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Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 08:48
by winniethepooh
I've got a 20 yard or so cast into a far bank slack, between me and the slack is fairly quick water with loads of leaves coming down so I need to fish a float with the rod tip up to keep the mainline off the water and avoid the leaves. I just don't know what rig to use, would I be better with a float paternoster or a standard float ledger set at depth?

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 10:11
by d roberts
In theory both will work, depends how you want to present the bait. Hard on the deck chose the float ledger,live or popped up dead I’d go for the paternostered bait.

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 10:41
by cookiesdaughtersdad
Most of the flow/rubbish will be at or near the surface so ledgering is still an option!

Cheers Alan

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 11:04
by Mike J
I fish far bank slacks regularly.
My two rivers have rubbish drifting downstream from 0-5ft and in the slacks its everywhere (oh for a decent downpour).
In low flows I fish a float pat and when its up I fish a straight pat. holding my rod UP, up, at 75-80 degrees with the reel at eye level.
Previously I used an 80's rod which was heavy (it was supposed to be graphite) but then I changed to P2's and what a difference it has made, around 1/2 the weight of my other rod and so easy to hold the line off the water.
I did fish a few months with a Harrisons Baby Ballista to see what a P2 was like before I finally got around to ordering.
If I really decide to concentrate on one place I use a beach tripod, an idea used by many others no doubt.
Hope this helps.

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 12:49
by Mark_Houghton
Tip for keeping the line off the water for far float fishing bank fishing in current....replace the tubing through the middle of the float with some rigid rig tube, and have about 6" of tube sticking out of the top of the float. This changes the angle of the line between float and rod tip enough to make it much easier to keep the line clear, without having to hold the rod so high :thumbs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 16:47
by winniethepooh
Thanks :thumbs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 16:57
by delboy
f**k me,I was just going to saycan you not get on the other bank and just drop a bait in the edge?

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 17:14
by cookiesdaughtersdad
delboy wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 16:57 -
f**k me,I was just going to saycan you not get on the other bank and just drop a bait in the edge?
I was going to ask the same Dell but then realised only a cooont would post it! :laughs:

Cheers Alan

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:49
by winniethepooh
delboy wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 16:57 -
f**k me,I was just going to saycan you not get on the other bank and just drop a bait in the edge?
I did think about doing that but I didn't know if was near side margin or near-side margin. Figure it was better to fish it from the other side of the river to prevent the potential grammatical faux pas.

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:53
by delboy
winniethepooh wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:49 -
delboy wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 16:57 -
f**k me,I was just going to saycan you not get on the other bank and just drop a bait in the edge?
I did think about doing that but I didn't know if was near side margin or near-side margin. Figure it was better to fish it from the other side of the river to prevent the potential grammatical faux pas.
Will have to get the dictionary out to see what the f**k you are talking about boy. :thumbs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:57
by Happy Hayes
delboy wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:53 -
winniethepooh wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:49 -
delboy wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 16:57 -
f**k me,I was just going to saycan you not get on the other bank and just drop a bait in the edge?
I did think about doing that but I didn't know if was near side margin or near-side margin. Figure it was better to fish it from the other side of the river to prevent the potential grammatical faux pas.
Will have to get the dictionary out to see what the f**k you are talking about boy. :thumbs:
:laughs: :laughs: :laughs: :laughs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:58
by delboy
Don't take any notice of me boy,I'm p****d,you keep on posting and asking questions,its the only way to learn and don't worry about grtting things wrong ,I do it all the time. :thumbs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sat Oct 27 2018 20:40
by Mercman
delboy wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 18:58 -
Don't take any notice of me boy,I'm p****d,you keep on posting and asking questions,its the only way to learn and don't worry about grtting things wrong ,I do it all the time. :thumbs:
Ha ha ha Delboy....
(on a roll face) :laughs: :laughs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 02:35
by Mike J
Mark_Houghton wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 12:49 -
Tip for keeping the line off the water for far float fishing bank fishing in current....replace the tubing through the middle of the float with some rigid rig tube, and have about 6" of tube sticking out of the top of the float. This changes the angle of the line between float and rod tip enough to make it much easier to keep the line clear, without having to hold the rod so high :thumbs:

Mark,
I use those long slim polystyrene sea floats that have a solid tube through the centre that extends beyond the top of the poly body (cheap as chips and last forever) half submerged the line is apx 4" clear of the surface but I still have hold the rod perhaps because some of my slacks are nearly 40yards away.
I will fit/glue in a secion of biro tube and see if it makes any difference, so thanks for the tip.

