A.C.E. 3/ACE CD 3.iso/files/docs/canglerd.lha/CourseAnglerTips.doc

Text File | 1995-09-02 | 15KB | 254 lines

       SUCCESSFUL MATCH FISHING ON VFM SHAREWARE'S COARSE ANGLER.

     Hopefully,  if  you are reading this you have a copy of Coarse Angler.
If  not it might be worth getting a copy from your local PD, or direct from
VFM Shareware, address to follow later.

     If  you are an angler and do not already have a copy of this disk, you
may  have  been under the same assumption as myself.  " Can't be any good."
Whilst  ordering  some  PD,  I  decided to give it a try, after all I could
always erase the disk if I didn't like it.  Much to my suprise, I found the
game  to  be  a  very accurate portrayal of the fine art of coarse fishing.
Having  worked in the past as a professional sea angler, and on a fish farm
it really did come as a shock as to how good this game was.
     Within  24  hours of getting the game, I decided that the asking price
was  certainly a reasonable licence fee to pay, for such an enjoyable game.
Upon  recept  of  my  registration  fee,  I was sent a professional quality
manual, by Ted Moody, creator of the game.
   Since  then  I have been in regular contact with him, and discussed many
features  of  the game with him.  In recent conversations it has been noted
that  many  people are asking about the second disk for more pegs.  If more
photographs  and  ideas for venues were forthcoming, it might be achieved a
little  sooner.  So if you have any ideas and more importantly photographs,
that  you  think  might  be used.  Send them off to him, he and many others
would  be  very  appreciative, and all material will be returned as soon as
finished with.
     The  manual  tends  to  deal more with the specimen hunt, and does not
give  too much away.  I decided to write a small piece on each of the pegs,
to  deal with the match fishing aspect of the game.  It is not my intention
to  give a comprehensive match winning formula, but a few hints and tips to
beat  J  R Hartley and others.  I will not go into the tackle side of match
fishing  either,  this  is  dealt  with  in the manual.  Also included is a
general section which offers a few tips, that can be applied to the game as
a whole.  For a more complete list of tackle and baits, please refer to the
users  manual.   The game itself has a few touches of humour, and you might
try  using  a  size  20  hook  to  10lb line.  If you are unsuccessful in a
specimen  hunt  try  the  option  that  the  programmer knows nothing, your
computer locks.  It is possible by keying in a magic word to free the game.
Its worth a look just to see the comments about the water and weather.  No,
I'm  not going to tell you what the magic word is, it's in plain ink at the
back of the manual.


GENERAL TIPS:
     In  match  fishing,  it  is  your  aim  to  catch as great a weight as
possible  in  the time allowed.  15 minutes isn't very long, but with a bit
of  knowledge  and practice, you should be pulling fish in at an acceptable
rate  throughout the whole match.  Try to catch the larger fish in the swim
first, then more progressively on to smaller fish as bites become fewer.  I
have  found  that  trying  for the very large fish in a swim can be counter
productive,  as  they  can take a long time to play out.  There is also the
risk of losing the fish due to line breakage.
     Whilst  legering, it is worth twitching your bait once in a while.  If
no  bites  are  forthcoming,  go back to the tackle box.  Try changing your
bait,  line  or  even  just  your hook size.  Although if your hook size is
incorrect, you will notice that you are missing bites frequently.  This can
also apply to incorrect tackle set up.
     Float  fishing  requires  a  little  extra time in setting up.  I have
found  that  it  is  worth  going  to the practice game, and making a small
drawing  of  each of the pegs.  Then making notes on your diagram as to the
depths  of  the  swim,  and where the fish are.  Make sure that you know in
what  types  of  water  you  would  use  a particular float.  Upon proof of
registration,  I  would be more than happy to provide a detailed use of all
floats  in the game.  On most pegs it is worth the extra effort and time to
find the correct float setup.
     Normally,  when  match  fishing,  one  would  go for the smallest hook
possible.   This  is because most real match venues are over-fished anyway,
and  the  fish  are wary of being caught.  The fish in this game are not so
hook  shy,  so  the trick is to use as big a hook as you can get away with-
bigger  hooks  mean  bigger baits, and big baits = big fish.  Try a size 14
for starters, adjusting it if you are missing bites.  The only exception is
peg  4, which seems to be full of tiddlers.  Don't go berserk with the line
size though, save the 10lb stuff for the specimen hunt.
     Finding  the  best bait for a particular peg can be a hard decision at
times.   I  have  found  that  whilst  match  fishing, go for the bait that
produces  the  larger  fish first.  If you are lucky enough to find a large
shoal  of  Bream,  stick to fishing for them.  They are usually of a decent
size and are easy to play and land.
     When  getting near the end of a match, check to see the weight of fish
that  you have caught.  If your weight is a little low, a last ditch gamble
for  a  large  fish might just tip the scales in your favour.  This has the
added  bonus,  if  you hook a large fish, of being able to play it out even
when  your time has run out.  At this point don't try to rush the fish, you
will have as much time to land it as you need.

