Just been informed by a member of the comittee that i am static fishing. Let me explain. When i was casting out my fast sink line with a booby attached to a 5 ft leader, i was putting the rod down by the side of me and putting my hands in my pocket (where my hand warmers are . The reason for this was obvious; 90% of the lake was frozen (260 acre res.), there was a bitterly eastly wind and to sum it up, it was bloody freezing. After 30 seconds i picked up the rod and started retrieving (fishing in about 8-10 of water-so needed 30 sec to reach bottom). Is that static fishing ?

Cheers

Mark

In my opinion that is NOT static fishing, although the period you put the rod down for is debatable.

Static fishing is what some of the Farmoor regulars do - cast out the booby rig and then put the rod in a rest

I actually seldom put the rod on the ground but put my hands in my pockets with the rod tucked under my arm, while it is sinking.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

I always (nearly) put the rod under my arm when allowing the line to sink and while warming my hands like you describe. I couldn't bare to watch my rod, reel and line shoot off as a fish took on the drop. You wouldn't want to dive in after it in the conditions you describe!

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Slayer by name but not by nature Catch & Release wild trout


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Hi Mark,

In my opinion what you describe is actually static fishing but only for the time the fly is not retrieved. Obviously in your case it was done because of the temperature etc and some people will argue that they are "counting down" but I know people that cast out and leave the rod down and then pick it up and start retrieving and they find a fish to be on the end. The fish in most cases will have taken the fly static but you only know the fish is there when you retrieve the slack up and so many anglers belive the fish takes when they start the retrieve, this is not usually the case.

I would say if you cast out and keep the rod in your hand for up to a minute while the line sinks than it should be acceptable, as soon as you put the rod down IMO you are static fishing regardless of the line or method.

And if you want to retrieve the flies really slowly and fish deep then use the figure of eight retrieve but as slow as you can. If the committee fault this retrieve, then pretend to retrieve quicker. Repsond to takes as quick as you can if your fishing deep to avoid deep hooking the trout.

Also I have seen two people lose their rod etc leaving their line in the water while not fishing, the rod shoots off never to be seen again. An expensive cast indeed. I nearly lost a hand made loomis of mine while fishing with a floating line and single tadpole, a fish took on the drop and I had left the rod on the bank only to hear a loud splash and have to dive forward and grab it - very lucky although the dam fish came off!

Sam

I's a strange one,In the eyes of the Law (and your commitee) the minute you lay your rod down it becomes a set line,Or a fixed engine and you can be accused of static fishing.But I would say they were being a bit harsh.
This is still to be properly resolved in Scotland with regards to coarse/bait fishers.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

hi doc, you are breaking the law, if you were in a competition you would be disqualified.
the law states you must hold your rod at all times. why not heat your hands before you cast, then there will be no problem. this saves any argument if another angler complains.
billy.

......and that has to be seen to be believed..they have specially made brackets that fit in the gaps between the sections of the concrete bowl, to hold the rods

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Roy

Thanks for the replies.

Still not convinced of the difference of putting your rod down and leaving it under your arm. To me they are the same. I can not see the difference apart from there is less chance of your rod being pulled in. There will be no difference to the movement of that fly on the end of your line when it is sinking whether it is under your arm, in your hand or on the floor.
Obviously if i was to put the rod down and pull out a newspaper Farmoor style then that is static fishing; but surly any reasonable person can see the difference. The only way you can be in control of the fly as it is sinking is by slowly retreiving as it is sinking and this is not full proof because if the fish takes the fly and swims towards you you will not detect it (the equivilant of a slack line bite in sea fishing).


Cheers

Mark

Quote"cast out the booby rig and then put the rod in a rest "unquote

This was a shock to me to read .It is one of the reasons possibly the booby is banned by many fisheries, because by the time a fish has taken the fly and the rod raised to set the hook its way down its throat.Good booby anglers are in touch all the time with the fly.

The other thing as someone has already said ,in laying your rod down and a fish takes as happens often your rod goes off into the water,not good practice anytime and maybe warming before you cast would be better.

Keepingwarm is important and in the case mentioned a bit harsh to be accused of static fishing when trying to keep warm,doing it regular all year round would be a different matter.Bit of give and take and common sense has to be accepted.

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Kevin

give it a bit of time and they will have bells on there rod tips and i am not joking