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How to catch skimmers up in the water
Bob Nudd on why loosefeed is king...
by Angling Times |
Published on16th May 2022 at 2.26pm
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THE way we fish for skimmers has changed radically. Rather than fishing with the bait lying on the lakebed over a good helping of groundbait, catching them up in the water is now the name of the game!
The way we fish for skimmers has changed radically...
Here's how I do it...
Use groundbait
Two balls of a mix of Van Den Eynde Gold Pro Bream and Black Turbo holding micro pellets and dead maggots are enough to begin with.
<strong>Use groundbait</strong>
Give it some time
On some days it can take a while to catch. Keep feeding positively every time you drop the rig in, otherwise you’re unllikely to succeed.
<strong>Give it some time</strong>
Dead maggots rule
Small fish aren’t fans of dead maggots, maybe because they don’t move. My favourite hookbait for skimmers is two dead fluoro pink maggots.
<strong>Dead maggots rule</strong>
Think about floats
A DT Floats BN Nevis is ideal in the 1.5g size for fishing near the bottom, with a much smaller 0.6g float for when the fish move up in the water.
<strong>Think about floats</strong>
Fish a big hook
Fish up in the water have little time to inspect the bait, so you can get away with bigger baits and hooks. A size 18 Browning Sphere Match is about right.
<strong>Fish a big hook</strong>
Set the hook
For striking in 10ft of water I use a grade 5-7 hollow elastic, the 1.5mm Orange Browning Microbore. This has enough power to drive the hook home.
<strong>Set the hook</strong>
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