Winter bites

[alex]

After reading the angling papers last week I read a story about a guy striking a forty pound carp on two bleeps of his alarm I thought maybe it was just lucky but then I read the catch reports today and saw that the guy who caught the Pug also struck on two bleeps. I would like to know if any of you have struck on slight indications in the winter if so can you give me some advice on what to look for in a winter bite.
Alex.

[Rivercarper]

Don't wait for bleeps on your buzzers watch your rod tops for knocks.I once had nine fish in a day from Willow park with out the buzzers sounding once.

[scorpio]

It does also depend on how sensitive your buzzers are set. Mine are set for Bream & Tench so I would have probably had 4 or 6 bleeps to a carpers 2. Neil is right, watch your line and rod tips. I have had many fish by watching the line where it enters the water and not a sound from the buzzers.

Tony

[Smarts]

Turn the alarms to the ON position,Neil.....................!

Seriously,this is good advice as rods knock and lightweight hangers in particular will jump without a single bleep.It's good to have alarms that are set for vibration as they sound easier than ones with magnet wheels.

It's still a mystery when to strike though!...one bleep....two bleeps.......is it a liner?......did my bobbin move?.....is a carp trying to eject the hook at this very moment...etc.......doh!

Smarts

[CarponlineEditor]

I have had quite a few fish on single bleeps or rod knocks. I look at it from the point of view that many anglers say that casting quite frequently in the winter until you find the fish is a good idea. I have always had a problem with this, as I think to myself that a fish may just about be going to eat my bait but since I started hitting the bleeps etc I have had more fish in the cold weather. I just dont mind if I am striking more often and not hitting anything as I should be casting frequently anyway.

Andy

[Sim0n]

...on a tangent to what you are asking...there are a few things you can do to maximise indication in winter......

1. Scale down your mainline to the minimum diameter you feel comfortable with. (obviously safety first). Or braid.
2. Point your rods directly at your baits.
3. Use slack lines/light bobbins.
4. Use running leads...with large rings for your line to pass through easily.
5. Try not to use backleads.
6. Sit next to your rods to strike anything suspicious...as the quicker you react the better.

Hope this helps...
Simon.

[alex]

Some good advice shamefully I'm all ready doing all of that apart from light swingers I'm using the solar buttbangers with the standard drag weight and as for rod tips I tried it the fish are that good that they don't even give you chance to see the rod tip move my Delkims are set a level 6 and still the fish quickly pick the bait up and drop it again I'm starting to worry about it this the first winter I have had with no carp the swinger weight did not make any difference last winter the fish still screamed off with the bait I have never had to strike small bites before only when I have been float fishing.
Alex.

[bazza]

i might be stating the obvious here, but a running lead offers far better bite indication than a fixed lead if fishing for bleeps rather than full blooded runs...


yeah, i have just noticed simon's post saying exactly the same thing. d'oh!
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by bazza on 01/02/01 09:51 PM.</FONT></P>

[alex]

I already use them any way and it still makes no difference.