Hi, im new to coarse fishing and im keen to give trotting a go.
Ive just bought a marco cortesi reel having read a few other threads and some drennan float fish 4lb line to go on it.
Can i fish this line straight through to the hook or do i need some different line for the hook length?
Ive got some barbless hooks coming in size 14, 16 and 18 and already have plenty of shot.
Floats There seems to be an endless supply of types of float, is there any sort in particular that i should be looking for and what size?
Obviously i will need a rod. Ive been looking at a j.w young 13ft trotting rod, is this any good or could you recommend better?
Other than some maggots/worms is there anything else i need?

Many thanks in advance, Daryn

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“Where the footprints end the fishing begins”

hi daryn , a lot depends on the type of water that you are fishing , and what species you are aiming to catch. assuming that you are going for grayling I would fish the slightly deeper and slower glides than i would in summer also if there is enough water depth and cover they can often be right in the sides maggots are a good bait as is orange sweetcorn at this time of year.Use what is called a loafer or chubber float or an avon type float attach it top and bottom by float rubbers put shot on in bulk at 2/3 depth atach tiny swivel then spade hook to nylon 14 16 or 18 small shot can be attached to this snood but be gentle as its likely to be only 2lbs bs .Trickle maggots in with each run down until they start to come on try discos on the hook double maggot also (hence the swivel) A bait apron or maggot bag is essential if your Wading , good luck. as regards rods 13 or 14 ft match rods are ok I always go for a stick float rod there are lots to choose from

hello what rivers will you be fishing?? depends on the length of rod, with a pin a 13ft is not ideal look for an avon type rod 10.5 11 is better. you will be floating a river quite a distance so need keep control. a river like the thames a 12 ft 13ft as you said , the kennet or avon rivers a rod as above with a pin is great fishing. look on ebay for an avon type floats too plenty of shot to keep the bait down. size of hook depends what your fishing for, as for bait try find a bread press to make nice cubes, ideal winter chub roach fishing. if you have 1 rod go between those lengths say 11.5 with your new nice pin and have some great fishing. i used 6lb line with tied on hooks but hey so long ago.

I have just bought a Youngs Travel trotter.. Had it out a couple of times seems good, Lots of advice above but a couple of extra tips. If you are trotting a deep swim use a bait dropper to get offerings down and also use a plummit. If you plan to fish the same places often a reccy with a plummit to investigate depths will really pay dividends.


Andy


Becks and Brown Trout

Dazz I know what river you will be fishing as its the same as me, your marcosi pin loaded with 4lbs line straight through will be fine, I use 4lbs straight through at the moment and have no probs, size 14 & 16 hooks are fine if your after the grayling which I know you will be.

Stick floats dont suit the type of water your going to be fishing so I recommend an avon float around the 5bb mark to suit the style, Gary & myself use floats around 5bb when the water is low or dropping off, if its higher than normal then go up to an avon around the 7bb - 8bb mark.

The rod choice is fine mate myself & Gary use longer rods but since last year Ive came back down to a 10ft Split cane rod and had no troubles with it at all.

as some of the lads have already said get yourself a bait apron or maggot bag, it makes things so much easier and if you get stuck then drop myself or gary a message and we will help you out.
regards
George

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A Scotsman in Yorkshire now there IS a combination

I never use line straight through and would advise against it - I always fish with a lighter hooklink to avoid lots of trailing line in the event of break offs. If you want to fish a 4lb bottom, mainline would therefore be at least 5lb, or even 6lb, it doesn't matter too much if your hooklink is finer. I like to fish a hi-tec mono fine diameter hooklink for better presentation (eg Preston Innovations Powerline). Size 18 wide gape barbless Kamasan B911 (wide gape similar to a 16 in normal pattern) for grayling (double maggot) and strong enough for chub. A 13' rod would be my general choice. Selection of floats, usually wire stemmed sticks, avons, chubbers, balsas, depending on conditions. As for bait apron or pouch, no need to buy one really, you can use a bum bag worn on the front. Quite useful to have a landing net head screwed into a spiked bankstick, so you can jam it in the riverbed next to you when wading - I guess you'll already have waders!

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It's all pretty good advice. My personal choice of kit for the rivers I fish is usually a 14 foot float rod (I also have an 11 foot rod for small, tree-lined rivers). I find the 14 foot rod is invaluable for mending the line behind the float ... very important to stop the line dragging the float. I also try to minimise the amount of tackle I take to the river. A few Avons and Chubber floats in a plastic float tube, spade end hooks (12 -> 22, usually Drennan barbless), a hooktier (I never learnt to tie them on by hand), a few spools of hooklength line (2 and 3 lb), a couple of disgorgers (even for barbless hooks they're useful), shot dispenser, nippers, and a bait apron. There's no need to weigh yourself down

The best advice is to try to go out with an experienced centrepin angler ... they can help you out with the inevitible tangles you will experience.

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Cheers,
Lawrence

One little bit of advice you might find helpful, you will find everything a lot easier to control if you fish quite heavy. If you are trotting for grayling you will be amazed at how vigorous the bites are in winter. My rig for the Derbyshire Derwent at Chatsworth was a large avon made with a swan quill and corks, this took a ½ ounce barleycorn lead with a swan shot either side, about a foot from the size 12 or 10 hook and anything from 4 to 8 red worms on it. They used to wallop that. Grayling are predators and although they do eat small stuff they are happy to take big items too.

When fishing a little lighter, such as on smoother water, a fluted float will track the current easier for you and will not have the tendency to swing into your own bank as it gets further downstream from you.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Good advice Richard. On my local river (Loddon) I tend to use 6 to 10 BB Avons (it's between 4 and 8 foot deep) rather than stick floats. If I'm fishing a shallower but fast flowing chalkstream (Kennet or Itchen) then I'll probably use a Drennan Chubber (1 SSG to 4 SSG) as I often need a short float but it needs the weight for stability.

My default float fishing mode is a bulk shot about 12 to 18 inches from the hook with one or 2 small shot between the bulk and hook. It's not often I fish shirt button style but it has it's place. And if I do I use a stick float.

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Cheers,
Lawrence

Agree with what your saying Jeff however in all the years of fishing the river where Dazz will be fishing Ive never had a breakoff or snapped on a fish yet and I fish that river nearly every weekend, If I was fishing elsewhere then my tactics would change.
For the last 3 years Ive been fishing berkley fireline crystal with a 7ft length of 4lbs mono on the end and as I say had no bother at all and wouldnt go back to mono as my mainline now as the berkley is far easier and more controllable than the mono in my eyes.

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A Scotsman in Yorkshire now there IS a combination