Sydney Coarse Angling Club
Sydneys Only Coarse Angling Club Established 1989
What is Coarse Angling?
At present coarse fishing in Australia is a small but growing part of the angling scene which has gained momentum over recent years but it is still not a well-known angling method in Australia.
Coarse angling originated from when rod and line were first introduced in the UK where the landed gentry owned the land, the rivers, and the fish within. Commoners were not permitted to fish for and catch game fish (Trout and Salmon) but were permitted to fish for other non-game fish that were not considered table fish, due to the coarse nature of the flesh. Hence the name Coarse Fishing was termed.
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Coarse Angling in the UK and Europe is a hugely popular sport that eclipses the attendance of traditional stadium sports such as football (soccer) and rugby.
Tackle and technique
Pleasure coarse fishing and match angling is predominantly made up of three styles of fishing. Uses vary on the circumstances and target species and all styles can be used to target a wide variety of fish. The three styles of coarse angling are:
1. Pole Fishing
2. Waggler Fishing
3. Feeder fishing or ledgering
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Pole Fishing
Pole fishing is the most precise and sensitive way to catch fish because bait can be presented in tight spots that are unreachable via other methods of fishing.
Pole fishing does not use the conventional rod and reel, anglers use a long pole up to 18 meters in length. These poles are incredibly light and usually made of carbon fibre. Instead of a reel a length of elastic is attached inside the top sections of the pole and then the pole rig (the line, float, weights, and hook) are attached.
The pole is slid backwards, and forwards and sections can be added or removed when playing a fish and the pole elastic gives the fish something to fight against and, as well as being there to protect the ultra-light rig, tires out the fish much more quickly.
The method also uses very delicate and sensitive “pole rigs” which consists of a very light float, weights, and a small hook commonly between a size 18 and a size 10 which is much smaller than many fishing techniques use in Australia. The float is also pushed out by the pole, so very little weight is needed to gain distance.
The length of the pole provides incredible accuracy at distances that would not be achievable using the rod and reel with such light and sensitive rigs.
Feeding your swim when using the pole is generally achieved by throwing in bait by hand or with a catapult but many pole fishermen prefer to use a pot attached at the tip of the pole, and, hence, the float, providing a simple way of feeding the swim.
Waggler fishing
Waggler fishing consists of a traditional rod and reel. The rods are very light and are typically 11ft to 15ft in length and able to cast small floats generally between 1g and 6g (although heavier and lighter can be used). Fine lines are also used and in Australia line used is typically between 4lb and 8lb for Waggler fishing.
Fishing reels for Waggler rods are generally a 'fixed spool' reel but closed face reels are also used at times.
Waggler floats are generally made of plastic, but some traditional floats are also made from balsa or quill and there are many different kinds of floats for different waters and types of fishing. Floats can also be pre weighted but split shot is also used to balance and weight the line. This will vary on the type of bites that you get and may be adjusted to suit.
A small hook commonly between a size 18 and a size 10 depending on the target species which is much smaller than many fishing techniques use in Australia.
The aim of this technique is to cast out the float so that your hook will sink to the bottom (typically) and your float will settle with just the tip showing. The top of the float is usually painted a bright colour and bites are indicated by the top of the float dipping under the surface of the water or moving up in the water.
To encourage the fish into your swim small amount of bait is thrown around your float every few minutes.
Feeder or Ledger (Bomb) Fishing
There are several styles of feeders used by coarse fisherman.
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The method feeder
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The cage feeder
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The window feeder
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The closed or maggot feeder
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The ledger or bomb method
All feeder styles utilise a bottom feeding approach that involves placing feed or burley into the feeder each cast that attracts the fish close to your hook bait, the same distance is cast each time so that the feed builds up in the area and attracts more fish.
Feeder fishing can also be used close into the bank or also at long distances over 100m. Line used for feeder is typically 6lb to 12lb.
The most common tackle is a rod and reel, the rod is typically carbon fibre and between 8 and 13 feet (4.0 m) long.
The bait is held on the bottom of the lake or river by the feeder or sinker and bites are detected by watching the tip of the rod for movement.