Help Me Catch · coaching brief
Dace
The small, quick silver of clean rivers. Stick float, maggot, and a strike that has to be faster than the fish.
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Venue type
Month
Experience
Tackle available
Bait in the bag
Close season
Rivers, streams and drains in England and Wales are closed to coarse fishing from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. 16 June is opening day. Most stillwaters stay open — check club and SSSI rules.
Seasonal behaviour
Open season. Autumn often gives a better stamp. Bright high summer can drive them to the shade of the far bank.
Where to look for the fish
Gravel runs, streamer weed, the faster crease, and the tail of a pool. They like a bit of pace.
Best venue types
Recommended methods
Ranked from the species–technique graph.
Recommended baits
Recommended rigs
Feeding approach
A few maggots every run-through. Hemp for stamp. Little and often is the whole method.
Where in the swim
Fast bites. A dip and gone. Feed little and keep the bait running naturally. They will rise to a slowing bait.
Common mistakes
A float that's too heavy. Striking too slow. Feeding like you're packing a bream swim.
What to change if it isn’t working
Missing them: smaller hook, less shot down the line, strike on the dip. No fish: you're not on the crease.
Tackle for the top method
Stick float
A 6–8no.4 stick, shirt-button shotting, size 18 to maggot, a gentle crease after 16 June. Feed a dozen maggots a trot.
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