Uptiding for Cod

[Paul]

Uptiding for Cod

Ok guys, with the River mersey cod trip looming a few of you have been asking what sort of gear and rigs you need to be fishing, so i thought id do a bit of guide for you. Please note, this is only my opinion and other people will have different ways of doing things.... this is just how i would do it!!!


How to Uptide
In areas of fast tide run it may be advisable to uptide. This serves two purposes:
1. Much less lead is required to keep your bait on the bottom than downtiding.
2. It places your bait out of the boats scare area, caused by the anchor rope whining in the tide, people moving around on the boat and waves hitting the side of the boat.

The technique of uptiding is quite simple once you know what to do. See the animated image below.

Once everything has settled, the rod tip will arch over in the tide. A bite will be shown as a few knocks on the rod tip followed by the rodtip springing up as the fish moves off downtide pulling the lead free. Sometimes the rod tip will bounce as the fish moves downtide.

Hitting into the fish is slightly different to downtiding.... you must first quickly wind in ALL the slack line and then firmly lift into the fish. Chances are the fish will have hooked itself against the lead so "striking" usually isnt required.


Uptiding Rigs

The most widely used rig for uptiding is probably a simple running ledger with a boom. These can often work best if the fish are biting a little shy, and offers less resistance to the fish allowing it to move off a few inches or even a couple of foot before feeling the lead. These are really easy to make yourself. Simply tie on a swivel, slide on a bead, your boom, another bead and then tie on another swivel, or a link clip.



Another rig is a fixed paternoster, this can sometimes work better if the fish are taking the baits hard - as soon as the fish runs with the bait it hits the lead hooking the fish for you.

Simply tie a lead clip to one end of some rig body, then add a crimp, a bead, a swivel, another bead and another crimp before tying on either a swivel or a link clip. Nip up the crimps close to the link clip and you are done.




Now to tie your snoods. There are loads of variations here, single hook, sliding pennels, fixed pennels, and wish bones. Length varies again depending on the conditions but usually around 3 foot is ideal.

Tie on a link clip to one end and a hook to the other end



Then clip it onto your rig.

Sliding boom


Fixed paternoster



Tying a few snoods up means you can be baiting another up ready for your next cast whilst waiting for a fish on your current cast. This can save a lot of fishing time, particularly when using large baits which can take a little time to construct.


Pennel rigs tend to be better when fishing large cod baits and offer much tidier bait presentation, as well as another hook to snare the fish.

This version simply has a second hook threaded onto the line before tying the end hook. This way is adjustable to the length of bait you are fishing, the top hook is secured by wrapping the snood around the hook shank several times just above your bait and is hooked into the top on the bait. The top hook can also be secured by sliding some rig tubing over the shank and snood line, or even wrapping telephone wire around both shank and snood.




Using a fixed pennel has pros and cons. Being fixed it cannot be adjusted to the size of bait you are using, but offers more resistance if the fish takes the top hook, and it also will not slip along the snood.

Again there are a couple of ways to do this, the first ill show you is created by tying a surgeons knot with another piece of snood line leaving longer than normal tag ends.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imx-2tMIOS8[/youtube]

Resulting in something like this.... Make sure one is longer than the other, this will effectively be the rough size of your baits....



Next add a bead passing both tags through the hole, and then tie on a hook to each tag end.


Another way is to use a snell knot (AKA a spade end whip) on the top hook, resulting in something like this.....



The finished rig with lead attached




Lead weights for uptiding

Leads for uptiding need to have grips.... you may get away with breakaway type leads, but for stronger tide runs leads with fixed wires offer much more grip. There are several types on the market but the gemini ones are my personal favourites.

Breakaway and Gemini fixed wire leads


The wires are straight when you buy them allowing you to bend them to your own preference... everyone has their own way of doing this...


In the past i have even doubled up on gemini leads for even more grip. This is done by passing the swivel end of a snap link over the wires of one lead before bending them, and then adding a second lead to the snap link.




Or you can use just a gemini wire without the lead in exactly the same way



Breakaway actually make a plastic inline lead adaptor. This provides the extra grips but witout the added weight.




Boat Cod Baits

When uptiding for cod baits need to be BIG!!! Its not uncommon to make a bait with 6 blacklug and a couple of whole squid!!

The easiest way to present multiple black lug is to create a lugworm sausage...you could also add a long strip of squid or razorfish to the side of the sausage, or tip off with a suid head... its up to you really.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_5sHZ6IO_I[/youtube]

Heres another video from boat fishing monthlys Dave Barham, here he is stuffing a squid with load of lugworm, a lugworm sausage could also be used inside the squid if you wanted...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_tPBuO-cSc[/youtube]



Rods and reels for uptiding

When uptiding first came on the scene, boat anglers were forced to use cut down beachcasters to suit their needs, but as uptiding has become more mainstream in angling, rod manufacturers have developed their own range of rods built specifically for the purpose. Uptiders are longer than standard downtiding rods, with softer tips. To allow for the movement on the boat and the tide run the tips will arc over, this extra movement in the tip helps stop your lead from being pulled out before you want it to.

Uptiders are generally anything from 9 to 10 feet in length and are rated based on casting weight similar to beachcasters, rather than in line classes as you find with downtide rods.
Uptiding for cod with big baits in a fast tide run, the 10ft 6-10oz range of rod is ideal for punching your big grip leads uptide and will deal with good size fish easily.

Casting is an integral part of uptiding so a decent reel that will cast well is important. A good retrieve ratio is also required for when a fish takes your bait and you have to wind up the slack quickly to set the hook. Decent line capacity is another essential.
With the above factors in mind, generally the 7000/535/SL30SH size multiplier reel is the ideal partner for any uptide rod. The new Akios 757 range looks a good addition to the list of suitable reels as well. All the mentioned reels hold 300yd+ of 20lb mono line and have the gearing which gives a good retrieve ratio to set the hook and, more importantly, is robust enough to handle big tides/big baits and hopefully .....big fish.

It is possible to use fix spooled reels to uptide too, a large modern 8000 size reel with good line capacity and retrieve ratio are more than suitable for the job.

[Mike T]

very very helpfull that mate, if i was on the trip but its helpfull for future referance cheers paul

[TerryG]

Wow Paul, Think that about covers the lot mate, Quality how to as usual

[Rushy]

Brilliant post mate, top quality as usual and thanks for all the time & effort that must have took

It's a pretty extensive article that, but like you say everyone's got their own ideas/ways and if anyone has any suggestions/additions which they feel would add to the thread, feel free to post them on here for other members benefits


Top post Paul

[fishermandave82]

Cheers paul. what a cracking post, that's answered a few questions.

[Padsta Tel]

Smashing post Paul i like the video with the lug worm sausage will try that tonight.

going to try that stuffed squid for the bass this year thanks Paul

[james1984]

Good post mate, i carn't watch the videos for some reason tho.

[Kev P]

Awesome guide mate to Uptiding fishing!

Paul's How to Uptide boat casting for Cod, tackle, rigs and Bait

http://www.anglingaddicts.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3243

Uptiding

Uptiding tackle

Uptiding rigs

Cod baits

thanks for all you time and effort!

[Paul]

i carn't watch the videos for some reason tho

Are you using your phone or something?? If not what browser are you using??

[james1984]

Paul,

I'm using my computer, what do you mean what 'Browser' am i using???


Ta

Ja