billy the squid says the hook must stick out.

Oh, and the reason pellethead 76 is always working the float isn’t because he doesn’t like striking, it’s because he’s tight with his bait, and doesn’t want to feel the fish have robbed him!!

Must be a Scouse thing….

[mikeomania]

i’ll give it a go next time i go, not just a summer thing thou is it

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