Methods for Springers

[sewin]

Yep, very slow and right on the bottom. In the old days you would be using real golden coloured sprats on a mount but these days probably a Yellow Belly devon of at least 3" maybe bigger.

The best way to fish this bait slow enough without losing them on the bottom is to use a plastic or wooden version fished below a 1 - 2oz Wye Lead which is allowed to bump along the bottom and thus the bait fishes just off the bottom but due to its lightness it will flutter in the current.

If the bottom is snaggy an alternative is to use a weight like an arseley bomb or old spark plug on a nine inch "rotten bottom" link off a swivel about 18" to 24" above the bait. In that way again the weight can be on the bottom and the bait fished just off and very slowly.

Very few other baits can be fished deep enough and slow enough in the deeper pools favoured by Springers without snagging up but in shallower, faster water the heavy Toby works as of course the fly does on a sinking line.

[Fenton]

My first springer this year was taken on a floating line (no 8) and a 10 ft reservoir rod, using a 1 inch aluminium tube on 3rd February.

Yes, it shocked me to, I was only trying out my new Christmas pressie to see how it casted.

3rd cast, 7 lb bar of silver

[zeolite]

Upstream flying Cs are very effective. Black worked for me but red and yellow are supposed to be useful too.

[john]

Black Flying C works wonders.

[fenton]

The fish I referred to was from a bordonian river.

Re spinning, deep big n slow if its cold. Upstream flying C if its a bit warmer. I like black and silvers and have them in weights from about 5-28g. (Heavier ones can be effectively fished down and across as well). Even a small size 2 meps will work in march and april if the water is right.

2 weeks tomorrow!

F

[kingfisher]

sewin said:

Yep, very slow and right on the bottom. In the old days you would be using real golden coloured sprats on a mount but these days probably a Yellow Belly devon of at least 3" maybe bigger.

The best way to fish this bait slow enough without losing them on the bottom is to use a plastic or wooden version fished below a 1 - 2oz Wye Lead which is allowed to bump along the bottom and thus the bait fishes just off the bottom but due to its lightness it will flutter in the current.

If the bottom is snaggy an alternative is to use a weight like an arseley bomb or old spark plug on a nine inch "rotten bottom" link off a swivel about 18" to 24" above the bait. In that way again the weight can be on the bottom and the bait fished just off and very slowly.

Very few other baits can be fished deep enough and slow enough in the deeper pools favoured by Springers without snagging up but in shallower, faster water the heavy Toby works as of course the fly does on a sinking line.

would agree with this post.
floating devons fished carolina style with a weight attached to the mainline and a sliding swivel above with with the devon attached works best.

flying Cs only work on the smaller rivers if you are fishing the Tay or Tweed etc then use big tobys or blair sthingys fished as slow as you dare

I'm going for a cast on the lower Tay at the weekend I'll let you know how I get on.


cheers
Kingfisher

[fenton]

The last couple of 'springs' seem to have been warmer and drier than most, and some of the 'later season methods' can work earlier than some of the text books suggest.

I only have experience of the Tweed (and the Tyne if that counts) as big rivers, so my experience is limited to these (and smaller rivers). The lower beat which I have experience of, has a couple of long and relatively shallow stretches each of which contains a couple of deeper holes or lies. These lies may only represent six feet square of 'fishing space', surrounded by knee deep water. With the river running clear at not much more than summer level, and relatively warm temperatures, these lies represent a good chance of a fish. Personally I think that a big spoon would be inappropriate in this situation but an upstream, correctly weighted, small spinner can be the ticket, even in February or March.

Similarly on the smaller rivers in relatively low water, smaller spinners fished through likely holding pools can be successful.
Some would argue that spinners shouldn't be used in low water, but they do provide another line of attack.

It has to be horses for courses though, and the methods described by Kingfisher and Sewin will obviously account for the majoity of spinner caught spring fish on the big rivers. Just be prepared to adjust your tactics slightly if faced with May time conditions in February!

regards
F

[shrimpin]

where is the best place to fish for springers in northern ireland? ive never caught one, but i have lost one on a flying c very early on in the season. if i am fishing a river with no current, how would you go about fishing a minnow, deep and keeping it spinning.

thanks

[madkeen]

If the current is very slow try a floating rapala f11/f13 absolutely deadly .

[Yorkshire Esk]

Most lures will do the trick as long as you keep winding, but you will need to have the correct weight for the river conditions otherwise it will become very expensive and most of your lures will remain at the bottom of the river.
Just like the floating rapala, the floating devon would be as good as any.
All rivers have flow and current, it all depends on the pool you are fishing.
If you are happy with a flying C, then use a flying C, but you will need to use a light weight one.