What rig to troll behind a sailing yacht???

[sandpiper]

Anyone got any suggestions for a suitable rig to troll behind a sailing yacht, in the Bristol Channel?

I haven't got my boat into 'clear' water yet, but when sailing my dinghy in West Wales or on the South Coast I used to enjoy a spot of fishing, dragging a couple of hokkai or feathers and a dexter's wedge.

I don't think that'll work in the murky Bristol Channel soup, so any suggestions?

Don't mind using bait, but will be too busy sailing to change bait every 15 mins to stop it getting washed out. Not really after record specimens - ideally want to just catch my dinner!

[Deleted]

Hi Sandpiper

It's a romantic idea is this but my personal opinion is that you aren't going to be able to do it. I would judge the lack of replies to be an indication of this also.

My explanation is that all fish down the eastern end of the Bristol Channel are forraging for their food really close to the sea bed. It's no coincidence that all the rods on show in all the boats in an out bound lock are rigged up with the hook length running off the weight.

I'm sure a float fished bait near an interesting feature (peir, wall etc) would work but your not going to want to run your boat near anything like that.

So in order for you to get your drifting bait close enough to the bottom travelling at say 5 knots, I reckon you would be looking at 2lb of lead & even if that worked, your risking snagging the hook on something because you are close to the sea bed.

Then theres the bait itself, it's going to need to be scent trail based (Mackerel, Herring, Sandeel, Crab etc) anywhere East of Porthcawl & not just visual, so dragging it along it's going to lose it's effectiveness in maybe 5 minutes. Your hands are going to stink haha.

I feel guilty saying all this and I would LOVE to be proved wrong! That's what has kept me fishing for 25 years, I am definately no expert & will continue to be proved wrong for another 25 yrs I am sure of that.

FYI, I do remember a boat doing a few drifts over Ranney bay the other year (for Bass I should imagine), didn't see him catch anything but there's no smoke without fire so he must have heard of it working. He was letting the tide take the boat so maybe his bait was drifting 2-3 knots.

Put it this way, I wouldn't put the veg on until you physically had a fish on board!

Good Luck if you try it, let us know on here if it works.

Mark

[sandpiper]

Thanks for the answer. I think you're right - I've tried sand eel, mackerel, squid and peeler crab, (towed using a paravane) all without success. In West Wales (behind a dinghy) the same technique using some hokeye or feathers is near guaranteed.

I've only caught fish locally by uptiding.