| After location bait and it's correct presentation is the | | | | the bag marked "pilchards" with you when fishing in |
| most important factor governing success or failure. | | | | case someone accuses you of killing undersized fish |
| No matter how expensive your tackle is, if the fish | | | | for bait.SANDEELS AND LANCE FISHSandeels can be |
| won't bite you go home empty. Freshwater fish can | | | | used live by hooking threw the upper lip or threw the |
| go several months without eating, most marine fish | | | | base of the eye socket using a fine wire hook. There |
| can not, indeed many marine fish will die if not fed | | | | is a space here so little damage is done. Dead |
| several times a day( a big problem for aquarists | | | | sandeels are hooked by sliding them mouth first on |
| rather than anglers). Fish will eat a wide range of | | | | to the hook and turning so the hook comes out the |
| prey as cutting open the stomach will show but | | | | anal area. The quality of frozen sandeels varies from |
| these are not always the best baits to use. | | | | bait shop to bait shop with those which turn mushy |
| Remember your bait is not the only piece of food in | | | | best avoided in future. Sandeels are best fished with |
| the water, the secret of angling is to make the fish | | | | a light rig with a long snood that moves around giving |
| ignore everything else and take your bait instead.Fish | | | | the impression that the sandeel is struggling in the |
| are not stupid, they want as much food as possible | | | | surf. It is common to find cod and whiting stuffed full |
| for as little effort as possible. This is known as | | | | of sandeels. Live Sandeels cast poorly, ripping lose if |
| optimal foraging theory, and although a contraversial | | | | any real power is applied. Live sandeels are caught in |
| subject amongst ethologists it's well worth | | | | seine nets or found buried in the sand along the low |
| remembering. Imagine a bass spotting a sandeel | | | | watermark. Keep cold and well aerated in a non |
| some distance away, first he calculates the energy | | | | metal container.Lance fish are bought frozen from |
| he'll use to catch it then balances it against the | | | | pet shops. Make sure you get the larger size (about |
| energy gained by eating it, only if the pay off is | | | | 2 inches) and make a good alternative to sandeels |
| greater than the effort will he bother. No fish is going | | | | when a smaller bait is needed. Unlike sandeels they |
| to swim very far off course to pick up a puny little | | | | may be fed to pet fish at home. If the fishing tackle |
| worm on your hook, imagine driving to the out of | | | | shop is closed or out of bait pet shops can be a |
| town supermarket just for one can of beans. This is | | | | good alternativeWHITEBAITBags of these little silver |
| the first rule DO NOT SKIMP WITH BAIT. Be | | | | fish can be bought cheaply from fishmongers. |
| generous, make it worth the fishes while to stop | | | | Defrost enough for your trip because they dont |
| chasing that shoal and pick up your static large | | | | refreeze well.OTHER SMALL FISHRock pools are full |
| portion.A fish can be said to show a preference for a | | | | of small fish which at first though could be used as |
| food if it seeks out that item despite other food | | | | bait. However unless you know what is what it is |
| items being more available. This is the second rule | | | | best to leave them alone. Some may be rare or |
| STICK WITH THE WELL KNOWN BAITS (Yes we've | | | | endangered species, others will may have defensive |
| all heard stories of some guy sticking a cream bun on | | | | mechanisms to deter predators and all will have |
| a hook for a laugh and landing 30 lb cod). If one bait | | | | cryptic colouration for camouflage. Undersized fish |
| does not work try another as different species | | | | should be returned alive to the water and not |
| prefer different food and the colour of the water | | | | rehooked as live bait unless there is a very good |
| can play a big part. If you have an idea for a new | | | | chance it will be taken. Estuaries in late summer are |
| bait try it out when the fishings good, if everybody | | | | often jammed packed with very small flounder |
| else is catching bag fulls and your frozen fishfingers | | | | (often making fishing impossible) and although we've |
| are too then your on to something.Rule number | | | | all found them inside cod and whiting should be left |
| three is MATCH THE SIZE OF YOUR BAIT TO THE | | | | alone. Many aquarists buy or breed goldfish and |
| SIZE OF THE FISH YOU EXPECT TO CATCH. Cod | | | | livebearers (guppies, mollies etc) to feed to pet fish |
| have large mouths and appetites to match, flatties | | | | but these are too expensive for fishing.SquidSquid is |
