Chesil Beach Summer Bait Masterclass with Ben Stockley - Baits to Catch Flatfish, Gurnards and Ray

Hookpoint's Ben Conway travels to Dorset's Chesil Beach to get the lowdown on prolific local angler Ben Stockley's choices of baits and presentations for tackling summer species such as flatfish, gurnards, bream and ray.
Casting distance can be absolutely crucial to success on Chesil and this has a key influence on how Ben prepares and presents his baits, even for the larger species. Attention to detail is a hallmark of Ben's angling and a major factor in his impressive consistency at a venue that many find an unforgiving mistress.
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0:00 Intro
0:32 Ben's Portsmouth loop rig
1:17 Baiting up with black lugworm for flatfish
3:04 Baiting up with blow lugworm tipped with ragworm for flatfish
4:56 Baiting up with launce for a ray
9:43 Fresh mackerel bait for rays
14:25 Ragworm tipped with fresh mackerel for gurnard, bream and flatfish
16:19 Small fresh mackerel bait for gurnard and bream
19:26 Tipping off with slivers of English squid
20:59 Outro

[@desmondwalker4556]

Really great. I have learned loads even though I have been fishing for forty years. I like the attention to fine detail of the bait presentation. Thank you….👍

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Really pleased that even experienced anglers are taking something from this.

[@mickcoleman9630]

❤ watching your videos 👍👏

[@cottrillsteve]

Great vid. Fish chesil a lot, always a temptation to overdo bait sizes - looks like i still need to knock it down a notch! Also refreshing to hear someone else say distance is important during the day - usually starts a pile-on on forums 😂

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

His baits get more aerodynamic detailing than a red bull F1 car. Adrian Newey doesn’t have a patch on Ben.

[@ianclarkfishing]

Very informative video for battle hardened Chesil regulars and newbie’s too!!!👍🎣

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Thanks Ian. Hopefully insightful for all.

[@ianhooper3577]

Great video with chesil top man 🎣🎣👍

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

He’s full of tips and a pleasure to film.

[@derekjefferson1324]

Watchable and informative video, enjoyed and learnt, at the same time ! (Not like school) ha ha

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@anthonyhemmings1247]

Great information for the anglers Ben. Awesome Video mate 😊

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Everyone can learn something from Ben :)

[@deanbooker3314]

Wicked video ben and Ben 😊

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Cheers mate. Enjoying yours of late.

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Thanks Dean!

[@jonmakin8203]

Great vid and some cracking tips that make a difference. The balance with your cast though🤯

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it Jon.

[@tjm160]

Brilliant, really helpful, thanks!

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Glad you found it useful :).

[@nickepton6676]

Awesome video 🎣👍😎

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Really glad you enjoyed it.

[@debar1944]

Great video

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it! 👍

[@williamsmith2465]

Really good video. Great advice 👍

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Glad you found it useful William!

[@johntharme5315]

Great Video Ben and some lovely fish on a glorious day. I was always not to sure about useing sequins on fish baits but thanks to you it's made it more clear thanks and by the way smooth casting mate. 👍

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Thanks John, I will pass on your feedback to Mr Stockley 😄

[@dotnetdoug218]

invaluable - thanks

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@leightongroves1509]

Great video thanks for sharing some great tips. Personally i don't do well there still love the place though 👌👍

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

It's an addictive beach. Anglers like Ben Stockley have learnt over years when to focus their efforts there. It won't fish well all the time.

[@matthewbrown5677]

With Ben Arnold...? Amazing film ...

[@TheGameCamer360]

Ben Stockley

[@user-xp9sc8vg9z]

thanks man have subed,great presentation without all the bullshit,cant stand the fish kisser makes me vomit,several real valid points learned,keep them coming ,well done man

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Thanks for the feedback! Ben Stockley is fantastic on camera like you say and a top drawer angler to boot!

[@nikgrimmett8736]

Hi Ben, do you use a srt spring on your loop rigs as I didn't see one on the video Also what's the bs of the snoods, Cheers mate, Nik (WAC)...

[@jess1990cat]

I’m a little bit surprised how small the baits are!

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

It's all about keeping it streamline.

[@martingourd7615]

Super informative video. What rods do you use? Thanks

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Hi Martin, Ben was using anyfish anywhere big beach remastered rods in this video 👍

[@fishingat]

Hi, great and very informative video - Could you post a link for the Portsmouth loop rig you use ? Thanks

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Hi, we haven’t published anything on making loop rigs but a quick google search will give you the basic outline of it. I’ll ask Ben what components he uses to make his 👍

[@fishingat]

@@HookpointFishingMagazine Great, thanks

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Here are Ben’s specs for his loop rig: Seadra swivels for both snood and top of trace. (45lb and 105lb respectively) Love them as they’re so tiny and strong! I buy clear 3mm (8/0) glass seed beads from eBay to trap them as they’re cheap and smaller than what you can buy from tackle shops. The tiniest silver sequins from Hobbycraft and Drennan 14lb power gum for bait stops. Half a Seadra rig spring as compresses better than a whole one! Gemini lead links, Breakaway cascades and Amnesia 60lb for my rig bodies. (It’s actually thicker than 80lb and far more abrasion resistant than other lines I’ve tried). Amnesia 25lb for snoods on multi hook rigs, 30lb on Ray pulleys. Always clear.

[@fishingat]

@@HookpointFishingMagazine Hey, that's really helpful - thanks a lot for that. Really appreciate the response

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

No worries, hope it gets you a few fish!

[@user-wm5fr7co3s]

Hi Ben, can I ask If you were fishing cogdon when you made the video

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Not quite, and without giving away specific spots, you can pretty much identify regions of Chesil by the size of shingle. The same tips are relevant for the whole stretch of Chesil in the summer, whether you are fishing west or east and for rays, flats, bream, gurnard or pretty much anything else.

[@johnsmith-rs2vk]

Gurnards ,the best in the fish soup .

[@jaybradley3765]

Hey Ben have you got your own KZbin channel

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

Ben Stockley doesn’t have his own channel, but we’ll be doing some more with him and will collect them all under one playlist.

[@That_sam_i_am]

Can someone put an edge on that filet knife for him, that was painful 😂

[@HookpointFishingMagazine]

The life of a fishing knife is a tough one! 🤣