Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2012 15:09:29 GMT
Tope are the most sporting fish we are likely to come across in UK kayak fishing.
Right so youve got your tope mark what next.
A good place to start is by tying a rubby dubby bag to your anchor line
(onion sack filled with mashed fish) this can help to draw in the fish.
Tackle wise a 12lb class rod is fine although you can go heavier,if the fish are pack tope 15-30lb you could go 6lb class or a heavy spinning rod for some mental fun.Reel wise i prefer a multiplyer in the 6000-7000 size ,although a few people are now using good quality bait runner fixed spools.
What ever reel you decide to use the line should terminate with a rubbing leader,I use 70lb mono around 15ft long ,i like to have 5 turns on the reel and around 8ft from the rod tip.This not only helps prevent the fishes rough skin breaking the line but gives you a nice thick bit of line to grab when the fish is along side thrashing around.
End tackle just a simple running ledger (I run a 4mm drill bit through my zip sliders as i feel it helps the leader knot pass through)my snood would be 3.5ft of 200lb mono and a cox n rawle 8/0 meathook debarbed.Some people prefer 2.5ft of 70-80lb mono and 1ft wire trace thats personal choice but ive never been bit through.Another style would terminate in a circle hook between 9\0 and 12/0
Your all rigged bait is on give it a flick away from the kayak and now set your ratchet or bait runner so that it just holds in the tides.The run if using J hooks i like to hit the fish early ,i let it run and as soon as the first run starts to slow i hit the fish my hook up rate is quite varied some days there keen and ill hook 90% of runs other days they may seem finakey and my hook rate can go as low as 20% its something i put up with to avoid deep hooking .If using a circle hook things are a bit diferent let the fish run it will stop after a while then turn the fish swallow it and off on its second run now just tighten up your clutch and hopefully the fish will be hooked.My preferance for J hooks is just a personal thing as i just love to strike into a good fish and there easier to unhook.
I like to just T bar my fish off at the side of the yak as it causes less stress for the fish and saves a lot of hassle.If you fancy bringing it aboard make sure you have it under control as they have a habit of beatinf fishfinders off there mounts and over the side :oBest way is to grab a pectoral fin and the tail wrist once onboard trap its tail with your leg and get it on its back.
Right so youve got your tope mark what next.
A good place to start is by tying a rubby dubby bag to your anchor line
(onion sack filled with mashed fish) this can help to draw in the fish.
Tackle wise a 12lb class rod is fine although you can go heavier,if the fish are pack tope 15-30lb you could go 6lb class or a heavy spinning rod for some mental fun.Reel wise i prefer a multiplyer in the 6000-7000 size ,although a few people are now using good quality bait runner fixed spools.
What ever reel you decide to use the line should terminate with a rubbing leader,I use 70lb mono around 15ft long ,i like to have 5 turns on the reel and around 8ft from the rod tip.This not only helps prevent the fishes rough skin breaking the line but gives you a nice thick bit of line to grab when the fish is along side thrashing around.
End tackle just a simple running ledger (I run a 4mm drill bit through my zip sliders as i feel it helps the leader knot pass through)my snood would be 3.5ft of 200lb mono and a cox n rawle 8/0 meathook debarbed.Some people prefer 2.5ft of 70-80lb mono and 1ft wire trace thats personal choice but ive never been bit through.Another style would terminate in a circle hook between 9\0 and 12/0
Your all rigged bait is on give it a flick away from the kayak and now set your ratchet or bait runner so that it just holds in the tides.The run if using J hooks i like to hit the fish early ,i let it run and as soon as the first run starts to slow i hit the fish my hook up rate is quite varied some days there keen and ill hook 90% of runs other days they may seem finakey and my hook rate can go as low as 20% its something i put up with to avoid deep hooking .If using a circle hook things are a bit diferent let the fish run it will stop after a while then turn the fish swallow it and off on its second run now just tighten up your clutch and hopefully the fish will be hooked.My preferance for J hooks is just a personal thing as i just love to strike into a good fish and there easier to unhook.
I like to just T bar my fish off at the side of the yak as it causes less stress for the fish and saves a lot of hassle.If you fancy bringing it aboard make sure you have it under control as they have a habit of beatinf fishfinders off there mounts and over the side :oBest way is to grab a pectoral fin and the tail wrist once onboard trap its tail with your leg and get it on its back.