Note from Ted-
     These  are Mark's match tactics.  Studying my notes on the pegs, I can
see other ways of getting your name on the hi-score table.  You may find an
approach  of  your own equally effective.  The weather and water conditions
also  make  for  a  difference in fishing methods, which must be taken into
account.  In other words, there is no single formula for winning matches in
Coarse  Angler.  Ivan Marks, one time champion match angler gave the answer
when people wanted to know his "secret"- YOU'VE GOT TO WORK AT IT.

            -********************-

THE PEGS:
Peg 1- River Torm:
     Personally,  I  find this the hardest of all to win.  Try legering for
the  Chub  first,  then  when  bites  drop  off  switch  to Roach, Dace and
Grayling.   Make  absolutely  sure  that your drag is set correctly on this
swim,  as  large fish have a habit of snapping rods.  Effective methods are
leger  for  Chub  and  Barbel, and a light float set up for Roach, Dace and
Grayling.  Don't fish too fine on the bottom as you will lose a lot of fish
or catch Gudgeon.
     As far as I am aware two species of record fish are in this swim.

Peg 2- Elm Lea Lake:
     It  is possible on this swim to score quite high points in a match.  I
have  found float fishing for Bream to be very effective.  It also produces
the  odd Eel of around 2lb.  It can take some effort to find the Bream, but
when  located  the  fun  begins.   As  soon  as bites drop off, switch to a
lighter  tackle and fish for Roach.  When playing in the Bream, be prepared
for the fish's second run.  They come in easily, until near the net.
       As  far  as  I  am  aware only one species of record fish is in this
swim.

Peg 3- Farm Pond:
     This  is one of my favourite pegs of the game.  Leger or float seem to
be  just  as  good  as  each  other.  Try legering and float fishing on the
bottom,  for  Bream,  Crucian Carp and Tench.  It is possible to catch Carp
during  matches,  but  as  with  most  matches it can be counter productive
fishing  for  large  fish.   There  are  several  hotspots, that need to be
searched  out, to find the Bream and Crucian Carp.  When bites drop off try
a spot of surface fishing with light tackle for Rudd.
     As far as I am aware two species of record fish exist in this swim.

Peg 4- Canal:
     You  will  need  to be very quick to hit all of the bites on this peg.
Try  legering,  and  float fishing on the bottom for small Bream and Roach,
the  odd  small Chub may show up whilst fishing for these.  If possible try
to  avoid  using  "animal" based baits when fishing on the bottom, as there
are  a  large  amount of bootlace Eels, and their bites can be difficult to
connect with.  Light tackle float fished at mid-water produce large amounts
of small Bleak, Perch and Roach.  Don't expect to score high points on this
peg as the fish are quite small.
     Be  prepared for an escapee Carp, which I can only presume has come in
from  upstream.  It might be worth trying to catch this fish whilst fishing
a  match on this peg.  Although you may have to strengthen the tackle to do
so.
     I am sure that there are no record fish on this peg.

Peg 5- Weirpool:
     Try  fishing  for  a couple of Barbel, with leger tackle the odd large
Chub  may  put in an apperance, be very cautious whilst playing the former,
they seem to have rockets surgically implanted.  Don't spend more than four
minutes  fishing  for  the  above,  switch to a lighter set-up, and try for
Bream and Roach.  If the bite rate drops off change to a light float tackle
and  fish  for  Roach,  Dace  and  small  Grayling.   This  is not normally
necessary  on  this  swim, as the Bream are quite prolific, if only of just
over  a  1lb in average weight.  There are also some small Pike in the swim
that  can  help  towards  a  better  weight, but it needs a little bit of a
search to find them.
     There is only one species of record fish in this swim.

