Fish in the weed

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#1 Post by **Big Bear** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:25 am

Lads just a quick question. Last month when i was fishing for pollock i latched into a large pollock which won the battle of getting into the weed.... i was wondering is there any sure way of getting the pollock out??????????? :idea:

shanec · #2 Post by **shanec** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 9:31 am

well there are a few factors you have to take in to account like breakenstrain of the line what type of rod your use and your fish play skills noting perverse if your using a beach caster with like 18lbs line just skull drag the fish as with most sea fishing on heavy gear keep the rod as high up as possible as with with a big fish all ways keep the line tied so the fish doesn't have the chance to power dive hope this could help you a bit

#3 Post by **Big Bear** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 6:29 pm

Cheers use a light spinning rod with 12lbs breaking strain dont think my rod is up to skull dragging wouldnt believe in the method anyhow............. :wink:

#4 Post by **squalus** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:34 pm

Unfortunately the gear you are using isn't up to the job if a big fish decides to dive at all.

#5 Post by **kieran** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:41 pm

Hi

I've fished a few nasty pollack marks this year on 20 lb braid and lures and been smashed into the weed often... by even remarkably small fish!

What I have found is that a constant light pressure for as much as several minutes can produce miracles... in many cases the fish tires and just swims out, simple as that.

Okay, maybe only 1 in 3 but its fantastic when it happens...

Skull dragging a fish from heavy kelp can leave you, as it did with me one on occasion in March with a bit of fish cheek (!) attached to the treble.

If you can manouvre around the rocks to allow you apply pressure from a very different direction, all the better. This means having lots of line on the spool even if you intend to fish very close in, again it helps to have braid loaded in that the smaller diameter will increase your scope...

Where the added strength to you kit (be it rod backbone, line b/s etc.) comes in handy is in stopping the beast getting into the weed in the first place... once its in there, its up to you to prove which one is the more intelligent species! Yep, I''ve got all the IQ of an amoeba! :? :lol:

HTH

BTW, I am heading out December 17th for some shore (lure) pollacking!

#6 Post by **BigPhil** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:30 am

if you fish somewhere that has big fish and requires heavier gear to get them in there is only one choice, use it! :wink:

#7 Post by **Davy Murdoch** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:53 am

i have to agree with phil,we(myself and ronald) found a winter pollack mark that has the possibility of double figure fish(there was a 17lb 8oz pollack caught in the area last winter!) and i use 18lb line and a 12foot heavy spinning rod and i am thinking of going even heavier cos i watched ronald hook into a fish which he couldn`t stop and nearly smashed his gear. :shock: the biggest we had was 6lb and it was a struggle to get in so i wonder what a double would be like! i intend to find out this winter. :wink: :)

#8 Post by **pete** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:51 pm

Best use heavier line, 12lb line for pollock is likely to leave a lot of pollock swimming around with a lure stuck in their mouth. Old fella I know fishes pollock alot, he has taken to attaching a lenght of nylon coated wire, around 20lb strain, to the end of his mono same as is used in modern pike traces. This way when the fish goes to ground it can't rub and break the mono on the rocks or holdfasts of the kelp. He says its saved him a few good fish and he tends to get alot of pollock so I'm inclined not to disagree. Haven't tried it personally yet.

Pete

#9 Post by **Big Bear** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:12 pm

Thanks lads for the information hopefully i can apply it to my fishing in the future.... the reason im not a fan of the heavy gear is because the area i fish has a habit of throwing only small fish at you session after session then when you least expect it you will hit big fish after big fish and i hate to overpower the small ones for the sake of hoping for that big one.....

It also helps to boost my confidence that maybe it is the gear i use and not the fact that fish may be smarter than me :shock:

#10 Post by **BigPhil** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:24 pm

there are marks on the east antrim coast that guys spin for pollack with their beachcasters, 2-3oz lures and 20-25lb line to stand a chance of getting the fish in!!, they are normally after the double figure ones fair enough.

Sea Angling Ireland

Fish in the weed

Fish in the weed

fish in the weed