Tackle for weedy stillwater swims

[Stathamender]

Having just finished my annual visit to Bures Lake (final post in my journal soon) I've been reflecting on how to deal with the summer weed there, especially when legering.

A lot of people who fish there use buoyant baits of one kind or another (dog biscuit, wafters, pop-ups etc) to present their bait above the c 1to 2 ft deep weed cover. If you can find a swim with a raked out path in it that's better but there's not many around and, in any case, the fish seem to prefer to lurk in the weedy areas and among the lily pads.

I've seen various things suggested and used: helicopter rigs, paternosters, 'chods' etc, mostly using a length of stiff monofil or power gum to the leger weight or something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fishing-6-or ... Sw1u9bpfAr. These always seem to present problems with tangles sooner or later.

What's people's experience of this and what would they recommend?

[Liphook]

A good throw rake is my answer, then you can fish uncomplicated rigs in freature that the fish want to investigate

[Stathamender]

A good throw rake is my answer, then you can fish uncomplicated rigs in freature that the fish want to investigate

Raking not always possible, especially if you're fishing close to other people.

[RBTraditional]

I agree, I always rake and then bait on the weedy marsh drains before fishing and usually have the fish feeding within the hour, which gives me enough time to tackle up and enjoy a brew whilst the swim settles.

[Liphook]

A good throw rake is my answer, then you can fish uncomplicated rigs in freature that the fish want to investigate

Raking not always possible, especially if you're fishing close to other people.

Ah I see, then my answer would involve a wafter/critically balanced bait like good old bread flake or balance crust

[Stathamender]

A good throw rake is my answer, then you can fish uncomplicated rigs in freature that the fish want to investigate

Raking not always possible, especially if you're fishing close to other people.

Ah I see, then my answer would involve a wafter/critically balanced bait like good old bread flake or balance crust

But that's not the question I asked about, I'm assuming wafters etc but the question I asked was about the leger rig.

[Liphook]

Oh well I'll keep quiet then

[RBTraditional]

Float fish over the weed... ledgering will only bury the bait, I fail to see just how some of these complicated ledger rigs work in really weedy conditions...if you can’t use a traditional noisy rake then an Aspen weed rake (pole system) will remove weed so that you can fish a bait on a cleanish bottom without disturbing the neighbours

[Dave Burr]

It depends on the type of weed but most of them are dense at their tops but quite sparse down at the base much in the way of trees in a wood. Fish have routes through the weed and there are always areas which are less dense than others.

If you can't rake then I suggest a pva bag with your lead and a shortish hooklink inside along with some dry groundbait or micro pellets and some hookbait samples. When it lands put some more free samples around it by hand or catapult to widen the scent trail and sit back and wait.

Fish hooked in thick week usually come out with a high rod and steady but constant pressure.

[RBTraditional]

PVA??....not very traditional and I do wonder about the chemical release in water....they say it’s non toxic....but it ain’t natural.....