Using feathers
Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:27 pm
Hi guys, coming into the Mackrel season I want to start using feathers. I was in Dun Laoighaire the other day and I was trying them out off the pier. I was using a 7ft shakespeare boat rod with a 12lb line. At first I had a 1oz weight on the feathers but I couldnt get them out far enough so I changed it to a 2oz and I could get a good cast on them. Is this right or should I have more or less weight on them? Also is there any technuique for using feathers?
Re: Using feathers
Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:34 pm
You would probably want to look at a longer rod that would load a little better, something around 9 foot. 2oz leads should be dead on for flinging out a set of feathers.
Re: Using feathers
Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:42 pm
Cheers! yeh looking to get a pier rod. At the moment I have a 12ft beach caster and the 7ft boat rod. So thats next on the list! 
Re: Using feathers
Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:06 pm
At the moment the beachcaster would be better than the boat rod.
Re: Using feathers
Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:58 pm
great thanks!
Re: Using feathers
Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:20 pm
In relation to your question above about feathering techniques for mackerel:
as they are shoal fish, they are either there or not. They tend to move inshore within casting range right and up to the beach only when chasing bait fish and the seabirds will spot the action and show you where to fish.
As the water will probably be fairly shallow, the depth at which you are fishing from a beach won't matter much. Fishing into deep water from a bank, rock or pier is different, if not visibly chasing stuff on the surface they could be at any depth including hard on the bottom. Let the lead drop to the ground and reel in a few yards then let it bump on the ground again until you find them.
Some people like to make a few nicks in their lead as this creates bubbles which attracts the mackerel.
I have made a rig for testing to see when the mackerel are there without constantly feathering.
It consists of a grip lead with a 3 hook mackerel trace on the end with some pop up cork or small bubble float above so that it stays where you put it (rather than having to keep recasting a float as it gets dragged with the current) put that out with your spare rod, do some bottom fishing with the main rod and when the spare bends over, you know there are some mackerel about.
Works for me.
as they are shoal fish, they are either there or not. They tend to move inshore within casting range right and up to the beach only when chasing bait fish and the seabirds will spot the action and show you where to fish.
As the water will probably be fairly shallow, the depth at which you are fishing from a beach won't matter much. Fishing into deep water from a bank, rock or pier is different, if not visibly chasing stuff on the surface they could be at any depth including hard on the bottom. Let the lead drop to the ground and reel in a few yards then let it bump on the ground again until you find them.
Some people like to make a few nicks in their lead as this creates bubbles which attracts the mackerel.
I have made a rig for testing to see when the mackerel are there without constantly feathering.
It consists of a grip lead with a 3 hook mackerel trace on the end with some pop up cork or small bubble float above so that it stays where you put it (rather than having to keep recasting a float as it gets dragged with the current) put that out with your spare rod, do some bottom fishing with the main rod and when the spare bends over, you know there are some mackerel about.
Works for me.
Re: Using feathers
Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:56 am
Thanks for the advice! Good Idea with the feathers and float on the spare. I must give it a try!