silkweed

St.John · Post by **St.John** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:30 pm

I picked up a book called the art of angling a few months ago and silkweed was recommend as a chub and barbel bait. That's a new one on me.... So....... Anyone tried it?

GloucesterOldSpot · Post by **GloucesterOldSpot** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:44 pm

st.john wrote:I picked up a book called the art of angling a few months ago and silkweed was recommend as a chub and barbel bait. That's a new one on me.... So....... Anyone tried it?

Yep. Had roach and dace on it many years ago from a weirpool on the Hertfordshire Beane. Not used it for a long time as I've not found any when I've wanted it. It works best in fast water, but grows best in slow water. I call it the Whitehead Dichotomy, after Ken W who wrote the eminently useful 'Step By Step Guide to Freshwater Baits' (Cassell) which includes some mention of the stuff.

The Sweetcorn Kid · Post by **The Sweetcorn Kid** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:46 pm

Hang on a mo, I've seen an article in one of my old mags about that. Think it might have been Peter Stone. I'll try to dig it out and scan it up.

St.John · Post by **St.John** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:03 pm

Amazing. Thought I'd have thrown you with that one. I'll have to try harder! Spot's obviously a dab hand at this..... Or an old hand!!

GloucesterOldSpot · Post by **GloucesterOldSpot** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:09 pm

st.john wrote:Amazing. Thought I'd have thrown you with that one. I'll have to try harder! Spot's obviously a dab hand at this..... Or an old hand!!

Neither - just read too many old books! Silkweed has been recomended by many anglers, from Ted Ensome to John Wilson. Walker certainly used and wrote about it, as did Stone, Taylor et al.

If it's obscure baits you're after, try this one: a small piece of red rag soaked in petrol (from Fine Angling For Coarse Fish). Supposed to be a good bait for dace...

The Sweetcorn Kid · Post by **The Sweetcorn Kid** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:27 pm

Thought I had it....

From ANGLING in June 1978

Hang on, does this make me REALLY sad!!!! :think:

Post by **Mark** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:30 pm

No it just means your've got a lot of old angling magazines.

St.John · Post by **St.John** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:35 pm

I like the way this is going! Nice one spot. Wd40's one I've been told about a few times. My grandfather once gave me one..... 'right sinj, if you want a bait that'll literally make fish jump out of the water onto the bank I've got one for you' of course my ears pricked up at this...'go on pops, what's that then?' 'Laxatives my boy, by a pack and mix them with bread crumb and use it as groundbait'... 'really pop's what's so good about that? They don't smell of much'... At which he lent back in his armchair and said.....'works a treat son.... There's no toilets in the river'

Post by **Mark** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:42 pm

I'm off to the chemist.....

GloucesterOldSpot · Post by **GloucesterOldSpot** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:04 pm

st.john wrote:I like the way this is going! Nice one spot. Wd40's one I've been told about a few times. My grandfather once gave me one..... 'right sinj, if you want a bait that'll literally make fish jump out of the water onto the bank I've got one for you' of course my ears pricked up at this...'go on pops, what's that then?' 'Laxatives my boy, by a pack and mix them with bread crumb and use it as groundbait'... 'really pop's what's so good about that? They don't smell of much'... At which he lent back in his armchair and said.....'works a treat son.... There's no toilets in the river'

I've heard of the WD40 trick before. I think some salmon anglers annoint their lures with it. Not being a salmon angler I cannot say whether it works.

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