The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I was reminiscing yesterday about a stretch of river I used to fish as a child and adolescent. In those days, even during the summer, before abstraction, the flow was pretty good. A method which used to catch plenty of roach, dace and smaller chub was stret pegging. I haven't used the method for years (it is all still water where I live). Is this still an frequently used and efficient strategy?

Martin Bowler certainly used this method in an episode of "Catching the Impossible". Way back in the '60s, Peter Drennan made flat-bodied floats specifically for stret-pegging, which I suppose were the forerunners of the "lollipop floats" popular with modern pole anglers.

Stret pegging described and shown halfway down this page http://www.discoverfishing.co.uk/guides ... barbel.htm

I use the method occasionally if conditions are suitable however I don't remember the last time I saw anyone else 'pegging'.

It is a technique I intent to use more this summer on the Warks Avon

Another rarely used technique I’ve enjoy using on still waters since I first read about it in FJT’s Angling in earnest in the late 50’s is ‘the lift method’.

Tidal Thames anglers used to use the method, though I don't recall hearing them call it "stret-pegging" - the term may have been a bit too Mary Webb-ish for them; or "Mummerset", if you prefer.
They'd use a long rod ("Ring-up pole" ring any bells?), a smallish float, and overshot according to what the tide/current demanded. A three-BB porcupine quill carrying three swan-shot was not unknown, and a fourth swan-shot might be put on the line above the float, to spring the system by putting an angle in the line, so that a biting fish didn't feel the rod-top's full resistance until it was too late. Well, that was the theory...

As you can see from my initial post. It is my belief that you need a reasonable flow to get this working well. Otherwise the movement of the bait is lost and you end up laying on.

in my opinion it’s best done with a long rod as the float should be in line with the tip. I prefer a 15’ rod and size the float to the strength of current generally using a dome topped float. Shouldered floats should be avoided as they tend to catch the current and become unstable.

Found it! In the font of many good things: http://www.fishingmuseum.org.uk/champio ... isher.html

I wonder what was in it for the chap who put up the prize money? Side bets? Newspaper sales?