18 replies to this topic

[rayray519]

Anyone have tips for float fishing when the conditions are bit windy (14-15km/h) using centerpin reel & rod?

I assume a bigger float might help? The water I'd like to fish is pretty big and is fast at times.


Thanks!

[FrequentFlyer]

the hard part is keeping the wind from blowing line out vs the current pulling line out naturally.  one way to counter the wind, keep your line low, or on the water.  a bigger float is only needed if you're going to add more weight

[Shmogley]

pretty much what ff said, keep your tip low. let the line sit on the water and semi tight to your rod tip so you can still set the hook but the wind wont create drag. the line in the water will mess up the drift a bit sometimes depending on the currents and seams but itll be loads better then letting the wind carry it.

 

windy days are good days to put a streamer or nymph under the float as those both benefit from a bit of odd movement.

[rayray519]

Thanks shmogley and FF. I'll keep this in mind.

[NiagaraSteel]

A bigger float should be more stable and wouldn't get pushed around as much. Make sure to have enough weight under it so that only the hi-vis top is showing. I suppose you could add an extra shot or two so that it rides a little lower.

[fenwickfisher]

Ive read that if u place a shot above your float it will help keep your line down and out of the wind not too sure on exact placement but im pretty sure i read it in the raven float fishing guide

[DILLIGAF?!]

Hi-vis float lines are light and are easily blown by winds. keep your rod tip low. it helps but there's really not much you can do about it. Best thing I can say about fishing when it's windy is there's not much crowd.

[Slickrick]

bottom bounce

[FrequentFlyer]

Showing your age there Rick?
That's all we did in the 80s.
Deadly technique.
But I must admit the float sure cut down my fouled hook %.
But still a productive technique.

 

 

bottom bouncing under a log jam is very deadly and very productive, if you can convince the fish to come out nicely

[rayray519]

Went out to a Huron trib yesterday, pretty tough day.  Wind was gusty at times but did eventually die down (to almost a stand still).  About a dozen ppl fishing, and no one caught anything.  Going to wait another week or so, I think it might be a bit early still.  Didn't even see any salmon in the river or on the banks. 

 

Holding the rod more close to the water and tilting the rod into the wind so that my line wasn't coming off was the trick. I did use a bit extra weight to help keep the 8g float down.  Worked pretty good.  (thanks again for all the tips).  I really do want to try bottom bouncing but I have yet to find 1 universal method (diagram) of the best setup.  If anyone has info on that, please let me know.

 

Thanks!

[Berg]

 I really do want to try bottom bouncing but I have yet to find 1 universal method (diagram) of the best setup.  If anyone has info on that, please let me know.

 

 

Try topfishingsecrets.com. That guy bottom bounces and some of his articles are pretty good. Personally, I tie a large snap swivel on to my mainline, and then run a slinky and a leader off of that one main swivel. The leader system I use is a micro-swivel attached to the main snap-swivel, fluorocarbon or mono leader tied to that microswivel, and beads in tandem (usually different colours to test what they're taking) on that leader.

[Knuguy]

 Personally, I tie a large snap swivel on to my mainline, and then run a slinky and a leader off of that one main swivel. 

 

Don't slinkies tend to be on the heavy side compared to, say, split shot. How heavy are yours typically?

[Berg]

Don't slinkies tend to be on the heavy side compared to, say, split shot. How heavy are yours typically?

 

Yeah, the whole point of the slinky as I take it is to take several split shot and align them so there's minimal chance they will snag. If you only need a few small shot, there's really no point bundling them into a slinky.

 

In my opinion a good selection of slinkies on the water is probably the most manageable and interchangeable way to weight your bottom bouncing rig. They are also very reusable. I have slinkies I've made that have lasted several seasons. Some split shot won't last several hours.

 

Clipping a few split shot to the tag-end of a knot or along the leader, etc, is similar. A slinky on a swivel will lessen the effect of the weight tossing around in the water on the line twist of your line and leader I would imagine, over split-shot directly cinched to the line.

 

There's really only one place I like to bottom-bounce a lot and it's about as big a river as they come here. So I use 1oz slinkies there. Something about feeling the bottom that I really like - feels like you're scanning the river bottom for fish.

[craigsonJ]

Nice!! Ive always used egg weights or pencil weights but i think my project tonight is making slinkies.