The Littlest Hobo
THE HOBO FISHING HANDLINE IS ONE OF THE MOST PRIMITIVE FISHING METHODS IN THE WORLD, YET IT IS STILL USED EFFECTIVELY TODAY.
Here at Cornwall Adventures, we have produced our very own Cornish hobo handlines. Crafted from beech wood, find out why we never leave home without one.
Hobo handline fishing in FalmouthMid February, and we finally got a break in the weather, with a small window of opportunity to wet a line after what felt like three months of blustery, damp weather. January and February, over the past few years, we have been lucky enough to see Mackerel move in for some winter sport. A Falmouth rock mark would usually produce this fierce fighting species. However, the wind was still quite strong, deeming the rocks off limits for the Hobo reel experiment.
Beautiful Mylor
So instead, we chose the sanctuary of Mylor dockyard where the winter Mackerel will come in. A sliding float rig was rigged on the hobo reel using small blast frozen sandeel as bait and fishing a depth of four feet. Casting took about 20 minutes to fathom, but utilising a technique which saw eight feet of line taken off the reel, then propelled slowly three times to gather momentum, the thumb was released and the line came off of the beech wood spool with ease. The cast went approximately forty feet. Effortless really and quite satisfying to boot. It did feel as though I had stepped back in time, fishing the same methods as generations gone. After all the handline is man's first and still is the simplest fishing kit available.
Not a jot on the sandeel, so the rig was changed to a simple yet effective running ledger. A trustworthy fishing rig that will work across the globe in both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
The bait was switched to Ragworm. Surely a greedy Blenny or Corkwing Wrasse would make an appearance to christen the new hobo reel? Sadly, they didn’t.
Not to be outdone, the weather was forecast bright and dry the following day, so we grabbed the chance with both hands and got out to the rock mark that was planned originally.
Sticking with the float fishing method, a deep gully was fished using ragworm, a great mark for Wrasse fishing. After just ten minutes of fishing a depth of eight foot, the float started to bob, they had found us! A few minutes later, a consecutive run of pecks the bait was taken and a strike followed. Turning the hobo handline took a little more time with a fish on, but you certainly don’t mind that!
Despite its simplicity, it is rather effective, plus you can get it into areas where a conventional rod and reel just won't fit. A convienient little kit you can stow in a bag or jacket pocket, perfect for when you stumble upon that perfect looking fishing spot on a reconnaissance mission around the Cornish coast.
If you want one, we can get you one.
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