ASK THE EXPERTS
When sending your question, please remember to include your name and address
JAMES MADSEN
Bristol Channel angler James Madsen is here to solve all your shore angling problems.
JOHN HOLDEN
A Sea Angler contrbutor for over four decades specialising in casting and rod building.
BEN BASSETT
The Plymouth angler and blogger will provide answers on the sport of light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic.
DAVE LEWIS
Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions.
HENRY GILBEY
Angler, blogger and photojournalist Henry, based in Cornwall, is our lure expert.
HOW TO ASK US A QUESTION
Email: sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk or online: facebook.com/seaanglermag
By asking a question you are giving us permission to use your name and where you live in all versions and platforms of this magazine.
Q&A SHORE ANGLING
Q Last week I fished the Holderness coast near Spurn Point at a mark that I haven’t tried before. There were many hidden boulders beneath the waves to which I got caught up on a few occasionally. Twice I got snagged, lost my leader and terminal tackle. I tried walking backward with drag on full but worried the strain on my reel would break it, and it felt very dangerous. I lost a lot of valuable fishing time. What is the best way to try freeing yourself from the obstacle safely?
STEVE WILSON, EAST YORKSHIRE
I sympathise with you Steve, it can be really annoying when finding yourself snagged up after leaving your baits soaking a good while on a walk-back. Unless you are fishing from a cliff top and get snagged up when using a particularly heavy monofilament straight through from reel to rig, I personally wouldn’t describe breaking off a set of tackle as particularly dangerous. When snagged up, I would walk down to the water’s edge, point my rod so it’s parallel to my line and tighten up the line on my reel. Keeping my rod parallel to the line, I would hold the spool of my reel to relieve pressure on the gears, then walk straight back until my line snapped. In order to try and prevent tackle losses you may need to consider what is actually getting caught up. If it’s your lead getting snagged then you could try using a weak-link or rotten bottom on your rig. This would allow you to just break off your lead and
