Post by Indiana Fisherman on Jul 31, 2011 13:41:09 GMT -5
How to Map Gravel Pits in Fishing
By ezinearticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Stec]Barbara Stec
The important features to locate on pits are the bars, gullies, gravel plateaux, sudden drop-offs and weedbeds. You need to know the bottom composition and the nature of bottom weed, especially if there are areas which are weed-free amongst otherwise densely weeded areas. These are important for the bream or pike angler. Bream, for instance, like to feed over areas that are naturally weed-free, while tench will happily browse amongst dense weed.
Some of these features can be indicated by visual evidence taken from the surrounding land. For instance, a gently sloping marginal area will indicate a similar gradient running out into the pit, while a steep shelf may indicate a deep marginal trench. Perhaps the most important evidence is a prominent point, or a spit of land protruding into the pit. This usually indicates the presence of an underwater gravel bar, a feature attractive to all gravel pit species.
Other visual evidence can be gleaned from the activities of water birds, particularly swans, coots and grebes. Swans can only feed on bottom weed that they can reach, while coots are great feeders on bottom weed, but do not like to feed too deeply. If coots are continually diving in one spot, you may have discovered an important gravel plateau. The pike or perch angler can do a lot worse than study the activities of great crested grebes, as they will continually dive where hordes of fry are to be found.
Finding the sub-surface features of a pit can be a long and laborious process, and mapping is far simpler if you have access to a boat, especially if it is coupled with an echo sounder. If you have no boat, mapping a gravel pit with standard plumbing methods is very efficient if you know what you are doing. Set up a large, easily visible sliding pike float with a 2 oz (50 g) lead. Set the float shallow, say about 4 ft (1.22 m), and cast it out to maximum fishing range to the left-hand extremity of the swim, aiming at an easily identifiable point on the horizon. If the float lands in water deeper than this, it will obviously sink like a stone. Then begin a slow retrieve, reeling in about 6 ft (1.83 m) of line at a time before allowing out a little slack to let the sliding float work properly. If the lead has moved on to a feature shallower than 4 ft (1.22 m), the float will pop up to the surface. By covering the swim this way, at progressively greater depth settings, you can soon discover the location and extent of all features in the water in front of you.
On the day of fishing you may need a permanent marker, and this is simple to achieve. Having identified the feature, cut the line about 12 in (30 cm) above the sliding float stop knot. Form a loop in the line and form another loop in the reel line. Tie both loops tightly together with PVA and cast out to the required spot. After a few minutes, retrieve the main line, leaving the marker in place with no trailing line that might foul the line when you are fishing. At the end of the day, use a grapple lead with treble hook attached to retrieve these markers from the water.
Visit [http://www.fishfinders.com]fishfinders.com to find out more about fishing techniques and technology.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Map-Gravel-Pits-in-Fishing&id=5507066] How to Map Gravel Pits in Fishing
By ezinearticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Stec]Barbara Stec
The important features to locate on pits are the bars, gullies, gravel plateaux, sudden drop-offs and weedbeds. You need to know the bottom composition and the nature of bottom weed, especially if there are areas which are weed-free amongst otherwise densely weeded areas. These are important for the bream or pike angler. Bream, for instance, like to feed over areas that are naturally weed-free, while tench will happily browse amongst dense weed.
Some of these features can be indicated by visual evidence taken from the surrounding land. For instance, a gently sloping marginal area will indicate a similar gradient running out into the pit, while a steep shelf may indicate a deep marginal trench. Perhaps the most important evidence is a prominent point, or a spit of land protruding into the pit. This usually indicates the presence of an underwater gravel bar, a feature attractive to all gravel pit species.
Other visual evidence can be gleaned from the activities of water birds, particularly swans, coots and grebes. Swans can only feed on bottom weed that they can reach, while coots are great feeders on bottom weed, but do not like to feed too deeply. If coots are continually diving in one spot, you may have discovered an important gravel plateau. The pike or perch angler can do a lot worse than study the activities of great crested grebes, as they will continually dive where hordes of fry are to be found.
Finding the sub-surface features of a pit can be a long and laborious process, and mapping is far simpler if you have access to a boat, especially if it is coupled with an echo sounder. If you have no boat, mapping a gravel pit with standard plumbing methods is very efficient if you know what you are doing. Set up a large, easily visible sliding pike float with a 2 oz (50 g) lead. Set the float shallow, say about 4 ft (1.22 m), and cast it out to maximum fishing range to the left-hand extremity of the swim, aiming at an easily identifiable point on the horizon. If the float lands in water deeper than this, it will obviously sink like a stone. Then begin a slow retrieve, reeling in about 6 ft (1.83 m) of line at a time before allowing out a little slack to let the sliding float work properly. If the lead has moved on to a feature shallower than 4 ft (1.22 m), the float will pop up to the surface. By covering the swim this way, at progressively greater depth settings, you can soon discover the location and extent of all features in the water in front of you.
On the day of fishing you may need a permanent marker, and this is simple to achieve. Having identified the feature, cut the line about 12 in (30 cm) above the sliding float stop knot. Form a loop in the line and form another loop in the reel line. Tie both loops tightly together with PVA and cast out to the required spot. After a few minutes, retrieve the main line, leaving the marker in place with no trailing line that might foul the line when you are fishing. At the end of the day, use a grapple lead with treble hook attached to retrieve these markers from the water.
Visit [http://www.fishfinders.com]fishfinders.com to find out more about fishing techniques and technology.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Map-Gravel-Pits-in-Fishing&id=5507066] How to Map Gravel Pits in Fishing