"An acknowledged expert at fishing the long pole to hand on rivers explains how to get the best out of this highly effective method."
When you are able to draw fish up a river swim on an inside line, swapping your Stick Float Rod for a Long Pole to Hand set-up can greatly improve your catch rate. This is especially true when there is a slight downstream breeze, because the Pole allows better Float control and, therefore, better Bait presentation.
If you have never tried it before, fishing a Long Pole to Hand - fishing with the same length of line as length of Pole - is a daunting prospect. However, by working up in stages from, say, 7m (23ft), you soon find it relatively easy to fish comfortably and confidently at 11m (36ft).
Conditions must not be windy, however, otherwise you cannot hope to control your tackle properly. When there's anything more than a breeze, you are better off using a Rod and Reel set-up.
When after Roach, Dace, Skimmers and small Chub in fairly open water, the ideal Pole for 'long-lining' is a fully Telescopic one with a fine, soft Flick-tip. Fish up to 3lb (1.4kg) or so can be landed with this kind of Pole, but it's really best suited for fish up to about 1lb (0.45kg).
Generally, you use 1 1/2lb (0.68kg) Mainline with of Pole of this type - with, of course, a weaker length - so that if you get broken up on a fish or snag you only lose the Hook Length, not the whole Rig.
Such Poles are very popular on the Continent (where they are called Poles), but they are very hard to obtain in Britain. They are extremely light and have a lovely soft action that is perfect for casting light Float Rigs.
Really they are like giant Whips, and on days when small fish are feeding on the drop and flashing at the Bait, they are the perfect tool. Being so light, they are easy to handle and a joy to use.
Use both hands to steady the Pole for maximum control over the Float and for a smart upwards strike.
To keep your pole in tiptop condition, always wipe the male joints and the inside of the female joints to remove any dirt or grit, which can abrade joints, make them stick and even make them split. Yo can use 'baby wipes' - which leave a smooth coating of lanolin on the joints - and a duster.
Line strength must balance the Elastic. With No. 2 or No. 3 Elastic, 1 1/2 lb (0.68kg) main Line is not too light. With heavier Elastic, use at least 2lb (0.9kg) main Line. As ever, always use a Hook Length that is weaker than the Main Line.
Assuming you can't get hold of a 'casting' Pole, you can still successfully 'fish to hand' with a Take-apart Pole with internal Elastic - and because of the Elastic, you can use it for fish of all sizes up to around 4lb (1.8kg).
The nature of the swim and the size of fish you expect dictate the strength of Elastic to use, and whether to have it running through just the Top Section of the Pole or through the Top Two Sections.
For fish up to 1lb (0.45kg) or so in fairly open water, use Elastic No. 2 or No. 3 through the Top Section only. For bigger fish - Chub, usually - in 'snaggy' swims, use anything from Elastic No. 4 to No. 8 through the Top Two Sections.
The ideal Take-apart Pole for this method has 'put-in' rather than 'put-over' joints, as such a Pole tends to be much slimmer, and therefore more manageable. Put-in joints don't locate as smoothly as 'put-overs', but this doesn't matter when Long-lining because it isn't necessary for you to unship the Pole each time you catch a fish or re-Bait the Hook.
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1. On slow rivers, use floats with dumpy teardrop-shaped
bodies for Olivette rigs.
2. On
faster rivers, use floats with inverted teardrop-shaped bodies for Olivette
rigs.
3. Use floats with elongated
rugby-ball shaped bodies for strung out Styl or shot Rigs.
Sometimes you can catch 'on the drop'; at other times the fish want the Bait near the bottom. To cover both eventualities, set up two Rigs: one with an Olivette (accounting for around 75% of the total loading) plus a few Droppers; the other with Shot or Styls strung out 'shirt-button' fashion.
Usually, it pays to fish with the Float very slightly 'over shotted' and 'held back' to slow the Bait slightly.
On slow rivers such as the Warwickshire Avon, use 0.5g-1g Floats with 'dumpy teardrop-shaped' bodies. On faster rivers like the Trent, use 0.5g-3g Floats with 'dumpy inverted teardrop-shaped' bodies.
On both fast and slow rivers, use 0.5-0.7g floats with elongated rugby ball-shaped bodies.
It's very important to be comfortable when fishing a Long Pole to hand, otherwise you won't fish effectively. Depending on the nature of your 'peg', you sometimes feel most comfortable - and fish most effectively 'standing rather than sitting'.
When standing, 'netting a fish' is easier if you lower the Pole Butt between your legs. This also leaves both hands free for unhooking.
The biggest mistake you can make is trying to fish too far out. Let's assume you are fishing 8m (26ft) to hand.
If you try to fish 8m (26ft) out, your Float can only run 'down the swim' for a few feet before it starts to arc in towards the bank across the line of feed, presenting the Bait unnaturally. It's much better to fish some 4m-5m (13ft-16ft) out, so you can run the Float and Bait 'down the swim' in line with the feed for much farther.
In fast rivers it pays to feed slightly upstream, to concentrate the fish about halfway down the swim, within easy reach. In a match, though, don't feed too far upstream, or you risk losing your fish to the angler on the next peg up! Every now and then, drop the Float in upstream too - it's surprising how often you can pick up a fish in front of you, ahead of the main shoal.
Telescopic 'Casting' Poles are flexible and relatively easy to cast with. Take-apart Poles are much stiffer, which makes them much harder to cast with. Some anglers have even snapped their Take-apart Poles when trying to cast with them, but this shouldn't happen to yours as long as you don't try 'long-lining' with it when it's windy, and you don't try to force your Rig out with a great 'whoosh'.
The 'overhead cast' is easiest. Hold the Pole vertically in front of you, wait until the Float Rig is hanging still, then smoothly push the Pole forward so the Rig loops out over the water. This is usually the best method to use with Olivette Rigs.
The 'underarm cast' is more difficult - It requires a 'deft flick' of the Pole at just the right moment to punch the Float Rig out. This is usually the best technique to use with Styl Rigs.
If you cannot master either of these techniques, you can sometimes get away with swinging the Rig out sideways.
Before you start fishing, always check the Elastic for wear at the Connector. If it breaks, not only do you lose a fish and a Rig, but the Elastic shoots back inside the Pole, and you've a real job on to rethread it on the bank.
Before choosing a swim, remember to check first that there are no cables overhead. There have been several tragic accidents in recent years, and this simple procedure could save you from serious injury or death. Even if you think the cables are only telephone wires, it just isn't worth the risk - fish elsewhere!
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Before choosing a swim, remember to check first that there are no cables overhead. There have been several tragic accidents in recent years, and this simple procedure could save you from serious injury or death. Even if you think the cables are only telephone wires, it just isn't worth the risk - fish elsewhere!
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Never use any carbon fibre Rod or Pole anywhere in very thundery weather, because of the danger of being struck by lightning.
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