Favourite Tope Tactics

So come on let's have it - what is your favourite method for fishing for Tope.

At Anhcor, on the Drift, start of the flood, half macko flapper , full macko, fillet of macko, wire or mono, etc....

I use half a mack on a half wire half mono 8ft trace.hook size 6/0.i allways anchor and send down frozen 2ltr tub of mashed mack [guts heads etc] attached to the anchor,works well for us

I have to start using Rubby Dubby a bit more. Anyone know where you can pick up some onion bags? I like fishing on the drift or at Anchor. You fish a bit more ground on the drift, but you are relying on the Tope to be up and feeding that little bit harder. Fishing at Anchor can be very relaxing way of fishing and you give the fish a bit longer to find the bait.

I like to use a Half mack as I feel it's a little more difficult for the Dogs to get at, especially when teamed with a single Owner 10/0 hook. It's not fool proof though, some dogs are just persistent feckers . I also like to use live flat fish if the dogs are in plague proportion. I've never had a dog on a live flattie, but I've had a few Tope.

I personally like to use 150 or 200lb mono, as I feel you have a better chance if the fish are not feeding hard. This is just a confidence thing on my side. But I will also use wire from time to time as I'm still trying to get full conclusion as to what works best and when.

I think that's my lot for now.

Kev

[brianbru]

hi,
i would def use a bit of dubby on the anchor in onion sack or a 5ltr container both work well, any f&v shop will have loads of sacks i get mine down in GET FRESH whitehall rd west. i will either have a 5 to 6 foot trace with 200lb mono onto heavy wire half and half with an 100lb swivel in between.
on the business end i will use a range of different hooks with meat hooks being the first choice i also use owner, both in sizes 8/0 & 10/0.
i will sometimes use a large 8/0 pennell or a 10/0 wishbone rig both work fine.
bait, i would normally use macks and if it's a large bait i will put on the 8/0 pennell.
the dogs will bug you all the time no matter the size of bait as mac says a dab will get you a few and whiting of course.
one of the biggest tope ive seen in the bay was caught on dabs in around 55lb.

brian

Last edited by brianbru on Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

Just to mention that I use about 6 foot of 80lb mono to my bite Trace. Again, I like to go, that little bit lighter as I feel I am getting better movement on the bait, especially with Mackerel. Sometimes that bit of movement will induce a take.

Dabs are a cracking bait for Tope. They really kick up a fusss on the bottom, and takes are normally very positive.

Come on all, chime in here. I doubt we've covered it all off already

Kev

i was expecting to see a flurry of Tope pictures on the site after the June bank holiday
weekend which I normally associate with the Tope fishing really getting going on the east coast
but didn't see any?

From watching both the inshore and offshore met buoys on the west coast it seems water
temp has been a couple of degrees behind compared to last season, maybe thats the reason.

I think both dogs and huss are partly visual predators so coloured muppets, blades spoons pirks
or even tip lights all seem to help attract them. For some reason I have the impression that tope
just follow the scent trail up to the bait, not sure movemnt or attractors make any difference?

my own limited experience is that fishing at anchor outperforms drifting by a long way

I also like to use live flat fish if the dogs are in plague proportion. I've never had a dog on a live flattie, but I've had a few Tope.

I got told using live bait in Irish waters was a no no, fresh water and sea.... was i led up the garden path Or are you all fishing 'international' waters?

I fancied live baiting myself but didn't want my collar felt