| have little mouths and cannot fit a size 6/0 hook | | | | readily available from fishmongers, supermarkets and |
| laden with a mussel and lug cocktail in their gobs. | | | | of course your local bait shop. It can be used whole |
| Match the size of the hook with the size of the bait, | | | | or cut in to strips for the smaller species. Strips can |
| a small hook buried deep inside a bait is well | | | | seem a tad thin so cutting twice the length and |
| protected and the fish will not be impaled. If you are | | | | folding in half is a good idea. Squid is a tough bait |
| fishing for the smaller species it is better to use a 2-4 | | | | which lasts a long time in the water and withstands |
| hook paternoster and spread the bait out rather than | | | | hard casting making it suitable for tipping off other |
| lump it on one hook. A pennel rig is two hooks in the | | | | baits, lug and squid cocktails being an all time cod |
| same bait and increases the chance of contact when | | | | classic. It is a decent winter bait particularly for |
| large baits are used.The final rule is PRESENT IT | | | | whiting but in my opinion nothing special. I have never |
| PROPERLY . A lugworm suspended 3 ft above the | | | | caught a fish on squid in the summer months, even |
| seabed will set alarm bells ringing that somethings not | | | | when anglers around me have been pulling them out |
| quite right.Worm BaitsWorm baits fall into two groups | | | | like no tomorrow on other baits. Squid is not a food |
| Ragworms and lugworms. All are treat in much the | | | | source readily available to fish in the UK so they are |
| same way, stick the hook in the tail end and thread | | | | probably a little reluctant to try it although crabs |
| up the line till you reach the desired size. A pennel rig | | | | seem to be more attracted to squid than any other |
| should be used when fishing multiple | | | | bait. As a note of interest I have tried feeding both |
| worms.RAGWORMSLots of species available all make | | | | marine and freshwater fish in my aquariums with |
| good bait. The big one is the king rag Nereis virens | | | | squid from the petshop and have found that while |
| reaching 40 cm in length. Paddle, rock and cat worms | | | | the marine fish largely ignore it freshwater fish go |
| are similar in appearance and should not be ignored. | | | | crazy for it. Should I ever take up course fishing I will |
| Many species have jaws (nippers), these can give a | | | | certainly be giving squid a try. Those little plastic |
| very mild nip. Can be dug up or found under rocks. | | | | squids (muppets) are popular with local boat anglers |
| Cultured ragworm is readily available all year round | | | | but are not suitable for shore fishing.Peeler CrabThe |
| from most bait suppliers. Do not freeze | | | | outer shell (carapace) of the common shore crab |
| ragworms.LUGWORMSTwo species are used as bait | | | | Carcinus maenas needs to be cast if the crab is to |
| The common lugworm Arenicola marina which lives in | | | | grow. During this stage the crab becomes known to |
| sheltered sandy beaches in a U shaped burrow with a | | | | anglers as peeler crab and to cod as dinner. I have |
| cast and hole at each end. And Black lug Arenicola | | | | been told that fish in aquariums seem to know when |
| defodiens (also called runnydown) is much larger and | | | | the carpace is due to come off and hang around the |
| does not form a hole next to the cast. There can be | | | | rock impatiently, it is rumoured the crab always |
| a lot of local names for lugworms runnydown, | | | | leaves it's shelter after casting and seeks new |
| yellowtails, blowlug etc. To dig up the common | | | | shelter.Look for crabs in areas with lots of rock and |
| lugworm dig a trench and work along it filling it in as | | | | weed, children seem to have an uncanny knack of |
| you go. This produces the greatest number of | | | | knowing which rocks to look under. Look for medium |
| worms for the least effort and prevents the beach | | | | sized crabs, large ones moult less frequently and small |
| looking like the surface of the moon. Much is said | | | | specimens should be left till another day. Crabs that |
| baout the environmental impact of bait digging by | | | | are ready to peel will have a hairline crack near the |
| anti-angling idiots. However it must be remembered | | | | tail end, be dull in colour with a soapy feel. A |
| that a single rough sea can strip an entire beach of | | | | discarded shell nearby often indicates a freshly peeled |
| lugworms and all its sub-sand organisms which I think | | | | crab is nearby. Those not quite ready can be hurried |
| puts my dozen worms in perspective. Do not dig | | | | along by storing in seaweed (change regularly) in a |
