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Welcome To The Zander | British Record | 21lb 5oz
| | Baits | Liv/Dead Coarse Fish
| | Habitat | A predator that feeds during low light. Enjoys features and ddeep water
| Introduction The Zander is some what of a controversial fish, When stocked into the fenland drains (Relief Channel) in the latter half of the last century many anglers thought it detrimental to the thriving silver fish angling to be had on these waterways. Although it was reported that the silver fish catches had been lower than average, by this time it had become apparent that the Zander was here to stay. Finding its way into the surrounding rivers and drains.
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With the current British record currently standing at 19lbs 5oz it is inevitable that this fish will soon be breaking the 20lb barrier in a few years. This along with the shear beauty and unusual kind of this species makes it a specimen target for the specialist fishing team.
I will be teaming up with Dazza on the fenland drains fishing The Middle Level during the warmer months and then on to The Relief Channel for some serious Fish as the colder months and longer nights draw closer.
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Written by Admin
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Monday, 06 October 2008 12:48 |
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The tackle required for Zander fishing, is much the same as for all specialist fishing. Carp rods are the most popular choice for Zeds, with a T.C. between 2 and 3.5 lb. The Zander doesn't grow to the size of the carp or pike and because of this you may be thinking that 3/3.5 lb T.C. may seem a bit strong, but you must remember that to chuck an eel section to the far bank on the relief channel or at least try, you will need a strong rod. As far as reels and line go, most carp reels will suffice, and if using an open bail arm set up, you don't even need a baitrunner. Line can depend on where your fishing, but in my opinion, 8-12lb should be plenty. Braid is an option chosen by many anglers especially when fishing the far bank, as it has vertually no stretch and this will help when striking into the fish.
The actual set-up of your rods should be kept as simple as possible remembering the Two Rules, 1. A wire trace is a must when targetting theese toothy beasts. 2. Resistance has to be kept to a minimun as these fish are very finicky, this is easily achieved by using a running ledger rig with open bail arm.
Trebles
When confronted with a wall full of predator tackle in your local tackle shop many of us are immediately confused at the vast array of trebles available for our fishing. They come in many different makes, sizes, shapes and even colours but with a little experienced help and advice a purchase can be made that will more than satisfy your needs.
Over the last ten years fishing colleagues and I have used and seen several different brands of hook but after some trials ive settled on Drennan and Mustad, they are both gold in colour and the Mustad can be bought in extra strong which gives a little more security when im setting the hooks. Whilst choosing your trebles shank length and gape width are also important factors as they play a vital role in the hooking rate upon striking, having used my chosen hooks for some years their shape gives me the perfect happy medium for a successful hook hold.
We then have further options as to use barbed, semi-barbed or barbless hooks,In my mind its semi-barbed every time although barbless would do at a push, but under no circumstances will you see me using barbed trebles not even on a lure. Firstly and most importantly if you're using barbed trebles a deeply hooked zander is more often than not a dead one as the treble is much harder to remove, than a treble with only one barb. As the barb is placed in the bait it rarely sets in the zanders mouth leaving you one or two barbless hooks to remove with ease. Secondly I'm sure you'll agree barbless trebles are much easier to remove from a landing net at 2am!
Then finally we have to decide what size trebles were going to be using. They're usually available in sizes from 14 to 4, 14 being the smaller hook. As a rough guide 12's and 14's are generally better for Perch fishing due to their smaller size, and 6's and 4's tend to be used more widely for piking due to the size of fish and bait. That leaves sizes 8 and ten which are my choice for virtually all of my zandering and they can even be used in conjunction with each other.
Bite Indication
Bite Indication is a priority for Zander Fishing especially when targetting these fish during hours of darkness. Bite indicators act as both a visual and adio indication to a run. There are various different types of indication which fall into 3 cattagories.
Visual Indication
Floats- Floats are used in many variaties of fishing and provide excellent visual indication coupled with the ability to suspend a bait above the bottom. This is a very extremely exciting type of fishing and allows the angler to easily cover a vast area of water ie Leapfrogging. Due to the size of the baits a large float must be used.
