Waggler fishing on the Gt. Pond with John Hartley
If I was allowed only one method at ravenfield it would be the waggler, it’s one of the oldest methods ever used in angling and has always been a popular method with all fisherman, with an average depth of 8 feet the Great Pond is a perfect waggler venue.
Bait. Half a pint of casters, Hemp, Maggots Pinkies.
Ground bait (if required). Super match / Roach, mix 50/50 and riddled
Floats. Drennan crystal 3 -4 gr, I wrap lead wire round the base so I only need to use 4 no 8s stotz to lock the float, stotz are kinder to the line.
Better when changing depth
Hook length. Stroft gtm 0.8 or 0.6
Hooks.
Method
My shotting pattern is simple 3no9s & 2no11s stotz spread evenly, if it’s windy and the lake starts to tow I may bunch the no9s as close 2 foot from the hook.
I plumb the depth as accurately as possible and use a rod ring as a marker, I start feeding about 8 casters with hemp every 5 minutes within 2-3 metres of the cage if it’s not possible to loose feed with the catapult I will use ground bait, feeding walnut size balls with casters & hemp,
To begin I will fish maggot on the hook and expect bites on the drop from Rudd, you may be temped to shallow up but I think it’s best to stay at full depth, as you’ll catch fish on the drop the whole depth, I tend to get more positive bites when the bait is falling than static,
I will use maggot on the hook while ever I catch small fish, use caster and you get shelled from missed bites, I generally start to put caster on after15- 20 minutes,
If you miss bites at full depth try changing depth from laying on a foot to a foot off the bottom.
Keep feeding hemp & caster little & often, If you start to catch regularly don’t up your feeding, make the fish compete for your bait, half a pint of caster doesn’t seem a lot of bait but it’s possible to catch a good double figures of roach if fed right, this is not just a method for roach I’ve also caught skimmers, tench & crucians, on the drop.
In winter I fish basically the same way but instead use smaller hooks and squats & pinkies in ground bait, and maggot or pinkies as hook bait, on a crisp sunny winter’s day caster is still worth a go for some of the bigger roach in the lake later in the day, even on the coldest days you can still catch fish mid water.
This is a basic waggler set up, and every day’s different so it’s best to experiment i.e. change depth, shotting pattern, even cast just off your main feed, it’s the small adjustments that may put a few more fish in your net.
.