| around boat moorings for obvious reasons. A while | | | | cool spot. Never keep soft crabs in the same |
| back someone got into bother for bait digging in | | | | container as peelers. Leave females with eggs alone. |
| Duridge Bay (around the time vast quantities of sand | | | | If you intend to lay a bit pipe to catch crabs put it in |
| were being removed for commercial purposes). Black | | | | an difficult to reach place out of site to prevent your |
| lug have to be dug out individually, always handle with | | | | crabs from been stolen.To use remove the legs (use |
| wet hands to prevent them busting.Black lug can be | | | | to make cocktails), bung on a hook and tie with |
| frozen easily.Pop them and squeeze the guts out.Lie | | | | thread (elasticated bait thread is best but ordinary will |
| them straight on a couple of layers of | | | | do). Large specimens can be cut into smaller pieces. |
| newspaper.Cover with a generous layer of salt for | | | | To freeze crab remove the lungs first, I like to |
| about 3 hoursShake off the salt and repeat steps 2 | | | | freeze them on the hook and pack individually, store |
| and 3.Shake off the salt and lie the worms one inch | | | | in a thermos flask when fishing.Artificial baitArtifical |
| apart on a length of newspaperRoll up the paper and | | | | bait is a waste of money. Ignore claims that fish can't |
| freeze.Frozen black lug is ok when you fancy a nights | | | | tell the difference or they taste just like the real |
| fishing and you've missed the bait shop but it can't | | | | thing (mmm I can't believe it's not lugworm, yeah |
| beat fresh bait.Mussels and RazorfishMussels can be | | | | right). The only artificial bait worth it place in my |
| bought alive from fishmongers or frozen from bait | | | | tackle box are lures, I obtain all my Lures on eBay. |
| shops and pet shops. Most housewives know to | | | | Spinning is best done when you know fish are about |
| reject mussels that don't clamp shut when tapped | | | | and where deep water is close in e.g. steep beaches, |
| but anglers need not worry about this as mussels | | | | rocks, piers etc. I like to spin when I prematurely run |
| which are "off" often make the best bait. Live | | | | out of bait. Children who do not yet developed the |
| mussels can be parted from there shells by severing | | | | virtue of patience and winge to check the bait every |
| the anterior and posterior adductor muscles and | | | | three seconds can be kept quiet by spinning.It has |
| scooping out, or leaving to die in a bucket (helps bring | | | | been said a million times that most lure are designed |
| out the flavour). Mussels are not on the menu | | | | to catch anglers not fish. One summer I walked along |
| normally as they are protected by a hard shell, those | | | | Whitby pier which was packed with people fishing for |
| which are eaten have normally died and have been | | | | mackerel. The mackerel shoals could easily be seen |
| washed out. Tie mussels on to the hook with thread, | | | | yet only a few anglers were landing them. Many lures |
| taking care not to pull to tight. I like to freeze them | | | | on sale are designed for the American market. |
| on the hook and keep them wrapped separately until | | | | Americans are blessed with shores full of huge |
| needed, this allows them to be cast further, they will | | | | predatory fish, we are not. These lures may mimick |
| defrost quickly once they hit the water. Adding | | | | the baitfish living in the USA quite well but can be of |
| pilchard oil to the mussel before freezing increases its | | | | little use in the UK. Also remember that the bass |
| effectiveness. Although the edible mussel Mytilus | | | | swimming around the UK coastline are a different |
| edulis is the one normally used as bait the horse | | | | species from those found in the American lakes. |
| mussels Modiolus modiolus can also be used. Other | | | | When visiting websites selling lures, claims such as |
| native species are too small to bother with. Mussels | | | | "Best lure in the world" should be taken with a pinch |
| bought frozen pet shops are very small and make | | | | of salt as these claims are impossible to prove. |
| good lugworm and mussel cocktails. Mussel beds are | | | | Remember the description was probably written by a |
| also good places to fish.Razorfish Ensis siliqua, also | | | | marketing executive who has never held a rod in his |
| called pod razor and spouter fish are rarely for sale | | | | life. Instead use your own instinct and past |
| so have to be gather by hand. Walk along the low | | | | experience before parting with your cash.Be sensible |
| tide mark without shoes on very softly and look for | | | | with size. The lure should look like potential prey. I |
