Drifting for Flatfish

[Cluais]

Lads I was hopeing someone could give me some advice on tactics and rigs to use when drifting over sand for flatfish in a boat

[Tanglerat]

One up, one down or one up, two down on a wishbone rig. No harm in blinging the down hook(s) with beads, blades or other shiney attractors, but fresh bait does most of the work for you. change bait every 15-20 mins. Keep hook size to about 2/0, unless you expect to meet big brill or turbot when i'd use 4/0 or 5/0. Go as light as possible on the lead weight, just have enough to stay in touch with the bottom as you're drifting. Shorten the dragging hooks length when the tide is fastest, lengthen it when tide slackens. I like clear Amnesia, 20lb for general flatties, 40 lb for turbot/brill. Pre-stretch it to straighten out any coils.

[donal domeney]

A spreader bar would be my first choice weighed down with a 6oz watch lead.
The snood (20lb floro) would be about 20" long with beads and a spinner blade attached and a size 1 hook or smaller if after the dabs
That rig would also be used for other species.
I would often have a wire boom attached about 12" above the spreader with a shorter snood or a hokkai attached

The baits on the spreader would vary, for the plaice a 3” narrow piece of mackerel on one side and lug or rag on the other often work best in Cork harbour though my best plaice last year, a 3lb fish, was taken on mussel.

If you’re after the flounder in Youghal bay then crab and mussel would be my first choice

Fishing on the drift is best done while holding the rod. I’d leave it in free spool and hold the line with my thumb a soon as a bit is detected I would let it line run free for a few feet to give it a chance to develop.

One to watch for is the “braidy bites” when going over stone or gravel ground the braid will cause the rod to nod a bit more often giving the impression of a bite. To check for a bite slowly lift the lead just off the bottom that will let you know what’s happening down below.

The other thing to watch for is the speed of the drift. If it is a case of constantly having to leave off line to keep the lead on the bottom that’s hard going and unless there are plenty of flats in the area then it’s often a waste of time

[Donnyboy1]

I was thinking the same question...

Great post lads, Thanks!

[beachcomber]

Agree with Donal on the spreader bar and the very important matter of the speed of the drift. frequently drifting too fast results in the bait being off the bottom therefore reducing bites. A drogue can help remedy this prob in a wind against tide situtation and allow you to use a lighter lead. Sonar spoons work very well for all the flatfish family.

[Cluais]

That's great thanks lads

[PaulOC]

Lads I was hopeing someone could give me some advice on tactics and rigs to use when drifting over sand for flatfish in a boat

flowing 3 hook trace with beads and blades,have the trace at least 7 foot long,should be bang on for plaice! 1 up 2 down with 1.0 hooks for dabs!! rag and strip of squid should do the trick.

[SlackLiner]

Just as an extra tip, I find letting loads of line out helps keep the bait hard on the bottom and reduces the scare factor from the boat - works well in shallow water or when fish are picky