skimmers and pellet methods

[TF_wightangler]

now its winter and fish not moving around so much, would dead depth and pellets work for skimmers? I have usually laid well on ,particuarly if bonus carp around.To be honest did’nt think pellets would be major for skimmers in colder weather, any advice or comments?

[TF_wightangler]

further to above-am talking about natural venues not commies

[Tigra Rob]

could work on a mild day, but on a natural lake i’d say go natural. Do they see pellets all year-round?

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

Certainly with pellets it is critical to be at dead depth or with a straight line held against tow (if that makes sense) with the pellet just touching bottom and lift at ANY indication. With skimmers and F1’s they are more ‘think bites’ than positive movements.

I’ve got absolute faith in pellets and cold weather though.

Hard to beat an Omega when the water is cooler. Wheatgerm pellets are also well worth finding.

[TF_maker]

i agree, omega’s all the way, i use them all year round as feed for carp, they just love em, but at this time of year the skimmers really go for them, soak and bag em up for best results, try not to pump.

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

maker: I have used the old scald and bag method for preparing Omega’s and they tend to go a bit rubbery.

For the most part, my pellet fishing tends to be a close range and ‘just pumped’ Omega’s fit the bill done in a Pop Down till they just start to sink.

What advantages does preparing without pumping give?

[TF_baitchefParticipant]

Banded hard pellets all the way, at the end of the day if a skimmer or any fish for that matter wants to eat then it will. Suggesting that a skimmer will show a preference for soft pellets over hard is nonsense in my book.

[TF_baitchefParticipant]

I must point out that the reason why I am taking a focused approach solely on the banded hard pellets is because I am in the process of trying to sort that particular method out & am trying not to get sidetracked. I think this is something you have to do if you want to make it work.

[TF_maker]

i pour cold water over omega’s in a bag, blow the bag up, seal it then fridge over night, they will suck all the water and air in over night, perfect, i think omega are a rubbery pellet anyhow, i just think pumping takes a bit out of the pellet, i did pump when i started using them, but found bagging them gave a better responce, most anglers i know bag em. Might be just a personal thing.

[TF_maker]

in summer i put a bit of hemp with my omega and a tin of mashed up tuna in sunflower oil, in winter no hemp just a tin of tuna in spring water, works for me.

[TF_wightangler]

the skimmers ,a good size, see a bit of fishmeal but pellets really only in irregular matches. The head of fish is massive for a natural and the depth and shelves variable, to be honest hard pellets usually 6mm or 8 mm not so good for skimmers but probably because used up for the head of bonus carp when warmer.the tow can be a bit , but not major, the bottom is a sandy silt and despit this weed is sparse and marginal. Corn the usual banker but the wind is northerly tomorrow and sunday and temps not good. I have just read that HILT very slightly overdepth ok for skimmers, have usually laid on and corn ideal, however because cold can’t expect skimmers to move enough to register a laid on bait and although a different type of feeder was thinking a dead depth /soft pellet 4mm with a few micros worth a go, am a bit concerned about dead depth , i was concerned over weight of bait and its ‘suckabillity’ in cold weather.OOOTF your description of ‘think bites’ spot on!! hence my post-but you have answered my resrvatio about pellets at dead depth so big thanks , lads. would be using ringers micros and to fait to baitchef had’nt thought of using banded 4mm hard (the moores one sold at jollyes pet)at this venue. Plent to think about now, cheers.

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

I had an excellent run on some opens when I first got back into fishing and felt I could win or frame from most pegs on the venue.

During this run I had a club match on the same water and I was at pains to point out how critical it was to be at dead depth in the Winter when fishing for skimmers.

During the match a guy at the next peg fished 9″ or so overdepth all match and never had a bite and I managed a joint win from a so-so peg with a low 20lb!

If you didn’t get the rig right you could be forgiven for thinking that there wasn’t a fish in your peg!

[rolling]

So you fish dead depthin winter or lay on slightly,you can get the feel for how the fish preferto have it..What about the feeding pattern,Winter commi or natural.PELLETS…

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

Depends on the conditions I think.

The harder it is going to be then the easier it is to get it wrong too!

You HAVE to have a bait you have faith in as you may not be getting many bites.

Damped down micros or very small amount of Omega’s and I’m talking about a palm full for FIVE HOURS!

Where are you fishing rolling?

[Mick209]

I wonder if in clear water, punched bread; for the bait colour then for skimmers in coloured water maybe just get the softest, smallest hook pellet you can and finer wire hooks, should catch on the drop better that way if its viable.

[rolling]

ive started to go to staff moor as often as i can.more localy is town parks in paignton Torbay
or any of the n.abbot asociation warters…They are natural clay pits rock hard in winter..T parks is a mixed comm water.When you here anglers say after feeding they fish out the bait then when bites stop introduce more…what do you do when you still dont get bites sit there for ages with out a bite thinking shall i put some more grub in..

[rolling]

ive started to go to staff moor as often as i can.more localy is town parks in paignton Torbay
or any of the n.abbot asociation warters…They are natural clay pits rock hard in winter..T parks is a mixed comm water.When you here anglers say after feeding they fish out the bait then when bites stop introduce more…what do you do when you still dont get bites sit there for ages with out a bite thinking shall i put some more grub in..

[rolling]

dont know how that went in twice sorry…

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

In very cold weather, the venue I was refering to above in Parkers in Bulkington btw, the skimmers would just stop feeding altogether so you had to target the odd carp. I did have a few better ones on corn on the pole and only feeding maybe two or three grains between bites.

I’ve not fished Stafford Moor, unfortunately, but other posters on here have so they might give more venue specific help.

Good luck!

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