Rigs? When and why?

[Noblest savage]

Hi All

I’m just starting my first ever deadbait campaign on my local canal. It’s narrow and uniformly 4feet deep. There are no locks so the fish are highly nomadic.

So far I’ve had some success on a running ledger with a popped up bait to keep it out of all the rubbish on the bottom.

When should a ledger vs float ledger vs normal float set up be used? Or what rig, when and why?
Ps live bait is not allowed.

Thanks in advance
Ben

[Mike J]

Hi All

I’m just starting my first ever deadbait campaign on my local canal. It’s narrow and uniformly 4feet deep. There are no locks so the fish are highly nomadic.

So far I’ve had some success on a running ledger with a popped up bait to keep it out of all the rubbish on the bottom.

When should a ledger vs float ledger vs normal float set up be used? Or what rig, when and why?
Ps live bait is not allowed.

Thanks in advance
Ben

Before you plan your winter please ensure your gear is sufficiently strong so when you get snagged you are able to bend your hooks out eg; I fish snaggy rivers and use 60lb braid.
Although you haven't contacted any yet most canals hold a few very big fish eg; a PP member had 2x20's in one day last year and I know of atleast one 30.
Rigs, well this is what I would do.
If there was little or no flow I wouldn't use a lead, just a light float and some SSG shot below the top swivel to lay the trace down. If using one rod use a sliding float rig with the bait head down at 2/3 depth, cast into the boat channel and allowed to drift onto the near bank slope, with a second rod fish I would fish it tight against my bank about 1ft out and 20ft to one side. If I have to use a weight its a stone or old steel nut on 4-6lb mono.
Beware there are some very big eels in canals.



.

[Esoxuk]

I love fishing to floats and a small shallow canal is the ideal place.
I'd be tempted to float ledger (with an uptrace) a bottom attached pencil float fished around 2' over depth and the line tensioned enough just to c*ck it with an open spool and a swinging arm to maintain tension on the line.
A large bore run ring on the uptrace with a 4" nylon weak link (6lb or so) to the lead or even a ledger stem will help keep your line off the bottom if there lots of debris / rubbish there.
Instead of making big casts walk from your fishing position swing the bait to where you want it, go back to your fishing position with the rod high and the line out of the water before finally cocking the float.

[Ratty46]

i would leger where possible, i've had fish shy away from floats on shallow clear venues, even with lives..leger it..instant take almost.
even with deads i'd leger, possibly float fish a bait set shallow ( 3ft) if i thought it may be better, ie high pressure day

[Noblest savage]

i would leger where possible, i've had fish shy away from floats on shallow clear venues, even with lives..leger it..instant take almost.
even with deads i'd leger, possibly float fish a bait set shallow ( 3ft) if i thought it may be better, ie high pressure day

To be honest I suspected floats might spook them on my venue. The limited success I’ve had so far has been on ledgered baits. Don’t seem to get a touch on float, it might
be that I need to persevere a bit more though?

Ben

[Noblest savage]

Many thanks for the replies folks

Ben