Missed runs

Jim Slimmon · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 9 Location: The Cotswolds

I did an overnighter on the same pit I was on a couple of weeks ago. I fished the same method (inline feeder bolt rigs/worm hookbaits), in the same swim. I only managed 3 rather wee eels, but at least they were all lip-hooked. However, I did get lots of aborted runs, sometimes losing the hookbait, other times not. There was a lot of clear moonlit spells, yet also some showers.

My first thoughts were I was getting attention from bootlaces, or perhaps roach or tench? I had sprayed a few maggots around each bait. I decided against trying an open bale arm, as I reckoned that would be just as bad. Any thoughts? Confused

the burglar · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 218 Location: northwest

with you fishin worms hard on the deck the culprit may not have been down to eels I don't know what else the water holds or could as you say smaller eels try popin the worm off deck an inch or so or using less worms on the hook i have used and caught eels on a single good sized lob but don't have any lose ends keeping it in a tight ball they can jsut grab a end of a worm an run off with it with out the hook being anywhere near its mouth

only a sugestion if you don't try on one rod you will never know

Jim Slimmon · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 9 Location: The Cotswolds

I suspect that it was small stuff grabbing the worm and running with it. I was using lobs on both rods, either large singles, or a couple of smaller ones, but they did have 'loose ends'. I've been using a rubber maggot to hold them onto the hooks. I was intending to use a roach head on one rod, but I could only catch perch on my whip that evening.

I see that there is already a thread on missed runs Embarassed

but I was wondering what effect the moon may have had on this session. As I said, conditions were almost the same as my previous session when I had 4 eels and hardly any misses.

Never mind, it's these little mysteries that make fishing such a pleasure. We'd get pretty bored if we caught every chuck! Laughing

the burglar · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 218 Location: northwest

perch god send m8 my favourite eel bait most of my really big eels have come to perch liveys and heads no more than 3 -4 inches long next time whacl a perch perch head on an see wot happens.

as liveys they keep goin all night an work hard roach tend to die after an hour or so more than perch do depends how an where you hook then they just tire themselves to death then end floating upwards due to the fact the swim bladder is in tact

Jim Slimmon · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 9 Location: The Cotswolds

Cheers Burglar - I might try perch heads next time. The perch I were catching were getting bigger and bigger, so I gave up in the end. Lives are banned on this water...