This is a similar thread to the one posted by Paul100 about flies & tactics for this time of year. Have fished Farmoor with varying degrees of failure and put most of it down to wrong fly & tactics. Have had most success with white zonkers or cats whiskers (and the inevitable booby) on a sinking line but just wondered if people had any thoughts about the set up: how many droppers, how far apart, boobies on point or dropper, colours, fished slow or fast? Perhaps a combination of all of the above?

And one final question: the regulars obviously know when the fishing's going to be good because when its quiet I draw a blank but when there's loads of people fishing I have some joy - what is it that tells you 'don't bother today'?


ETF

Fished it yesterday, drew a blank. Other guys were catching on boobies sunken line. They weren't fishing them static and you know not retrieving how your not supposed too do (wink) (I'm not a grass)

However I did get a few tugs on an apps, also found that if I retrieved the apps bloody fast, I'd get follows. Just couldn't connect with them, by the time I'd sussed it, it was time to go. Good luck on the morrow. Guys were mainly catching by the last car park.

Sean

Almost forgot! Did see a couple of right clonkers rising after a buzzer hatch. Right on the crease of the ripple.

Get in touch with Chickenfish or Peepingcaddis - they are on it all the time and catching a lot more than their fair share

Mainly involves chucking it 50 yds with a Di8 head as far as I can tell.................

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Have fished Farmoor 3 times over the christmas period and was there yesterday too. The place is on fire at the moment! It must easily be the most heavily stocked reservoir i have ever fished. The rod average from the boats was over 24 the other day.

There is only 1 tactic there at this time of year. Boobies on a fast sinker. It is not worth trying anything else from the bank.

Distance can be important but not at the moment. That said, chucking a decent line helps. You do need to get past the first shelf which is about 30yrds out at the moment as the place is full. If you are strugling to get that kind of distance then fish from the top of the wall. You will add vital yards by being that much higher.

My set up has been a DI8 shooting head and two long tailed boobies. Start with a dropper 6ft from the end of the fly line then have another 10ft away on the point. I prefer orange on the dropper with black & yellow eyes on the point. Cast it as far as you can and give it a good 2 - 3 minutes to settle. Then beging an erratic slowish retrieve. When you get knocks & rattles, make sure you don't strike, just keep on retrieving until it's all solid and the fish is on.

I have to say, and i don't mind being a grass!, that there are alot of people fishing static boobies there. Apart from the obvious problems that are asociated with that style of fishing, they are seriously missing out on some fantastic fishing..........you catch an awful lot more with a retrieved fly!

I tend to fish the catch and release side where boobies are not allowed - what's the alternative?

thanks for the tips Chickenfish. I'm gutted as had been intending to go on 29th but couldn't make it and it sounds like I missed some fun and have now done my back in so think my planned trip this week may be in jeapody!

I have to say getting the line any distance is always difficult for me. I have tried fishing from the top of the wall but found what I gained in extra distance I lost in having to stand that little bit further back from the waters edge! I haven't got myself a shooting head line yet but is sounds like it should be high on my list. Will keep on plugging away!