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 02:57
by Mark_Houghton
Mike J wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 02:35 -
Mark_Houghton wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 12:49 -
Tip for keeping the line off the water for far float fishing bank fishing in current....replace the tubing through the middle of the float with some rigid rig tube, and have about 6" of tube sticking out of the top of the float. This changes the angle of the line between float and rod tip enough to make it much easier to keep the line clear, without having to hold the rod so high :thumbs:

Mark,
I use those long slim polystyrene sea floats that have a solid tube through the centre that extends beyond the top of the poly body (cheap as chips and last forever) half submerged the line is apx 4" clear of the surface but I still have hold the rod perhaps because some of my slacks are nearly 40yards away.
I will fit/glue in a secion of biro tube and see if it makes any difference, so thanks for the tip.
I`m sure it`ll help Mike. Let me know how you get on :thumbs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:23
by Kev Berry
Why ignore the faster water? I've always found it a bit of a myth that pike prefer slacks

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:51
by winniethepooh
Kev Berry wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:23 -
Why ignore the faster water? I've always found it a bit of a myth that pike prefer slacks
It's the only real feature on a fairly long section of uniform river and I need to start somewhere.

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:59
by cookiesdaughtersdad
Kev Berry wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:23 -
Why ignore the faster water? I've always found it a bit of a myth that pike prefer slacks
In theory Kev the area around the edge of the flow, the "crease" should be the best spot but as you say the fast water as it appears on the surface will have fish.
I think importantly water temperature and likely feeding activity will dictate where the pike and bait fish are, on really cold hard days, I would be dropping baits right into the slack as my 1st option.

Cheers Alan

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 10:27
by Mike J
winniethepooh wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:51 -
Kev Berry wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:23 -
Why ignore the faster water? I've always found it a bit of a myth that pike prefer slacks
It's the only real feature on a fairly long section of uniform river and I need to start somewhere.


Winnie
Kev is quite right, they can, and will be, anywhere and everywhere, at one time or another.

Where I fish I can see the bottom in 8-10ft and sightfish those laying on the bottom, in depressions or behind debris.
It never ceases to amaze me how many times two fish of similar size will lay alongside each other, or when a fish scoots off how they can be refound elsewhere and caught as if they had forgotten the reason why they had relocated.
A season back I took a good fish from water going much faster than I could walk and so shallow its back showed as it powered 15ft or more to intercept the bait.
Salmon anglers fish a pool by casting across and letting the fly swing around on a fixed line, taking a single step and repeating, try it yourself with a deadbait and prepare to be surprised at the explosion of water as a fish takes near the surface.
When retrieving do it slow with short 1min stops, rod at 90degrees to the bank, if you feel anything unusual swing the rod downstream, open the bail arm and hold the line in your fingers, if nothing happens slowly tighten and continue the retrieve, takes can be explosive but more usually a gentle 'tap' followed by some tension, either way your 'in'.

:handshake:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 17:26
by Kev Berry
cookiesdaughtersdad wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:59 -
Kev Berry wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:23 -
Why ignore the faster water? I've always found it a bit of a myth that pike prefer slacks
In theory Kev the area around the edge of the flow, the "crease" should be the best spot but as you say the fast water as it appears on the surface will have fish.
I think importantly water temperature and likely feeding activity will dictate where the pike and bait fish are, on really cold hard days, I would be dropping baits right into the slack as my 1st option.

Cheers Alan
that's what Mr Crabtree used to say Alan :laughs:
the better sized dace chub and roach are usually in the flow where their food is, its the fry that are in the slacks (along with the jacks :wink: ). When the pike are feeding guess where they are :wink: ---when they aren't feeding they may well be on the "edge" just resting, but you aint gonna catch them, of course you might be lucky and have a bait in the slack when a big pikes tummy rumbles .
One of the places I fish there are plenty of slack areas but the rest is fast water---rare to catch many (decent) pike in the slacks even when flooded.

Winnie is also a missing out on how many features there are in his stretch of river---there is also a margin on each side, a very over looked feature by many pike anglers (Ya got to be quiet and keep away from the waters edge to reap the rewards face)

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Oct 28 2018 17:59
by cookiesdaughtersdad
Kev Berry wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 17:26 -
cookiesdaughtersdad wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:59 -
Kev Berry wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:23 -
Why ignore the faster water? I've always found it a bit of a myth that pike prefer slacks
In theory Kev the area around the edge of the flow, the "crease" should be the best spot but as you say the fast water as it appears on the surface will have fish.
I think importantly water temperature and likely feeding activity will dictate where the pike and bait fish are, on really cold hard days, I would be dropping baits right into the slack as my 1st option.

