I have been coarse fishing for over 25 years and have experience in competitive and pleasure fishing on Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Reservoirs and Canals.
I offer friendly and accessible sessions for children and adults alike who want to try coarse fishing for the first time, anglers that want to focus on certain methods and species or simply want some guidance as to where to fish for best results.
Below I’ve put some information about the various methods of angling you might like to try.
Whip Fishing is probably the most accessible and at first glance the simplest way to get a taste of coarse fishing and great for catching lots of small fish on canals, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs alike.
A whip is usually telescopic in the shorter versions and can range from 1.5m all the way up to 8m+. The rigs are tied directly to the end of the whip and are the same length as the whip, so casting is done by either an under-arm swing or overhand whipping action hence the name. With no reel to worry about when a fish is caught it is lifted straight from the water and swung into the angler’s hand.
This method is great for younger children or people new to the sport who want a simple introduction and catch a few fish.
Do not be fooled into thinking this method is just for beginners as in the right hands has accounted for a lot of high-profile competition wins up and down the country.
Pole fishing is similar in style to whip fishing, but poles can be up to 16m in length and have take-apart sections rather than being telescopic. The rig is usually the same length as the top 2 or 3 sections of the pole (top kit) and to land a fish you remove sections until you reach the top kit then swing or net the fish.
Pole fishing is probably one of the most widely used methods in modern competition fishing as it allows very precise feeding of bait (via a pot on the end of the pole) and very accurate bait presentation.
Pole fishing is great for anglers of all abilities but can be a challenge for younger children due to the unshipping of sections and weight of the pole at longer lengths.
Waggler fishing is one of the most traditional methods of fishing and is what most people picture when you talk about fishing.
In simple terms this is rod and line fishing so you are using the traditional rod and reel combinations and a float for bite detection. Waggler is the term used for floats that are attached at the bottom of the float only.
A great method for pretty much any venue and has the added bonus of allowing you to fish for a wide range of species and land some really impressive fish.
Rod and line fishing requires the float to be “cast” out and then retrieved using a reel when a fish is caught. Casting can be a challenge to start with but matching the rod and reel size to the age and ability of the angler is a very accessible and rewarding method for all.
Stick float fishing is like waggler fishing but is used primarily on flowing water venues like rivers and drains.
The Float is attached with rubbers top and bottom so sits in line rather than being attached at just the bottom like the waggler.
Attaching the float in this way allows you to keep the line out of the water on rivers and slow the rig down (hold back) as needed as it follows the flow of water,
A must use method for rivers but can be a challenge for new anglers and younger children due to the busy nature of fishing moving water venues and the need to re cast every time the float reaches the down stream section of the area you are fishing.
Ledgering is a term used for rod and line fishing without a float for bite indication.
Bite detection is via the tip of the rod being pulled by the fish instead of a float going under the water.
Bomb fishing is the name given to fishing with just a weight and hook length and the rod tip used as bite detection.
Feeder (swim feeder) fishing is the same as bomb fishing, but you use a device that carries bait out to the area you are fishing to attract the fish to your hook bait.
