Pole fishing is undoubtedly the most accurate way of getting your bait exactly where you want it, which is critical for catching numbers of silverfish. The rig you use is key, but it can get confusing because there are so many options. This article will cover the basics of making good silverfish rigs to give you the five must have silverfish rigs to improve your chances of success and improve your pole fishing.
The 'Maggot' Rig
The 'Maggot' rig is all about finesse, and using a maggot as a hookbait almost guarantees you the opportunity to catch any fish in the lake, but to ensure you don't miss bites from silverfish, sensitivity is important.
My choice of float for this rig would be a 0.2g (4x12) slim bodied float with a 1.7mm bristle, this float offers a balance of stability and sensitivity. Mainline of choice would be 4lb (0.14mm) to a 15cm, 3lb (0.12mm) hooklength, with a light wide gape hook.
The shotting pattern is a 'shirt button' style with 5 x No 10 shot spread evenly in the bottom third of the rig with the final shot on the loop to loop hooklength connection. This presentation will allow for a more natural fall of the bait whilst maintaining a tight line to the hookbait so bites are visible if taken 'on the drop'
IF YOU ARE NEW TO POLE FISHING, HERE ARE SOME GREAT TIPS ON HOW TO SET ONE UP PROPERLY.
The 'Skimmer' Rig (Positive & Negative)
The "Skimmer' rig is a versatile rig, suited to a positive feeding approach, but a simple shot adjustment makes it just as effective if a more negative approach is required. The positive approach ideal fishing long and negative approach fishing short.
My choice of float for this rig is a 0.4g (4x16) slim bodied float with a 1.7mm bristle, use a 4lb (0.14mm) mainline and a 15cm, 3lb (0.12mm) hooklength with a light wide gape hook to take maggots, casters and even soft pellets.
There are two versions of this rig a positive and a negative and the only difference is the shotting pattern, a more positive approach use a 'strung' bulk through the bottom third of the rig with 8 x No 9 shot evenly spread from the loop to loop hooklength connection at 2" (5cm) intervals. This rig works best when the fish are confidently feeding.
For more negative feeding I would bulk six of the No 9 shot and the other two No 9 as dropper shot, with the final dropper on the loop to loop connection of the hooklength and the other 4" (10cm) above it. This allows for the bait to be quick to the bottom and the droppers will enhance the subtle skimmer 'lift bites' essential if the fish are apprehensive or shy.
I would have both these rigs set up starting on the negative and moving to the positive once the fish gain confidence and start feeding more aggressively but you can just as simply move the shot around to quickly change the presentation.
IF YOU ARE TYING YOUR OWN POLE RIGS, THE BEST LINES WILL ENSURE THEY ARE DURABLE AND STRONG.
The "Deep Water' rig
When approaching deep venues be it a natural or commercial, using a stable float in the correct weight to battle surface, and under tow is critical.
For this rig my choice would be a 1.0g round bodied float with a wire stem and a 1.7mm bristle, using a 4lb (0.14mm) mainline to a 15cm (0.12mm) hooklength tied to a light wide gape hook to take a choice of hookbaits. Incorporated into this rig would be an olivette of 0.8g placed 30cm above the hooklength. This would act as the bulk, using a No 9 shot above and below to lock the inline olivette in place, then 2 x No 9 droppers the last one being above the loop to loop connection and the other 10cm above that. This will hold stable and show any 'lift' bites from shy biting skimmers and bream.
THESE RIGS ARE BEST USED ON ONE OF THE BEST FISHING POLES, OUR GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE BEST.
The "Shallow' rig
Silverfish are more than obliging in feeding shallow and once you create competition with regular feeding they can be come easy to catch but getting the rig correct will definitely enhance your catch rate.
For the 'shallow' rig I would choose a 0.2g (4x12) slim bodied float with a carbon stem and 1.7mm bristle, this float will allow a more gradual fall of the bait. Use a 5lb (0.16mm) mainline the thicker, stiffer line allows for better control and slower fall of the hookbait, tied to a 15cm, 3lb (0.12mm) hooklength, with a light wide gape hook.
This hooklength can have a band or just a hook for use with casters or maggots. Use 5 x No 10 shots spread through the rig to create a slow fall, the last dropper next to the loop to loop hooklength connection, this allows you to keep a tight line to the hookbait leading to less missed bites.
USING THE BEST FISHING CATAPULT IS CRITICAL TO KEEPING FEED ACCURATE WHEN USING A SHALLOW RIG.
