Hey,
I was curious, anyone tries "zool, baltic herring" (I dont know how it called in english using google translate) on dead baits? Saw frozen little fish ideal size for zander.
Zander on dead bait.
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- Brown Trout
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
I wouldn't get too hung up on whole fish of any description for targeting Zander or any predator species ..sometimes fish sections catch them unawares.I've had them out to over ll lb on trout sections on the Fens..2nd hand at that. Provided your presentation is adequate..predators are scavengers and look for an easy meal..whole or not in my experience
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- Ferox Trout
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
Wayneelman wrote: ↑Sun Nov 10 2024 13:15 -Interesting point of view. I've caught a few fenland zander in my time, and whole baits are what I always use. It's what they'd naturally find, as opposed to a half a dead roach bobbing around the bottom of a river or drain. The only baits I would ever use in sections for zander are eel or lamprey. simply due to bait size; ideally for UK zander that's 4 to 6 inches. If people feel the need to create a scent trail, just puncture the bait in a few places. Else half baits or sections are completely unnecessary.I wouldn't get too hung up on whole fish of any description for targeting Zander or any predator species ..sometimes fish sections catch them unawares.I've had them out to over ll lb on trout sections on the Fens..2nd hand at that. Provided your presentation is adequate..predators are scavengers and look for an easy meal..whole or not in my experience.
As to sea baits, they again only get fished in sections due to their size, but whole (small) sardines or small herrings will work on some waters and tend to get the better fish. Big half baits, like mackerel, I find pretty useless, but occasionally when piking a zander will pick them up. I had a 15 do just that to me on one occasion, but that and a 13 are the only two I've ever had like that in the many years of fishing on the fens. Best to stick with small whole silvers, roach, dace, chub, bleak, gudgeon...
Piking Plonker
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
Whole baits are the most natural and I think the fishes slime creates all the scent trail you need making fresh bait important. The bait Im using are all caught and used straight away or frozen wrapped in clingfilm for ultimate freshness.
I often take just the head off larger baits to let a few more juices out and possibly pop up off the tail.
Bait size ideally is 4-5 inches.
Caught a few on see baits and I know on some waters its a viable technique such as Grafham, but I generally I would not target zander with sea baits.
Cheers, Alan
I often take just the head off larger baits to let a few more juices out and possibly pop up off the tail.
Bait size ideally is 4-5 inches.
Caught a few on see baits and I know on some waters its a viable technique such as Grafham, but I generally I would not target zander with sea baits.
Cheers, Alan
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" Seneca, some Roman chap.
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- Eel
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
Grafham & the other Anglian Water fisheries only sea deads are permitted. Lamprey also prohibited.
They also have a minimum size of 18cm (7").
They also have a minimum size of 18cm (7").
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
paintman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11 2024 09:26 -Its such a good job everyone knows and plays by the rules and never carry a knife!Grafham & the other Anglian Water fisheries only sea deads are permitted. Lamprey also prohibited.
They also have a minimum size of 18cm (7").

Cheers, Alan
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" Seneca, some Roman chap.
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
cookiesdaughtersdad wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11 2024 10:01 -

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Re: Zander on dead bait.
At the end of the day most anglers throw theirs bits and bobs into the margins (I'm a bit tight and take mine home and liquidise the heck out of them)consequently aquatic species of all descriptions get a free meal regardless ..whole or otherwise.
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
we used to fish the tail section of a roach, usually small baits. We let it bounce on the bottom under a float and let the current take it under a bridge. But you can use bigger baits, Zanders are not afraid of a 20cm deadbait or lure.

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Re: Zander on dead bait.
ErikB wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20 2024 16:36 -I've caught plenty of zander on larger baits and lures, but typically when I am after pike. Anyone targeting them in the UK would do best by sticking to smaller lures and baits. I think 4 or 5 inches is about where you want to be, maybe smaller some days with 2-3 inches and a little larger on others, but not over 6 inches. Depends where you are fishing and the conditions. Also worth bearing in mind the size of the fish you're likely to catch as well.we used to fish the tail section of a roach, usually small baits. We let it bounce on the bottom under a float and let the current take it under a bridge. But you can use bigger baits, Zanders are not afraid of a 20cm deadbait or lure.
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Re: Zander on dead bait.
ErikB wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20 2024 16:36 -Interesting that mate, I like fishing tail sections of Roach too.we used to fish the tail section of a roach, usually small baits. We let it bounce on the bottom under a float and let the current take it under a bridge. But you can use bigger baits, Zanders are not afraid of a 20cm deadbait or lure.


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