Unusual Angling Method

[Big Boy]

It is no secret that my daily exercise is taken wandering around the lake at Khao Tao; nor is it a secret that I've dangled my rod a few times over the years. Usually on my walk around the lake, I am entertained watching the local anglers landing usually small fish.

I was on my walk around the lake today, and I saw a guy ahead of me cast his line with what I can only describe as a 2' piece of tubular netting 2" diameter at the bottom of his trace. I actually assumed he had snagged it as he cast his line - I thought no more of it. However, when I got to the opposite bank, there were 3 fisherman with identical rigs. Just tubular netting - I thought some local lure, and they were hoping to hook the monster of Khao Tao Lake. I walked past secretly sniggering to myself, thinking that'll never catch a fish.

I completed my circuit, and was taking on water in my car before returning home. Sure enough, the first guy had a fish on his line. He pulled it out of the water with this mysterious netting wrapped around it. The fish was about 18" and resembled a small Pollack (I know it couldn't have been). It was a species I am unfamiliar with.

I must have walked around the lake 30 or 40 times recently, but have never seen this method used before. I've also been fishing myself for well over 50 years and have never seen anything like it. The fact the guy caught a pan sized fish using the method proves it must work.

Can anybody please explain the method to me?

[huahin4ever]

You should stop and have a look. I'm sure the fisherman would be very happy showing it to you, maybe even being excited a farang is taking interest in their local fishing methods.

YNWA

[Big Boy]

The first one, as I said, I thought was rubbish as he cast his line. The next 3 were not wearing masks, so I thought best not.

When I saw the method work, I was ready to drive home. Also, I think the fact it had caught a fish took me completely by surprise.

Next time, I will if I see it again.

[STEVE G]

I'm no expert on fishing but I've given it a go in Thailand and watched the locals. Is it a bait bag, a small mesh bag that you put soft bait in near the hook? I've seen those in Thai fishing shops.

[Big Boy]

Thanks Steve, I did think of that, but these things were 2' long. You could have put a loaf of bread or a kilo of sausages into each bag. If those were bait bags, they definitely were going to need a bigger boat lake.

[NOKYAI]

I have seen this set up and thought it was for freshwater prawns! But you saw him catch a decent fish so I must have been wrong.

[Big Boy]

Prawns sounds very feasible. Maybe the fish was attracted by the prawns and became entangled in the net somehow. Thai fishermen can be sadistic sometimes and use more than their fair share of hooks to snag whatever they can.

Thank You.

[Nereus]

They may be using it to catch bottom dwelling fish, such as catfish, which like to poke their nose into things rather than take a floating bait.

[Big Boy]

The fish he caught was definitely not a catfish (I'd definitely have recognised it if it was), but if the length of netting had enough hooks, yes it might snag something sniffing about. Interestingly, a foul-hooked fish always gives a better fight.

[lindosfan1]

The bait bags are used for carp fishing in the UK, They are filled with tasty smelly items.

[HHTel]

nor is it a secret that I've dangled my rod a few times over the years.

Now you're just showing off!!

[STEVE G]

The bait bags are used for carp fishing in the UK, They are filled with tasty smelly items.

I've never tried serious fishing, just dabbled for a bit of fun but hopefully BB will get a picture for us next time, I'll try anything that works for the locals short of lobbing in sticks of dynamite!

[lindosfan1]

A uk carp bait bag.

images (1).jpg (7.33 KiB) Viewed 442 times

[Big Boy]

Yes, that looks a similar material, but what I saw yesterday was at least 10 x longer, with very little, if anything at all inside.

Yes, if I see it again, I will take a photo.

[NOKYAI]

But the bait bag seen above dissolves very quickly in water releasing the ground bait near your hook bait. It couldn’t snag a fish!