Tips for match fishing....

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#1 Post by **James Barry** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:23 am

Im hoping 2 join a local club soon, first comp is coming up soon enough,, just wondering do you guys have any good tips that might help me out a bit iv only ever fished a in comps when i was younger when i started fishing. I know that the areas il be fishing will hold mostly flats!

Thanks.

#2 Post by **m.b3** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:27 am

where exactly are you fishing?

use a 3 hook flapper. 1 1/2' long snoods and size 4 fine wire match hooks- kamasan. this is good for up to medium range. if fishing closer use snoods around 2 1/2' to 3'. snood breaking strain and rig body depend on conditions. if sea is heavy u will get away with upping hooks to size 2's. try 2 hooks up the trace and one below. if more fish are hitting top hooks move bottom snood up.

bring blow lug, frozen black wraps, maddies and mackeral. tip lug off with maddies and a small piece of mackeral.

if u are fishing a surf beach lenghten traces to as long as u can manage but above mentioned rigs should still catch.

when using maddies giv them a quick dip in the sea b4 u cast and gently lob them out otherwise the will not stay on. keep ur baits tidy when fishing for flats and you will turn every bite into a fish. enough lug to cover shank of hook is usually enough. maddies are useful if sea is calm and can work when fished in big wriggling bunches. try a small floating bead on middle hook.

dont be afraid to use light leads and let the rig travel a little in the tide to find fish or trigger takes from fish. respect the person beside you and dont keep drifting over into his peg- very frustrating :evil: !!

if you find a particular spot where the fish keep taking you can use a grip lead to keep baits in that area. consistantly accurate casting will get u more fish.

hope this helps a little and best of luck...i'm rambling on a bit...appologies.

#3 Post by **James Barry** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:33 pm

Thanks for the reply m.b3 will let you know how i get on,, i think the first comp is on a estuary area with alot of flatties so the above should apply. As long as i dont blank itl b ok :oops:

Mr_Green · #4 Post by **Mr_Green** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:03 pm

is that 1 1/2 foot snoods for medium and 3 foot snoods for close in? my snoods are well shorter and i do get results.. ive always been curious about other fishermens snoods (any dirty minded peope in the house?) ..i mean i use short snoods and may go up to 36 inches for ray fishing (my career is just starting lol)..but i was talking to a professioanl who use 4foot snoods at times!! how do u distinguish bewteen what snoods will work on the day mark?

#5 Post by **m.b3** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:10 pm

James Barry wrote:Thanks for the reply m.b3 will let you know how i get on,, i think the first comp is on a estuary area with alot of flatties so the above should apply. As long as i dont blank itl b ok :oops:

if ur fishing an estuary u may need crab depending on how far inland u are fishing. ask some of the lads fishing it. crab is the only bait worth using in a lot of estuaries if it's flounder u want.

snood lenght varies for different reasons. longer snoods can suit a rolling surf as they utilise the movement of the sea. they search out the sea bed. short snoods stay put, good if you want baits near the bottom in a big tide but as good for 'fish finding'. experienced anglers dont seem to use short snoods much unless on booms. anything under 18" usually on a boom. in saying that i have 1 or 2 rigs with 10" snoods that can be leathal at times. they are short for good reason. long snoods fished into tideless sea with no movement have no tide to stretch them out and move the baits around. some anglers use floating beads, but it can pay to try a shorter snood and fish the hooks up as the baits will hang from the rig rather than rest static on the bottom(at short to medium range).