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BOTTOM FISHING

Bottom fishing consists of drawing the fish to a “trap” by baiting, in a river, pond, canal, or lake (the opposite of other techniques where it is moving to seek out the fish). This allows you to attract a great variety of fish throughout the year: Roach, bream, bleak, gudgeons, tench, carp, chubs, barbells, etc...

We bait the trap with a mixture of meal, grains (chubs, flour, corn…). And live bait (maggots, pinkies, a jumble of marsh worms…). Bottom fishing with a rod without rings is certainly the most common. It is also the means by which all anglers begin.


Hardware

The rod

There are two main rod families: Telescopic and with fittings.

  • Telescopic :
    Small telescopic rods between 1.50 m and 5 metres are called a “mitraillette" or “gardonette”. These rods are made to stand up to frequent casting and striking. They are not very bulky, able to be retracted and then re-extended with a flip of the hand. Light, they are perfectly suited for catching roach, bleak, gudgeons...
    Some longer rods (up to 9 metres), can be used to meet the needs of anglers (distance and depth).
  • With fittings :
    As the name indicates, a rod with fittings is composed of several elements that fit one inside the other.
    Its length can surpass 13 metres; Unlike telescopic rods, the fittings allow the rod to be used at different lengths. One can also quickly and easily change a 9.50 m rod into a 6.50 m rod by removing 2 elements.

These rods are equipped with a solid tip in which an elastic is mounted on one, two, or three elements (see diagram). Additionally, when catching a big fish, the elastic serves as a shock absorber, also allowing you to catch lovely fish on a small diameter nylon line. Consequently, you add or subtract fittings at will, one or several rod elements to compensate for the length of the elastic end.
In most cases, you adapt the length of the line according to the depth of the water.


  • Classic tip

  • Elastic interior tip


You also limit the depth of the banner (length of nylon between the tip and the float). This enables a good control of the line, without the wind or current, or the influence of its own movement, and increased reactivity for striking upon touch. For a line on a telescopic rod; Place a line that is 50 cm less long than the rod.
Eg: Line of 4.5 metres for a rod of 5 metres.


Description of the line for bottom fishing

The float is the principal element of the line. Its position on the filament determines the depth of the fishing.
The role of the float or “bob” is to support the bait at the desired height and accompany it on the way down. It also serves to indicate to the angler the slightest touch from a fish biting the hook.
There are numerous sizes and shapes which allow adaptation to different distances and fishing conditions (wind, depth, force of the current, size of the fish…).


Floats


  • Fusiform

  • Teardrop

  • Ball

  • Flat


The most commonly used shapes are :

  • Fusiform, an elongated “carrot” type of shape, for technical fishing without wind in calm water.
  • Teardrop, resembling a more or less elongated pear with a very long quill for better stability, a good hold in the wind and a great sensitivity. This is the most versatile, archetypal shape and the most used by far.
  • Ball, for a strong lift, sturdy and designed for bottom fishing for beautiful fish in the current. These floats allow the use of large-sized bait (compost, earthworms, corn…).
  • Flat, reserved exclusively for bottom fishing with the line stopped in the current.
    Its minimal thickness offers little resistance to the force of the water.

A float is composed of three distinct parts :

  • Antenna :
    Several materials are used: Fibreglass, plastic and metal...
    Most floats are equipped with fibreglass and plastic antennas. Very visible, they offer a good sensitivity to touch.
    The fine metallic antennas are designed for very technical fishing where sensitivity is primordial.
    Often fluorescent orange in colour, they can be fluorescent yellow or black to offer better visibility depending on the light (reflections, waves, shadows…). See which one is visible to you!
    With this in mind, certain floats have interchangeable antennas. The more slender an antenna is, the better its penetration in the water.
  • Body :
    Most floats are made from Balsa or synthetic foams.
    The very low density of these two materials ensures excellent buoyancy and enables a strong lift in bobbing.
    In most cases, the body of the float is connected to the line with the help of a small metallic eyelet located under the antenna.
  • Quill :
    In fibreglass, metal or wood, it serves mainly to stabilize the float. Equipped with silicone rings (doesn't hurt the line), it also allows the float to be kept at the desired height on the line.

The other components of the line are :

  • The body of the line, composed of a fine, flexible nylon monofilament, going from 8 to 10/100 for small fish and from 10 to 20/100 for bigger fish.
  • The lead , is the mass of the lead needed to balance the float. This mass can be composed of a massive sinker (olivette type) or a set of sinkers more or less spread out and sometimes different sizes (see diagram). In this case, the sinker is graduated, with the largest sinker near the float and the smallest near the hook. This sinker, called “touch sinker” allows better perception of touches “upon rising” (when the fish returns to the surface after having swallowed the bait).

    1. body of the line
    2. Float
    3. Lead balancing the float
    4. Bottom of the line and hook

    The massive or spread out sinker allows a more or less rapid descent of the bait. Its reappearance and its positioning on the line play as much a role in determining the presentation of the bait as in the perception of touch.
  • The base of the line is the end part of the line. It is composed of nylon with a diameter always inferior to the body of the line (often 2/100) generally connected loop to loop (diagram: Loop knot in loop) and ending in a hook.

    • Make loop A pass through loop B.

    • Then the filament Free loop B in loop A.

    • Pull lightly to connect the two loops one
      inside the other, make the knots.
      You have the position on the left.
      Continue to pull until the two loops are tightened

    Its lower resistance is useful in the case of a break (hooking a large fish) which limits the loss of the line to that of the base of the line. Its finesse, flexibility, and discretion allow a better quality presentation of the bait.

  • The hook, is an equally important element.
    Its size, its shape and its varying resistance according to the bait used and type of fish sought (iron tip for fragile bait, reinforced for large fish…).

No matter the quality of line mounting, its control in fishing action will be determined according to the amount of fish attracted. The survey is an essential operation for finding out the depth and nature of the bottom, and it must be done vertically. (see diagram)


  1. Too much on the bottom
  2. Not enough on the bottom
  3. Correctly on the bottom


Example : In a river, the bait carried by the hook, describes casting under the influence of the current. Thus, you can practice the "retaining" of the line which stops the base of the line, then the "release" which makes it retake the line from the current or even "the enticement" which consists of lightly raising the line, then letting it sink again.(see diagram)
Line movement to achieve :


  • Calm water

  • Slow current

  • Strong current

    Each movement of the line should be done gradually in slowly marking each stopping stage.
    The touch is blunt and striking should occur without delay.




In all bottom fishing, your results will be largely improved if you use bait. Different bait are chosen according to the fishing location and the fish sought in your area, and for those of you wanting to simplify life, don’t miss the Go Fishing Ready-to-fish bait.