Pole fishing requires a good deal of specialist tackle.
Bungs, Bushes and Connectors
Elastic is anchored at the base of the appropriate pole section with a bung. In the case of the "put over" pole, the bung must be sited far enough inside the pole section so that it does not interfere with the fitting of the next section. It is fitted with a strong length of nylon for removing it. At the pole tip, the elastic runs through a PTFE (Teflon) bush, which must fit the tip snugly. As tips are usually uncut, trim it a fraction at a time until the bush will barely fit the hole. It should have the smallest practical bore for the elastic. Finish with fine wet-and-dry sandpaper. Where the elastic emerges from the pole tip, it must be secured in a Stonflo tip connector, a little device attaching the elastic to the terminal rig nylon.
Stem Caster
Elastics
Elastics come in ten grades, numbered 1-6, plus 8, 10, 12 and 14, ranging from 2.5 lb (1.13 kg) breaking strain to 16 lb (7.26 kg) for number 14. It is very important to keep pole bushes as clean as possible, and apply a little pole-elastic lubricant before each fishing session.
Pole Floats
In general terms, pole float design follows the rules for ordinary floats. For stillwaters you would generally opt for a body-down design with a longish tip for stability; for canals with a little drift, or very slow rivers, the classic shallow oval or stick float is appropriate; while for faster-flowing rivers you need the body-up design of the Avon float. Obviously, pole floats are far smaller, and extensive ranges are available. Most pole anglers have their various rigs, plus spares, made up on winders for quick changing.
Although the top match anglers will use pole floats with very fine wire or bristle tips for ultimate sensitivity, they are extremely difficult to shot correctly, and the pleasure angler is better off selecting a float with a more substantial tip. Also, pole stem material can be important. For fishing hard on the bottom, a wire-stemmed float gives more stability, whereas a carbon-stemmed design gives a slower terminal rig descent for fishing "on the drop".
Most anglers use three lengths of silicon tubing to secure the float to the
main line to prevent float slippage when playing a fish. The bottom piece normally overlaps the float base to eliminate tangles.
Pole Weights
These will be either small split shot, styl weights or olivettes. Styls are sausage-shaped and need to be put on the rig with special pliers. Olivettes are pear-shaped with a centre bore and are usually used as bulk shot with tiny split shot at the business end. They are available non-bored with bristle ends, so that they can be fitted to the line with two bits of fine silicon tubing for quick weight adjustment.
Pole Hooks
Hook sizes rarely exceed size 16 for pole fishing, although anglers who are pole fishing carp fisheries with pastes may go as big as size 8. In the smaller sizes, from 16-22 eyed hooks are too bulky and a more delicate presentation is achieved with spade-end patterns. For casters, maggots and hemp, the normal choice is sizes 18-22 fine wire hooks, with hemp mounted on a wide-gape pattern. Bread and paste baits would normally be fished using a longer shank hook with an in-curved point.
Lines
Main lines and hook lengths should be balanced to the pole elastic when they are in use. For instance, if you were using a very fine number 2 elastic, you would want no thicker than 0.08 mm Pro Micron, whereas you could double that diameter if fishing a size 14 elastic.
Pole Rollers
When fishing the longer poles, you will need a roller behind you to take the weight. The technique with a roller is to first find the balance point of the pole when sitting on your box. Then place the roller at the end of the pole. This means that, when pushing the pole backwards, the weight is supported at all times and, when pulling it forwards to put a bait out the pole will be balanced when it comes off the roller, which avoids jerking as you take the weight.
Pole Cups
For accurate loose feeding, a clip-on pole cup is invaluable. Place the selected feed in the cup, clip it to the pole, and deposit it at exactly the right place. Nothing could be simpler.
Catapults
For constant drip feeding of bait samples, a fine latex catapult is invaluable. A catapult with a mini or micro pouch is perfect for delivering a few maggots or casters at one time.
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