Sole beads

[nearly70ty]

H gents,
I'm wodering if any of you noticed if beads and specifically colour or coloured combo, size ect have any effect on sole catches. Most flatfish seem to be attracted to beads and colours I've found dabs like a luminous bead, flounders white or yellow, plaice black and green. Any thought's would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Reevsey]

I don't think sole are fussed about beads I think its more to do with bait being nailed to the sea bed . I use a small red bead above hook and a split shot above bead as a bait stop.

 

[solehunter]

H gents,
I'm wodering if any of you noticed if beads and specifically colour or coloured combo, size ect have any effect on sole catches. Most flatfish seem to be attracted to beads and colours I've found dabs like a luminous bead, flounders white or yellow, plaice black and green. Any thought's would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.mikeladle.com/ There is information here on sole.

 

[solehunter]

I don't think sole are fussed about beads I think its more to do with bait being nailed to the sea bed . I use a small red bead above hook and a split shot above bead as a bait stop.

This is similar to my mortician rig set up. http://www.vicfisher.co.uk/tips-and-tricks/rigs/sole-rig/

 

[nearly70ty]

I fished yesterday one up one one down rigs, one with a string of 6 x 5mm yellow beads one without. Both sole came on the trace with beads, not conclusive in anyway but food for thought.

 

[concrete]

I’ve used all sorts of rigs for soles over 40 ish years and I think it’s all about putting your bait where the soles are and nothing more than that. I’ve never used beads on sole rigs and my mate Phil, who’s nickname is Sole Man, hasn’t used beads either. I’ve used all sorts of rigs, but by far the most successful is a three hook paternoster with snoods around 9 to 10 inches. Phil catches a lot of sole on rigs with long snoods, 3 feet or longer. Soles are very localised and I’ve spotted sole scrapes on beaches in tight groups, with large areas not having any scrapes. Another very successful method I’ve found to catch all flatfish, including soles is to cast out around 60/70 yards and every couple of minutes wind in 2 or 3 feet of line. This brings the bait to the fish which don’t move around much. A continental rod with a fixed spool is perfect for this type of fishing.

 

[nearly70ty]

Great advice thanks, if you don't mind me asking what does a sole scrape look like, a picture would be ace.

 

[concrete]

Great advice thanks, if you don't mind me asking what does a sole scrape look like, a picture would be ace.

Like an oval depression in the sand. I’ve got a picture of one making one if I can find it.

 

[concrete]

Great advice thanks, if you don't mind me asking what does a sole scrape look like, a picture would be ace.

I dropped this sole onto wet sand and it immediately started to bury itself. When they swim off, the oval depressions remain.

 

[concrete]

Great advice thanks, if you don't mind me asking what does a sole scrape look like, a picture would be ace.

I knew I’d taken some photos of some. Of course other flatfish do similar, but this photo was taken at the height of sole season and on the beach where we catch them.

 

[nearly70ty]

Brilliant thanks for taking the time, they are big old holes arn't they.

 

[Wolf]

Most of the sole I've caught have been on traces without beads on.

 

[concrete]

I knew I’d taken some photos of some. Of course other flatfish do similar, but this photo was taken at the height of sole season and on the beach where we catch them.

View attachment 71567

Bigger than the fish that made them.

 

[Beach]

Brilliant thanks for taking the time, they are big old holes arn't they.

Ah soles I reckon.

 

[flappy]

Ah soles I reckon.

Ah soles beads to be precise.

 

[concrete]

Ah soles I reckon.

The old ones are the best.

Allegedly

 

[nearly70ty]

Just to add yet another foot note I was out this evenning trying the same rigs as before one with beads and one without I had another two soles but this time on the rigs without the beads. So basically they just like worms lol.

 

[chesilpete]

I use four small stainless beads on each hook length.
I catch more than my share of sole.... I like a loop rig for them.
Including the odd whopper!

 

[nearly70ty]

I use four small stainless beads on each hook length.
I catch more than my share of sole.... I like a loop rig for them.
Including the odd whopper!

Thanks for the reply, and not that I'm doubting you in any way, but your favorite loop rig goes against the normal advice to keep snoods short and anchored on the sea bed.

 

[chesilpete]

Thanks for the reply, and not that I'm doubting you in any way, but your favorite loop rig goes against the normal advice to keep snoods short and anchored on the sea bed.

Just saying what works for me..... I am interested in by catch. Happy to fish next to anyone using size 4 hooks n 10 inch hook lengths any day
In any event I would prefer fresh blacks to anything rig wise..... the biggest sole I have ever seen took a 6/0 pennel in a 2m sea in daylight. Get the bait right first.