Cheers Alan
that's what Mr Crabtree used to say Alan :laughs:
the better sized dace chub and roach are usually in the flow where their food is, its the fry that are in the slacks (along with the jacks :wink: ). When the pike are feeding guess where they are :wink: ---when they aren't feeding they may well be on the "edge" just resting, but you aint gonna catch them, of course you might be lucky and have a bait in the slack when a big pikes tummy rumbles .
One of the places I fish there are plenty of slack areas but the rest is fast water---rare to catch many (decent) pike in the slacks even when flooded.

Winnie is also a missing out on how many features there are in his stretch of river---there is also a margin on each side, a very over looked feature by many pike anglers (Ya got to be quiet and keep away from the waters edge to reap the rewards face)
And Mr Cravtree was right!
When trotting or feeder fishing creases will often out fish other areas and I have often seen fish occupying these areas from bank and boat.
As you say the flow is the food conveyer which gets concentrated in the crease meaning more food, fish sit on this line just on the edge of the flow and intercept passing morsels or those that fall into the quiet water. Of course fish will be out in the main flow at times as at other times they will be in the slacks and as always location is key, there location will vary with conditions, winter summer etc and the location of the predators is made easier if you know where there dinner is.

Cheers Alan

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Tue Dec 18 2018 11:33
by Slug
Kev Berry wrote: Sun Oct 28 2018 09:23 -
Why ignore the faster water? I've always found it a bit of a myth that pike prefer slacks
Good point! I’ve caught more decent river fish in the flow than slacks. In quite unobvious places too also shallow water. I find river pike to do the opposite of what you expect. I keep having to relearn that every year!

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Wed Dec 19 2018 23:22
by Graham Benyon
I use the a lice rig. I find it`s perfect for a far bank slack. Well any slack actually.

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Thu Dec 20 2018 20:21
by Fentiger01
I've been fishing a swim with a decent sized slack on the inside line, with the water up a bit there can be a depth of up 10 foot or so on top of the shelf itself whilst just over the ledge in the faster water, the depth is 12 - 16 foot deep. Pike tend to reside on the shelf itself, whilst Zander seem to prefer the faster water.

I use a straight-running leger with a 3.5oz round sea lead and the rod tip pointing at the sky, initial indications of a take is usually a little tap on the rod tip. With that I generally pick the rod up sharpish and have a quick feel of the line tension, another pluck and I whack it. With the rods pointing up at the sky, I don't tend to pick up too much crap coming down the river.

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Dec 23 2018 11:46
by Slug
Graham Benyon wrote: Wed Dec 19 2018 23:22 -
I use the a lice rig. I find it`s perfect for a far bank slack. Well any slack actually.
What’s the a lice rig?

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Dec 23 2018 12:25
by Graham Benyon
Slug wrote: Sun Dec 23 2018 11:46 -
Graham Benyon wrote: Wed Dec 19 2018 23:22 -
I use the a lice rig. I find it`s perfect for a far bank slack. Well any slack actually.
What’s the a lice rig? :smile:
That`s your Christmas teaser...think about it :santa:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Mon Dec 24 2018 20:23
by Stewlaws
I fished a section with a sluice .. never caught in the slacks always in the faster water though , this was on lures though not deads

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Dec 30 2018 20:40
by Daniel
Mark_Houghton wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 12:49 -
Tip for keeping the line off the water for far float fishing bank fishing in current....replace the tubing through the middle of the float with some rigid rig tube, and have about 6" of tube sticking out of the top of the float. This changes the angle of the line between float and rod tip enough to make it much easier to keep the line clear, without having to hold the rod so high :thumbs:

Works a treat, here's one of my homemade jobs for paternoster fishing mid flow on big rivers but works just as well in far bank slacks.

IMG_20181230_193751766.jpg

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Sun Dec 30 2018 20:41
by Mark_Houghton
Daniel wrote: Sun Dec 30 2018 20:40 -
Mark_Houghton wrote: Sat Oct 27 2018 12:49 -
Tip for keeping the line off the water for far float fishing bank fishing in current....replace the tubing through the middle of the float with some rigid rig tube, and have about 6" of tube sticking out of the top of the float. This changes the angle of the line between float and rod tip enough to make it much easier to keep the line clear, without having to hold the rod so high :thumbs:

Works a treat, here's one of my homemade jobs for paternoster fishing mid flow on big rivers but works just as well in far bank slacks.


IMG_20181230_193751766.jpg
:thumbs: :thumbs:

Re: Far bank slack

Posted: Fri Jan 04 2019 08:45
by Jimk2
I do this on a swim I fish now and again, I use a 4oz lead, inline float set over depth, then keep the line out of the water either by pushing the rod butt into the near bank mud or an extended bank stick. The hardest thing is getting the cast right as the near side can be overhanging with trees.