Best Digging Fork

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Liamo · #1 Post by **Liamo** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:23 pm

Lads,

Anyone know where I can get a good fork for digging lug? I've heard of flat tined potato forks as being the best for digging lug and so on in sand but can't figure out where I'd go to get one...

Liam

#2 Post by **kieran** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:01 pm

Try a good garden centre Liamo

If you can not get one, flatten the tines on an "ordinary" fork with a lump hammer. The width of the tine should be matched to what you are digging through - the finer the sand / more dense the material the thinner the tine, the looser the sand or for example shingle, the wider the tine...

Two other things to consider are (a) the thickness of the handle and how easy it is for you to grip it and (b) the length of the handle. A short handle is handy for throwing in the boot of the car but it may not suit tall people.

FWIW...

#3 Post by **Sean365** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:22 pm

B&Q sell a garden fork with fairly wide tines and a steel tubular handle. I think mine cost around €30. I am not positive but I think it is made by Wilkinson Sword.

#4 Post by **scara** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:07 pm

Sean365 wrote:B&Q sell a garden fork with fairly wide tines and a steel tubular handle. I think mine cost around €30. I am not positive but I think it is made by Wilkinson Sword.

I was looking at the wilkinson sword one in B&Q. Good stainless steel forks, long shaft. but I'm a bit weary as the shaft seems not to be connected that well (looks like one pop rivet). have you had any problems with it.

I broke a prong on my old one.

#5 Post by **Sean365** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:19 pm

The one I bought isnt stainless. I thought about the stainless one due to salt corrosion but instead opted for the mild steel one as its handle is welded to the head.

I think the tines on it are about 15mm wide. It is painted black and has an orange plastic coating on the T section of the handle.

The only negative is that it is a little on the heavy side when compared to other forks but I bought it only for digging bait and not the garden.

#6 Post by **stevecrow74** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:08 pm

got mine in atlantic homecare... stainless steel fork, plasstic shaft ith rubber grip handel... only 14 euro a few years age(probably doubled in price scince)
but its the best one ive ever seen... not an ounce of rust or corrosion anywhere and it gets plenty of use...

#7 Post by **Pat Spillane** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:06 pm

I bought that fork in B&Q last year and thought that I was going to dig to Australia. The first time I put it in the sand the handle broke. Maybe I was just unlucky but I didnt get another.

#8 Post by **blackiemc** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:16 pm

Digging lugworms, now that's something I know about!

IMHO if you are digging in clean sand for large lugs then a good lengthy garden spade is your only man. One dig one worm - simple.

I tried to use a fork last year and I was flailing around looking in holes for my prey, result, much more work for less return.

Blackie Mc

#9 Post by **stevecrow74** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:41 am

ah but a spade will chop any worms in the area into unusable pieces of black mush, less chance with fork...

and if you use a fork right you should be able to lift 3 - 5 lug in one go...
parctice, practice, practice...

#10 Post by **Read** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:57 am

and if you use a fork right you should be able to lift 3 - 5 lug in one go...

:shock: :shock: :shock:

#11 Post by **stevecrow74** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:25 am

[quote="stevecrow74"]
and if you use a fork right you should be able to lift 3 - 5 lug in one go...
[/quote]

i suppose i'm used to digging where lug is plentyful..

#12 Post by **Read** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:01 pm

I thought I was also digging where lug were plentiful. :(

Liamo · #13 Post by **Liamo** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:40 pm

and if you use a fork right you should be able to lift 3 - 5 lug in one go...

Dunno where you're diggin man! Either that or the fork I've been using up till now must be an incredible piece of crap altogether :-)

Seriously though, thanks for the help lads, will be in Cork next Friday. A visit to B & Q is on the cards I reckon

Liam

#14 Post by **blackiemc** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:32 pm

I don't mind getting 1 lug per dig, they average about 9 inches in length, with some close to a foot long. The way these worms are arranged in the sand I would need a mini JCB to get five with one dig, but I can get plenty in half an hour for an afternoon's fishing.

Blackie

#15 Post by **stevecrow74** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:59 pm

jasus!!! with a mini jcb i could dig a years supply of lug in one hour, but that would wipe out future supplies of lug for me...

#16 Post by **DaveHaddock** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:05 am

Shimano do a great range ...

#17 Post by **nthclare** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:24 am

I am a horticulturist by trade im working as a gardener at the moment so have a range of tools and to be honest I find the big wide hay forks the best for gettign lug as it cuts down in damaging the worms,
I suppose im handy at digging at this stage goes with the job but the old hay fork is great for getting up the sand its the technique and width of the fork that counts I know the wide prongs are good too but the oul hay fork does the job for me lol...........

#18 Post by **stevecrow74** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:56 pm

seems there's alot of lug diggers out there...

But what is the strangest thing people have asked/said to you when they see you digging for lug???

and what is the strangest thing dug up in the process of digging for lug???

i have had some one tell me "there's no point digging a hole there because the water comes in",

when asked what i am digging for and i tell them "lug worms", they reply, "you dont get lug worms in the beach, the sea is too salty for them, i can get you a load from my back garden if you like".

strangest thing dug up was a small piggy bank... it had just over 3 dollars in change...

post reply in scomber cafe here>> http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... php?t=5278

#19 Post by **corbyeire** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:12 pm

dollars :shock: :shock: :shock: :!: :!: :!: :!:

#20 Post by **stevecrow74** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 2:06 pm

yup... the piggy bank must have swam across the atlantic and landed on galway shores, only to end up burried in sand.... :shock: