Squat fishing

[TF_drawbag1967]

Need some advice on this and I know there’s quite a few canal heads on here. Got drawn on a wide stretch of the canal at weekend 20m, needed 14.5m to get up on the far shelf, no problem so far until of course the whistle blows and wind picks up yes you guessed it could not get the feed out far enough is there anything you can add to Squat to make it heavier. Also what catapults are people using, I was using the Fox Canal (Purple) which is no good at this distance.

[TF_simon pavey]

how about using a toss pot or similar ……

[TF_drawbag1967]

Did think about it Simon but the towpath is very busy and you need to keep it going in.

[TF_Dodge]

Exactly the same happened to me last sunday whilst fishing an open on the bridgewater canal in Manchester ….. you have to fish 14 mtrs or longer there as that is where the shelf is on most pegs ….. lovely flat calm at the all in then after an hour it blew a hoolie for the rest of the match !!!! Loose feeding squatts became impossible and my catch rate slowed right down (lovely dumpy roach aswell) i reverted to using a tiny fruit shoot bottle top for feeding loose squatts but shipping out in the wind most squatts were bouncing out … impossible situation and one of those nearly days im affraid , ended weighing in 4lb odd for 4th in the match when 8 lb was on the cards after an hour into the match 🙁 hey ho !

I use the drennan cattys for all my squatt fishing …. 2 with the red medium/soft elastic which a brill for wide canals in normal conditions / light winds and 1 with the extra soft blue elastic for narrow canals if that helps a little 😉 🙂

[TF_Swimfeeder]

Thats a tough one mate!

A small pinch of hemp and fish squat over the top, or you could try a pinch of hemp placed in the catty then a pinch of squat on top, the hemp might propel the squat a little further in those windy conditions. If you do feed hemp like this don’t forget to try a piece on the hook from time to time, you may be pleasantly surprised, you can use the same rig too!

[TF_jwb]

Agree with the hemp suggestion, both as feed and to try and help propel the squatts further.
I would also try some sort of light toss pot, kinder, and drip squatts in through this.

[TF_simon pavey]

Been thinking hard about this as I also have a canal match this sunday. How did match anglers fish squat before modern poles were about?
btw looks like it’s a south wind on sunday so I am praying for a peg on an east /west pound……..

[TF_Dodge]

The hemp idea is good in theory but doesnt work in my experience ….. shipping out to 14mtrs plus in a strong wind and the hemp hookbait will nearly always come off and drive you crackers ! 😮 another nightmare scenario when this weather situation occurs. I caught maybe another pound and a half by taking 2 sections off and fishing my 14 mtr depth rig at 11mtrs on the drop where i could manage to catty a few squatts in , it wasnt as productive as a lot of fish were still on the 14 mtr line where i had fed 5 jaffas of g/b on the all in plus the boats use the 11 mtr line so the roach dont settle there for long periods. The only other option is to start a shorter big fish line up (worm & caster or just a caster peg) and sit it out for a bonus fish or two imho.

[TF_Team Rattler]

What about lining the toss pot with lyles golden syrup before you put squatts in it?
Should keep them all in till you’ve shipped out and then periodically dip the pot, they won’t all come out in one go.

[TF_fadd1st]

why not use a little sticky mag just to lightly hold them together to get the extra distance.

Dave

[TF_NW Cut Angler]

A pepperpot style pole cup works for me and if you fill it full they keep dripping out for a long time. If you hook a fish quick turn of the pole none come out.

[TF_Dodge]

Problem is more times than not you need to feed 20 or so squatts at a time spread over maybe a meter area ….. sometimes 2 quick cattys of feed to get the roach competing properly especially in deeper canals , this can sometimes produce a much better stamp. Drip feeding will get a few bites but it aint the same ! 😉

[Anonymous]

try using soil or leam to help the squatts stay in the pot.darren cox uses leam on casters to fire them a bit further in strong winds.might work with squatts as well.

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