Skimmers and roach, are often grouped together as "silvers," but both have unique behaviours, particularly when fishing in deeper waters. To maximise your catch of both species, I'd employ a strategic two-line approach that capitalises on their specific preferences.
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The long and short of it
I typically fish short for roach and long for skimmers. Roach often prefer shallower waters, while skimmers thrive in deeper areas and benefit from a settling period. However, depth is key. If both lines are at the same or similar depth, you might need to reverse the approach: fish long for early bites and short for later skimmer activity.
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Choose the right baits
On commercial fisheries, fishmeal-based groundbaits are a good choice. As the water gets colder and clearer, a darker mix works better for both skimmers and roach. I always have casters, wetted-down micro pellets, and worms for chopping on my side tray. And of course, I wouldn't be without maggots and pinkies for hookbaits.
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Lay the ground work
The short line will receive two satsuma-sized balls of groundbait with a few casters in, followed by loosefeeding casters to attract the fish. The amount of loosefeed will be dictated by the fish's response. For the long skimmers line, I find that the introduction of around 4 to 8 balls of groundbait to create an area of groundbait, in the mix I will also have a light scattering of micro pellets, casters, and chopped worms something to maintain the skimmers interest but not overfeed them.
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Keep the long line topped up
Topping up for skimmers is important. Pay attention to how often you're getting bites. If the bites slow down, add a small ball of your groundbait mix to keep the skimmers interested. It's also a good idea to rest the swim for a few minutes to let the skimmers settle and become more confident.
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Effective rigs
For the short line (6ft deep), I use a 0.5g Slim bodied float with a simple strung bulk. For the long line (9ft deep), a 1.5g wire-stemmed round bodied float with an olivette bulk and three positive No8 droppers is ideal. Positive droppers are essential for exaggerating subtle skimmer indications. A size 16 hook is suitable for both species. If your find yourself fishing in shallower water a smaller size of the same floats will be better to maintain sensitivity, don't be afraid to try a lighter or heavier floats to optimise presentation.
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