Mullet Fishing: Tackle

Rods:

• Drennan Series 7 13' Power Carp Waggler

• Drennan Series 7 12' Avon/Quiver, 1.75lb

• Drennan Series 7 13' Tench/Specimen Float

• Shakespeare Sigma Supra 9' 5wt Fly Rod

Reels:

• Shimano Sahara 3000S-R

• ABU 706 closed-face reel

• ABU 506 closed-face reel (1970s version)

• Shimano VX Match XT-7

• Fly Reel (generic, 5/6wt)

Other:

• Fluorocarbon leaders (5.0lb 0.22mm)

• Monofilament leaders (4.1lb 0.12mm)

• Selection of reel lines (7.9lb 0.20mm)

• Fly line (5wt (5.5) floating, weight forward)

• Drennan Wide Gape Specialist hooks (s8)

• Preston PR355 match hooks (s8)

• Selection of freshwater floats

• Float stops

• Match swivels

• Snap swivels

• Tungsten rig putty

• Soft split shot

• 'Starlights' - micro, mini & small

• Modified spinners

• Leger weights (small, 1.1oz+)

• Cage feeders (20g/25g)

• 'Frame' method feeders

• Artificial & freeze-dried baits

• Flavourings / attractants

• Bait bucket, with anchor

• Catapult, sling-style pouch

• Dinsmores landing net head

• NGT 3m landing net handle

• 5m landing net handle

• Landing net float

• Vass-Tex Waders

• Seatbox/backpack

• Mini tripod

• Drop net

• Polarised bifocal sunglasses

• Digital scales (regularly checked)

• Mesh weighing sling

• Forceps

• Nikon A10 Compact Camera

• Food blender

I usually only carry one rod for each session, although of late, I've added a leger rod to explore some new possibilities. The primary rod, the Drennan Series 7 13' Power Carp Waggler, brings some extra 'authority' to the proceedings, especially around pontoons, and with just 5lbs of determined mullet on the end, looks something like this.

I had a recurring problem with the Drennan Super Specialist net handle, due to age and wear, and for the moment, I'm using a 3m fibreglass NGT twist-lock replacement. First impressions are that it's not too end-heavy and the thicker handgrip is actually helpful with regard to its deployment. Time will tell whether I will continue with this or explore other options, but for the moment, it's all good.

A couple of venues are particularly problematic when netting fish, either because of high banks / walls, or due to an expanse of dangerous mud between the stable part of the bank and the waterline. To counter this, I've added an inexpensive telescopic 5m carbon fibre landing net handle, which is proving totally effective, and is very manageable, despite its extra length.

Due partly to very high tides, which swamped the bankside and left everything wet, and also due to an increasing need to sit down for a while during long sessions, I switched from a backpack to a combined seatbox / backpack during the latter part of the 2019 season. This is working out well, and the only modification I've found necessary is to add some padding at the lower edge of the seat, to offer some protection to the lower back. There are a variety of these available, e.g. those made by NGT, Roddarch, and they are also offered in colours other than green.

At the outset, I decided to stick with hook patterns similar to those that I used for carp, apart from those on the spinners, where I opted for a longer shank with an offset bend. Almost always now, when fishing with bread, I'm using Drennan micro-barbed Wide Gape Specialist hooks, which is a new choice for 2018 onwards, to enable the use of palomar knots throughout. In past seasons, the Preston Innovations PR355 barbed spade-end match hooks have performed exceedingly well; consensus is that when these are tied, the line must come off the front of the spade, i.e. the inside of the hook bend.

It's important to avoid or minimise line damage, and the biggest gain in that respect is to use self-cocking floats - these can be kept in place using soft rubber float stops, although on occasion, you may still need some shot down the line, for reasons of presentation. A soft rig putty is also useful in this respect, and is my preferred option - it will harden when in the water.

Additional bait and tackle notes >>>