Bobbins- Visual Indication of a fish moving off with your bait. Positioned hanging a couple of inches from the rod, when a fish swims away from the rod the line tightens and the bobbin will lift and alternatively when a fish moves towards the rod the bobbin will take up the slack and lower. This can be used in conjunction with a Bite Alarm.
Drop Off's- As the name sugeests, These visual indicators fall from the line as it is tighten by a moving fish. Can be used in conjunction with a Bite Alarm. |
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Written by Admin
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Monday, 06 October 2008 12:40 |
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The cutt-off channel being another drain in the fenland system is a short ride away from Downham market. ive fished the venue extensively and although it was kind enough to produce my PB i have to admit iv struggled on it, finding it to be more of a pike venue than a zed. The drain is usually covered with weed in the summer months making fishing hard to impossible, hence why my fishing has usually been from September onwards |
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Written by Bait Master
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Monday, 06 October 2008 12:38 |
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the old bedford
the old bedford was named after Francis, Earl of Bedford who financed its construction
in the 17century
its a small drain only a 2ft to 6ft feet deep and only around ten yards wide and seems well coloured .
it runs straight for its entire 17 mile length and is part of the hundred foot washes that are important as this is a big flood plain area to take access water during the winter month.
its made up of three drains the old bedford ,the delph and the new bedford river or hundred foot drain.
now to the visiting angler they should note if going to fish around these drains that they actually change there names around welches dam and can leave the visiting angler The Old Bedford
confused so i suggest they study a O/S 143 map of the area this will show the changes .
the old bedford runs from the sluice at salters lode through welches dam( where the drains change names ) through to earith
now both the old and the new bedford run parrallel on either side of the washes for the length and have higher outside banks so in flood conditions the access water goes on to the washes or flood plain and not on to the fertile farm land .
the washes are also in parts nature reserve area and at welney there is a visitor centre where you can see the wild fowl that migrate here for the winter month .
now it does not get overly fished due to access being very limited . but it has had a good history for throwing up some big zander to over 15lb but i,ve only personally seen picture of some zanders from freinds who have had them just over 13lb but sadly i,ve not had any myself into double figures from here yet .
it also does some very good pike too but also due to salt incussions nearly total populations have been wiped out in the past .
i know it is on the up again since it was dredged and the vegetation has now growing back well .
i believe this was dredged 04 and is now stuffed with silver fish again i know this from big bags of silver fish i,ve had personally and it will not be long before it throws up more good predator if its not all ready done so to others .
i think its worth investigating and if a angler wanted to walk he could easerly be fishing in areas that probably have never been fished .
now i know KLAA run a 3 mile section from salters lode from the new bridge to the market double lift mill
but no fishing from the bridge back to the sluice gates,. but on this part parking is at salters lode only which can be got to by accessing it from the A1122 west of downham market .
i,m not sure who controls this drain above the double lift mill but i,ll try and find out and add it at a later date .
kevin |
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Written by Darren Noble
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Monday, 06 October 2008 12:37 |
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Running from Denver sluice to the saltwater at Saddlebow this is the widest of the Fenland drains. its a water ive fished several times for zander but have found it very hard going, catching only a few pike along the way. ive found this to be another venue that suffers from marginal weed in the summer months due to relatively shallow margins. nonetheless another big fish water |
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Written by Darren Noble
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Monday, 06 October 2008 12:36 |
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Cutting through the open Fenland landscape this well known drain stretches from Three Holes near Upwell downstream through the Mullicourt Aquaduct to St. Marys where it passes out into saltwater. Some 7 miles long and 30 yards wide this venue has an unrivalled reputation for producing big Zander, currently holding the british record at over 19lbs caught in 1998. Although the drain has been quiet for a few years with nothing big being reported it still offers anyone prepared to put in some hard work the chance of a double.
I had fished this drain on and off for a few years with little success netting the odd fish to 7lb but the majority being considerably smaller! Only in the last two to three seasons have i fished it intensively and bit by bit building some sort of knowledge of location, feeding times and weather conditions culminating in a fish of 11lb 2oz Oct 05, with one other double to date.
Unfortunately there is no quick answer to success on this water just spending time on the bank throughout the season in different weather and water conditions is a neccesety, being able to stomach a few blanks is also what makes any budding Zed head!!! |
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