| keyhole shaped holes in the sand. Pour salt down the | | | | have caught very small fish on lures that were bigger |
| hole and grab tightly when it pops out. The smaller | | | | than they were and believe this may be due to the |
| Sword razor is also suitable. Treat as mussels for | | | | lure triggering an attack response rather than feeding |
| bait.Many species of bivalves can be found buried in | | | | one.Use tackle capable of casting a light weight. a |
| the sand e.g. gapers, scallops, tellins, cockles, oysters, | | | | drilled bullet or a barrel lead 2ft up the line can be |
| etc and are worth trying for bait where they are | | | | used to gain extra weight.When fishing from a high |
| abundant.Do not bother with limpetsFish as bait | | | | platform point the rod tip downwards to give more |
| Big fish eat little fish, but which ones are best for | | | | natural movement to the lure.A sink and draw |
| bait. Whilst many fish will eat anything that fits in their | | | | method works best. Cast out let it sink reel in and |
| mouths not all are suitable for bait. When there is a | | | | stop, let it sink and reel in....Red rubber sandeels are |
| lot of undersize fish about nicking the bait the use of | | | | best during the day, Black at night with a full |
| small baitfish can help target out the bigger | | | | moon.The best colour for other types varies |
| specimensHERRING AND MACKERELGrouped here | | | | according to weather conditions and visability, if one |
| together because they are treat in much the same | | | | colour isn't working switch to another.Keep an eye on |
| way. Use whole fish for shark and conger, Conger | | | | other anglers spinning to see which colours are |
| are a rare catch in north east england, although the | | | | producing on the day.Always incorporate a swivel to |
| rocks off Craster and Dunstanburgh have been know | | | | prevent line twist.Expect to lose lures. Yes I know |
| to produce. Removing the backbone so the two | | | | they are expensive but so is bait.In bright conditions |
| flanks are separate and can flap freely is a good way | | | | fish head to weedbeds. Work the lure around |
| to present this bait. Shark fishing is unheard of from | | | | weedbeds not through them.Seagulls picking off small |
| the beaches around here. More commonly these fish | | | | fish often indicates the fish have been driven to the |
| are cut into bite size strips before use. They give off | | | | surface by larger fish.Reel in the correct speed. Too |
| a lot of scent and are unbeatable for coalies in the | | | | fast the fish will not attempt to chase, too slow the |
| summer. Thin strips fished with a float will produce | | | | lure may not move the way it was designed to.Lines |
| bags full of mackerel from almost any pier in the | | | | of debris on the surface are good places to try, |
| summer. When the shoals are in it is worth taken a | | | | particularly for mackerel.On the tidal run spin so the |
| few for dinner and bait but don't go crazy, dozens of | | | | lure moves in the direction of the current.Dead |
| dead fish next to you impresses no one and you risk | | | | sandeels move unnaturally through the water when |
| a earful from more conservation minded anglers. | | | | spun.Do not stop working the lure until it is out of the |
| Mackerel are also caught using feathers or any small | | | | water.When Fishing over rough ground a float can be |
| shiny lure on light tackle. Although mackerel and | | | | used to prevent loss.Painting your lead sinker to look |
| herring can be bought frozen from bait shops they | | | | like a small fish can attract fish to your bait.Spinning is |
| often turn to a mush when defrosted. Fish mongers | | | | more energetic than bait fishing and your muscles will |
| are a better source but buy ready filleted as you will | | | | quickly become fatiqued reducing your casting |
| get more for your money and make sure they have | | | | distance. Don't take too much tackle with you, rest |
| not been smoked.PILCHARDS, SARDINESNo not the | | | | every ten casts or so for a few minutes or alternate |
| tinned ones, I've tried them they don't work. These | | | | between bait and spinning duty with a friend. Drinking |
| can be bought frozen in many supermarkets and fish | | | | a glucose based sports drink can help. Powerlifters |
| mongers. Like mackerel and herring they are an oily | | | | often take creatine monohydrate as an energy |
| fish giving off plently of scent. Being smaller they can | | | | source for explosive movements. I have tried this |
| be used whole when a mackeral would be too large | | | | and found no difference to distance cast or time for |
| or cut into strips. Warning, it is a good idea to keep | | | | fatique to set in. |