Peg 6- Estate Lake:
     Try  spending  around seven or eight minutes fishing for Tench in this
swim.   Then  switch  to a lighter tackle for the Bream.  As with most pegs
you  will  find the Bream in several spots.  The odd small Crucian Carp and
Roach  may be caught on this peg, but the mainstay are the Tench and Bream.
Leger  can  be effective for both species, and it is hard to miss the bites
when  using the correct tackle, but give float fishing a try fishing on the
bottom.
     There is only one species of record fish in this swim.

Peg 7- Gravel Pit:
     Try  long  range float fishing and legering for Bream, small Perch may
become  a nuisance if using small baits.  The odd Pike may be caught whilst
fishing  on  the bottom so take care.  Eels of around 2lb also make a show,
and  it  is  worth  catching  a few of these to top up your weights.  Small
Tench  and Roach are also present, but try to stick with the Bream for good
weights  in  this swim.  To the best of my knowledge, this peg contains one
species of record fish.

Peg 8- River Brent:
     This  swim  is  a  real joy to fish, and if it was based on a river, I
would love to know where.  Bream yet again make up good weight on this peg,
but  take  care  with the swifter bites as they can be Barbel.  It is worth
trying to play these out as are the Chub.  If bites slacken off switch to a
fine  float tackle, and fish for the Roach, don't spend to long with these,
as  they  can  be  a little tricky, until the correct depth and tackle/bait
combination  has  been  found.   If  there  is  time  left  try trotting at
mid-water  for  small  Perch,  it is rare that you may need to do this, but
every  little helps.  With this peg, it is a very good idea to "twitch" the
bait once in a while, whilst legering for Bream.
     There is only one species of record fish present in this swim.

Peg 9- Wild Tarn:
     This  swim  produces a few good tussles, fish on the bottom for medium
sized  Pike.   Be  prepared  for  some nice Eels, so fairly stout tackle is
recommended.   When  the  bite  rate drops off, try for Perch.  It is worth
noting in the manual where these might be.  There are also some small Roach
in  the  swim,  although  I have found it quite unusual to have to fish for
these during any matches.
     There is one species of record fish in this swim.

Peg 10- Park Lake:
     I  have  found  this to be an awkward swim to win matches from.  Float
fishing  on the bottom, or legering produces Crucian Carp, Tench, Roach and
smallish  Bream.   Yet  again  small Eels can be a bit of a pain when using
certain  baits.  Try to fish from the start for Crucian Carp and Tench, the
odd  Roach  will  be caught, but the bite rate can be quite fast.  As bites
slacken  off  try for the small Bream, or mid-water for perch and roach.  I
have  also  caught  small Rudd near the surface.  I have been informed that
there  are also Carp in this swim.  Although I have yet to catch one during
a match.
     There is one species of record fish in this swim.

Peg 11- River Slack:
     This  peg  produces good numbers of small fish, mainly Dace and Roach.
It  is possible with the correct presentation to catch Chub and Grayling of
reasonable  size to make up the weight.  Light float tackle trotted through
the  swim  is  effective for the Dace and Roach in good numbers, although I
prefer  to  leger  throughout  the time allowed.  This enables Grayling and
Chub to be caught, which make for a better weight.
     There is one species of record fish in this peg,and I am sure Ted will
be pleased to note.  That it still remains uncaught, although not unhooked!

Peg 12- Wharf:
     The  first  time  that  I  fished  this  peg,  I  did  myself a little
injustice.   I  did  so well, that I have yet to better my score.  Start by
fishing  on  the  bottom  with  stoutish tackle for the middle weight Pike.
Then  switch to fishing for Bream.  It is possible to get a very good score
on  this peg, by fishing close in for a large fish.  I won't spoil your fun
as  to  what  it is, but is well worth trying for when the Bream bites drop
away.   Reasonable  Perch  can also add to a very respectable score in this
swim.  Small Roach can also be found on this peg.
    There is one species of record fish in this swim.

            -********************-

     I really hope that these tips are of some use, and I haven't given too
much away, and spoilt any enjoyment of your piscatorial pursuits.

Best Wishes,
        Mark.


                               DISCLAIMER

     I  am  in no way related to Ted Moody and if you were under that false
assumption, I am sure he would be highly offended.
     If  you  want  to discuss anything pertaining to fishing, comics, life
the  universe  and  everything.   Drop me a line (Pun intended).  You might
even  be interested in sending me a copy of your scores on disk to see if I
can  beat  them, not that I disbelieve written scores,but I am an angler as
well!

                             MARK ALLINGTON
                          19, HIGH WEST STREET
                               DORCHESTER
                                 DORSET
                                 DT1 IUW
                                04/05/95