Lots of help required - Docklow Pools next week

a dumbell rig would let u fish the lobs about 6-8 inches under the surface depending on the size dumbell rig u use. 

A dumbell rig can be fished at various depths so is worth considering.

I would be a bit concerned at using hooklinks of a lower b/s than the mainline.  What mainline and hooklink do you intend to use?

Whatever the hooklink you choose you need something that has good abrasion resistance.  the last thing any of us want is to leave a broken off hooklink in the cats mouth!

Have a look at some of the other links on this forum as there is a lot of good information.

thanks for this, guys.

I was going to use 16lb mainline and 15lb mantis braid.

Id use flourocarbon for the hook link - its nice and stiff as well so ideal for fishing with a dumbell rig - why no quicksilver - its brilliant stuff and incredibly abrasion resistant - which is just what you want when catting.

I do use mantis but only for bottom baits and I tend not to strip it back for cat hooklinks - I reckon flouro is the way forward. I use 15lb ESP.

carl

Blunderer I would up your main line to 20lb.  I had a look at the Docklow website, cor its expensive isnt it.

Hi Paul, fished there 6or7 years ago..... no lives , no pellets, no quicksilver then .The on site tackle shop had no worms the week that we were there, 100 lobs seems a lot but that will only make 15/20 baits so make sure you have a contingency plan baitwise. You should be able to get fresh offal - liver /kidney /heart locally down there and keep it in the fridge in your cottage.
Looks like pellets are ok on there now.
Had trouble with carp picking up whole mackerel/squid/worms .
Hooked one cat on lamprey....... never got it under control , it just kept going and the dacron hooklength  parted by/on the bridge.
25lb esp stiff rig bristle filament would be a good choice of hooklength and maybe buy a spool of 25lb sensor for the reels shouldn't break the bank. You'll need some small 3/4" /1"poly balls and /or corkballs to pop your baits up. Your polyballs can be inline between your hook and hooklength swivel  or tied to your hook eye via a length of light nylon.

atb Ian

I finally cracked the dumbell rig yesterday and landed a cat on it. I have to say its a great way to catch a cat!

Don't rule out using other baits on it either.

I used half a sardine 12 inches below the surface had 3 runs in about 90 mins or so missed the first two runs on it and nailed the third.

It was a very hot day too.

Good luck with it.
Eric

Nice one Eric, sounds like you had a good trip.

This is great. Hello Ian, we meet in cyberspace yet again. You had the big ones from Lymmvale yet?

I think I 'm getting my head aroumnd this now.

I've got some Fox baitpoppers (red coloured) and I think I can do a simple dumbell rig with these and some rig tube.

A couple more questions, if you guys don't mind.

Can I tie a simple running rig with a, say 1foot long hair with the polyball on the hair and the worms on the hook? this seems to me a very easy way to suspend worms.

I didn't realise I could get away with a flouro hooklength.

Hi Paul, i  had the big one a couple of years ago then weighed her again last year for Mark Berrington .
Simple running rig/long hair is fine .
Don't underestimate the power of these big cats , don't fish too fine.

Blunderer, did you do any good at Docklow at all?